The herald., 1895-10-13
The Slayer Of Jones Gives His
Version of the Tragedy
WAS WARNED BY MRS. JONES
She Told Him that Her Husband Was a
Dangerous Character
menced that He Hardly Knew
What He Did

The tria of Bidwell Errington for the
murder Of Herbert G. Jones is concluded
SO far as the taking of testimony is con-
csrned. There was a somewhat larger
crowd than usual in attendance in Judge
Smiths court room yeste rday, as it was
generally understood that Erring ton
would take the stand in is own defense.
II e did so, but his examination was very
brief. and those who anticipated any
thing of a sensational character we're die
appointed. When the Erripgton cass
was called, after the usual ex parte mat
terra had been called pp, the defense took
the stand and gave mis- version of his
trouble with Jones substantially as fol-
lows:
II am q years cid. and unmarried.
know Mrs. Cora Jones and knew her bus
band. l saw MIS-. Jones June IL, and she
said her husband was going to shoot m >
or kill me on sight. She told me this at
the Davis restaurant. 1 told her that l
that kind. She told me had better look
out for him, that he had cut man IN
Seattle and was dangerous character.
That evening she again told me he was
going to kill me on sight"
Errington then vent on to say that he
told Mrs. Jones, that he did not care to go
to the theater with her on account of the
threats nade against him py her husband,
but she said that he was all right, and
nothing would result. He admitted that
when they started out from the restau-
rant it was to 60 TO his room IN the Or
lent lodging house on Spring street,
which he had rented only that afternoon,
tor the purpose of leaving note. he said,
for friend of his named Oscar Smith.
to whom he had given the key shortly
before. On the way up the street. how
ever. he yielded to Mrs. Jones' impor-
tunities. and agreed to take her to the
tneater. Continuing, Errington said:
Smith and came out. When 1 came out
a man raj out from the hedge whom 1
thought was Jones, and said: Now, you
---, I've got you.' He had som 9TH in e
hard in his hand 1 thought was re-
volver. When he ran out and gra bbed
me, pulled my revolver and bsgan to
shoot' M%ss did l Vas SO excited l scarcely knew
This closed t1e direct examination, and
then the witness was turned over to
Deputy District Attorney McComas. Mr..
McConas devoted himself almost entirely
10 the effort to break down Errington's =
statements that Mrs. Jones had followed
him up rather than that he had forced
his attentions on the woman. 1t had
been stated that Errington had stared to
his friend Smith that he would accom-
plish his purpose with Mrs. Jones if it
cost him $50 or his life, but when asked
the question direct if he had made such
Did you not go around with Mrs. Jones
for that very purpose?" asked Mr.. Nc
Oomas. 81 did moi" replied ErrIngton.
What were you going with her for.
then?' followed up Mr.. McComas. 81
treated Mrs. Jones like l treated any
other person" replied the witness. ''Al
married women?" continued Mr.. Nc
Comas. Like any other person. fol-
lowed up the witness. 80
And try as he would, this was all that
could be got out of Errington as to his
relations with Mrs. Jones. No matter
in which way the questions were put. the
result was always the same, and after
thing out of the witness, Mr.. McComas
gave it up as bad job and Errington
lett the stand without having said any
thing material beyond his direct exami-
nation which HIS attorney desired to
bring out and the court adjourned for
luncheon.
In the afternoon Detectives Moffitt and
Hawley. were put on BY the prosecution
to rsbut the testimony of Miss Anna
Anderson in regard to the statement
made at the police station, which closed
the case SO far As the taking OF testimony
10 COuCcTUcus
Deputy District Attorney McComas
then made the opening argument for the
prosecution reviewing the testimony at
length and scouting the idea that Erring-
ton was second Joseph while Mrs. Jones
enacted the role of Potiphar's wife. AS
to the plea of self-defense Mr.. McComas
said that ehis was nonsense, as according
10 Erringtnn's own testimony be- could
not have thought that he was in immi-
nent danger.
Mr.. Bowen of counsel for the defense.
followed, after which an adjournment was
taken TO Monday morning at 9:30 clock
when Senator Dennis Spenosr of counsei
for the defense will address the jury.
Deputy District Attorney McComas will
then close for the people and the case
will probably go to the ury late Monday
afternoon.
The Romer murder trial. which had
been set for Monday, has been continued
70 Tuesday owing to the fact that 1t was
impossible to conclude the Errington trial
Saturday evening.
Arrai0nn, eufs and djnus