The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-25
JONES WILL NOT HANG
MS SENTENCE COMMITTED TO
EIGHTEEN TEARS IMPRISONHENT.
The Prisoner overJoyed at the News-Was
to Have Been Hanged Next Thursday
The Crime for " hioh lie Was Tried

PETERSBURG, VA, August A.-Spe-
cial.-Matthew alias Doc. Jones, colored,
was 20 have been hanged In tho jail
yard Of this city on next THURSDAY LOT
the brutal murder Of his wife. Lucy jones'
whom he shot and killed on the 80 day OF
last December. Jones. however VIII not
hang. as the Governor has commuted MS
sentence to eighteen years Imprisonment
ia the penitenuary.
THE GOVERNORS TELEGRAM.
Mr.. Charles 4. Lassiier. who with MI
Charles Hall Davis, o; this city aeiehoeu
Jones at MS trial. received TINS AI'e'ASSI
tho following telegram q, ,ooe
"Ricnmond. Va, August q, 1870.
Charles 7. Lassitor, ESQ, Peteis0.'s g.
Va.
Resolving all doubts on the SIDE OF
mercy. l have commuted Jones death
sentence TO imprisonment for eighteen
years in the penitentiary.
(slgned } CHARLES I. OFEiutALh'
Governor"
As soon as the telegram had been re-
ceiycd Sheriff Charles Watson informed
Jones OF the action OF the Governor ana
he appeared perfectly delighted. lie sara
that he had been praying and others hah
been praving for him. and he knew that
God would hear and answer the prayers
that were being offered IN his behalf.
Jones said he felt an hour before he
heard mat the Governor had commuted
his sentence that he would DO so.
THE CRIME.
.Jones and his wife had been residing on
Federal street up 10 Saturday night pre-
ccding the murder. when Jones can't
home from Richmond and began TO quar-
rel with her TO avoid pfclorgng the
quarrel she left home. and went 10 her
sisters. Jones went 10 the house whore
his wife was on the day Of the murder.
Three times be renewed the quarrel with
her The last time he went he took with
him double barreed shotgun. which he
had hired from a store-keeper In the
neighborhood by telling the latter that he
wanted Il 10 shoot ~ target After get
ting possession 81 the gun Jones went 10
Helen Booths house determined 20 Kill
his wife The wOman's right arm was
almost literally shot of, while IN her back
was a wound whore she had been shot
through the right lung sufficiently large
for a man fist 10 he inserted Sho lin
gercd until 4 o'clock the day she died
After tho murder Jones fed 10 Dinwid-
die county pursued by posse OF armed
men. That night he came back 70 Pc
tersburg and was arrested.
THE TRIAL.
At the March term OF the Hastings
Court no was convicted of murder in the
first decree and sentenced 10 be hanged
on July 3ist. but the Governor granted him
a respite until the 9th Of August.
All arrangements had been made for the
execution.
REASONS FOR THE ACTION.
The Governor. in granting the commuta-
ton OF Jones sentence. gave the follow
ing reasons for doing so:
..Tbis man suspected his wife OF infidel-
ity. and her conduct justified his sus-
picions When he made known his sus-
piciOns TO his wife she left his house ana
refused repeatedly 10 return or live with
him again. For several days no brooded
over his troubles. ate very little. ana
drank freely. Finally. he made another
appeal to his wife TO return and i've
with him. this she again refused 10 do
I'm emphatic terms. whcreupon madden
cd and desperate he took her life. While
the crime was great. think the circl1n-
stances under which 81 was committed
were such as 20 Justify the Executive
I'm relieving the prisoner OF the severest
ponaitv fixed bv law for any crime ana
which IS meted out only to the worst
criminals. -.
"1,hc prisoner had borne q good char-
ootor tie had been law-ahidinc. quiet ana
no,,.arle indutriors and trustworthy
"Ciemcncy IS recommended by I'VE OF
tho jurors who tried him and nnmncr
~ prominent citizens. and the judge inter-
poses no objection. 80, -.
"Resolvine AN doubts on The s'ae o'
mercy DO hereby commute the SEM C'''e
NJ the prisoner 10 eighteen years coiil'"'-
roont I'm the ponitenti1ry