Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-25
In THE FIRST DEGREE
A PETERSBURG MURDERER TO
PAY THE EXTREME PENALTY.
Matthew Jones, Who Killed His
wffe-rnnernI of MIR. T.. H.-Booth-
Political Points-Many Candidates
probabIe-Personal Notes.

PETERSBURG, VA, March 2L-tSps-
cial)-The jury in the case Of Matthew
Jones tcolored). indicted for the murder OF
his wife, Lucy Jones. on the Sd of De
cember last, this afternoon rendered Il
verdict of murder IN the first degree
as charged in the indictment" The eVi-
dence was altogether against the accused.
Indeed. the statement OF the murderer
when put on the stand was sufficient 70
cbnvict him. His wife was shot twice
the second time after she had fallen upon
the floor Of the porch Of her home anu
with the muzzle OF the gun-evidently DOT
rowed from friend for the purpose
close TO her body.
After arguments by counsel on the IN
structions the case was given to the
Jury at 1870 7. NJ. and verdict was
rendered Of murder in the first degree
ar s.s5 =. NJ, the first verdict OF the
Kind that has been rendered in PetersDuis
In many years. 80
The Jury were IN session exactly one
hour and five minutes, and II is salu ina
on retiring to their room they stoou
eieven 10 one In favor of murder IN the
first degree" one Of the jurors however
insisted that the Courts insWuctlohs
should be read and given due conslu-Ia-
tIon. and this was done, with The result
as above stated. ,,a..,,,
moved for new trial, on the grouni
thai "the verdict was contrary to the Ia"
and the evidence" and that the court
committed error in its instructions TO the
iurv" on this motion argument VIII De
heard later. .,,.,.
personal. AND GENERAL NEWS
The funeral of the venerable =. H.
raoth took place this afternoon from the
Washinston-street Methodist kpiscopal
church Rev Dr. w. T.. Edwards oiicia
ting. , o.noo 20 he
,,otod for nj the May election. are allhos1
daily announcing themselVes-espec
for The Common Council. 1t IS also re-
ported that petition Is being cireula'ou
requesting a well-knOwn young ia"Sci'
whose name has not hitherto been men
toned I'm connection with mat oiAce' ="
consent 10 run for the mayoralty.
There was sudden change OF tenpeia-
ture hare last night and after lai OF
rain and hail there was a ran OF sIo~.
Our people. who went to bed last hlsn'
under q mild temperature, aWohe TINS
morning 10 find nearly two lhches "a
snow covering the ground. ms was the
deepest snow of the winter. ana peioIe
noon II had almost entirely disappeared.
Farmers in this section say that they
have never seen more dehEh'lul anu
favorable winter than the last.
The reply OF the Board OF stewards OF
the Washlngton-Street Methodist Eplsco-
pal church TO the statement OF rev
DR.. A. G.. Brown. in reference to the re-
moval Of Rev. Or. W. G. Starr TO Rich-
mond. will probably be given TO the pub
lie within the next week or two II Is
understood that Mr. Richard b. Davis
a prominent lawyer, is preparing the re-
ply. AS is well known, DR.. Brown
statement was made In answer 10 pubii-
cation made by the official board OF
Washington-Street church.
A good deal Of caucusing has lately been
going on among the Republican leaders
in this city relative to the delegates to
be sent 10 the state convention. There
is apparently much division as to the
choice for President