Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-23

" 6doO 4N4S
Yesterday morning the Register, in
its full and complete account of the eff
forts of the Marshall county authorities
to find the murderer of little Stanley
Mason and the author of the murder
Gus assault upon his brother Willie,
took occasion to make two remarks, OF
vital interest.
One was that the effort to fasten al
least some measure of guilt upon Mrs
Mason was more ingenious than plau-
sible; the other was that there was
reasonably sure to be sensational devel-
opments yesterday.
Both these remarks were founded on
a careful study of the case, including
some things which did not appear in
print, and the events of yesterday JUST
fed them. No one longer thinks Of Mrs
Mason having anything in the world to
do with the crime, and the murderer
spent last night
IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY,
while the coroner's jury has concluded
its work and has adjourned.
The murderer is James Edward
Jones, colored, aged about fifteen years
a son of James Jones, who resides
about quarter of mile from the Ma
son house. Jones, who is better known
as Ed. Jones, is boy of evidently vici-
Gus temper, is known to have commit
ted at least one theft, and whose mind
is we'll fitted to harbor revenge. Those
who know him best characterize him
as bad boy, and one witness before
the jury yesterday told of having been
warned against him some time ago.
The jury met yesterday morning
shortly after 8 o'clock at the Court
House, but sat all day behind closed
doors. They knew from the start that
the daywould see startling developments
and tangible results, and it was deemed
best by everybody in authority to keep
the developments as secret as possible,
merely as a precautionary measure.
When the inquiry opened yesterday,
Mr. Meighen, acting for the State, made
a statement to the jury. He said that
Wednesday he heard of the fact that
young Jones had
A GRUDGE AND GRIEVANCE
against Stanley Mason, and had re-
quested the town police to arrest the
boy and bring him bfore the jury be-
fore any one had chance to talk to
him To this the police had returned
the answer that they had seen the boy
and talked with him, and also with
Harry Jones, his father, and that they
were convinced there was nothing in
the theory that Ed Jones had commit
ted the crime. Mr.. Meighen added that
he then told the police they had not
kept their promise in the premises nor
obyed his request, and that he had then
acted himself and that the boy was
present and would be brought before
the jury.
The colored boy was then called and
his examination was commenced with
the usual questions as to his name, pa
rentage and place of residence all of
which he answered satisfactorily. This
was followed with questions as to where
he had beeen Tuesday and he replied
that Tuesday morning about o'clock
he went out on the hill with his father
to pick blackberries. He said they re-
turned about 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
and that his father then went to town,
and was gone.
ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.
When father came back was sitting
in the yard reading book. had split
the kindling wood and got the coal and
night water, and then went out to read
my book. | also picked some berries
while father was gone. close to the
house. Mother watched me all the time
to keep me from getting on other peo-
pies land. Ii only took me about half
an hour to pick bucket of berries.
When I went TO pick the berries it was
only about 2 o'clock, and when | got
them picked it was about half-past two.
Then l split the wood. got the coal and
water. ana was reading my book when
father came back.
Didn't the water get warm when
il was gotten at that time of day? Al
set the bucket on the table in the yard,
wherzit was shady.
"O@Why was you up on the other
hill (Masonsl that afternoon? Al
was never up there. When they was
building the house there was bear
cot loose from a show, and | was afraid
to go up there.
O-When was that? A.-That was
when they were laying the foundations.
Proceeding. in answer to other ques-
lions. Jones denied being
AT THE MASON PLACE
AT any time. but being pressed closely,
finally admitted that he was there
Tuesday. the day of the murder. He
then said that that day the dead boy,
Stanley Mason, came along by his faith
er's house, in the morning, and twitted
him with stealing the halter or bride
from Mr.. Helms. and had thrown a
stone into the yard and struck him. In
the afternoon witness said he went up
to the Mason house to make a COM
plant to the BOYS mother about it, and
when he asked Stanley Mason where his
mother was. he found that she was not
at home. He said the two boys were
cutting some weeds and Jones said he
to the Oldest boy about his