Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-03-18
RETRIBUTION.
A Son Shoots His Fathers Assassin In the
Courthouse.

NASHVILLE, Tenn March l4-One Of
the most sensational shootings in the
history of Nashville occurred here Mon
day in the courthouse. Thomas Jones,
q a'young man, shot j. j. Winters down
as the latter was walking by the side of
his wife along the hallway leading from
the criminal courtroom. AS Winters
fell his wife dropped upon her knees by
his side, crying hysterically, Tom
Jones has killed my husband" Jones
fired five shots at his victim. Three of
them took effect, ard the result will
probably be fatal James Bondurant,
who was standing near where the shoot.
ing occurred, was struck in the right
groin by one of the bullets which
missed Winters, and was dangerously
wounded
j }. Winters and his brother Andrew
had just succeeded, through their at
tomeys, in having the cases in which
they are indicted in the criminal court
No. the assassination of Jones father,
postponed until the next term Of court,
and J. J. Winters, with his wife, was
passing out of the court room, when
young Jones followed and shot him
down.
The killing of Monday is the last act
in a tragedy which was begun June
ID last. On that day the Winters
brothers, Andrew and Joe, men OF
about forty-six and tifty-two years, re-
spectively, made an assault on the
younger Jones, and Andrew Winters
completely riddled him with shot
from n double barreled shotgun.
This assault grew out of the fact that
the Winters brothers had tried to
persuade young Jones to burn the
barn of man named Henderson,
against whom they had a grudge, Jones
refused to commit the crime and in
stead told his father, who in turn in
formed Henderson. The Winters
brothers, hearing that young Jones had
betrayed them, swore vengeance, and
several days later caught hlm away
from home and attacked him.
Both brothers We're armed with
double barreled shotguns, Andrew
fired first, and Jones fell upon his back.
Joe then ran up and pointed his gun at
! the PROSTATE man, and would have rid
| died him with shot but that his brother
prevented him. saying: Don't shoot a
id dirty dog when he's down."
For the assault upon his son the elder
Jones had the Winters brothers indlct-
ed. Both the Jones and Winters fam
lilies live near the Hermitage, twelve
miles from this city. On the night
of September 10 last, after the elder
Jones returned from court, where he
had had the Winters brothers indicted
he was called out of the house and shot
down, being instantly killed. The
Winters brothers were suspected, ano
the coroners inquest laid the murder at
their door The grand jury investigated
the case and indicted the Winters
brothers, Andrew Winters for doing
the killing and Joe Winters for being
accessory
The cases came up in the crimina
court Monday. Andrew had been il
Jail since the killing, but Joe had beer
out on bond. The court room wa
packed with people who had come t.
witness the trial, but in this they wer'
disappointed The defense made atii
davit that important witnesses wer'
absent, and the case was continued
Andrew Winters was taken back to jail
by an officer and Joe walked out o
the court with his wife, when h
was followed by Jones and shot down
: Something like a panic ensued, ant
it is miraculous that no more fataht.
resulted. Andrew Winters heard tn
shots, while on the way to Jail, and re
marked excitedly to an officer: Ton
Jones has killed my brother" !"
Although the probable killing wa
one of the boldest and most desperat
ever committed here, popular sylnpath
seems to be with the boy who acted a
the avenger of his fathers murder, an
his own brutal treatment at the hand
: of the Winters brothers, He wa
: wonderfully calm after doing tn
shooting. and made no attempt to fec
i After he was arrested he said to tn
officers: Il have no regret over what
have done, and am willing to bear tn
consequences. only wish that migf
have killed both of them at the on
time"
Winters was taken to the hospita
y where he lies between life and deatf
Bondurant was taken to his home, an
is in critical condition, Young Jont
5 was much distressed when he learne
that he shot unintentionally ma
{ who had never wrongcd him.