The Portland daily press., 1898-04-08
TRIAL OF ALFRED JONES.
New Hampshire Boy Accused of Murder
ing His Mother.

Dover, N. H., April 2. The prosecution
in the trial of Alfred W. Jones for the
alleged murder of his mother, rested his
case after taking testimony this morning
of Professor Wood of Harvard.
Professor Wood stated that he examined
the stomach and intestines of Sally W.
Jones. The result Of his analysis showed
the presence of seven and one. half grains
of white arsenic. He stated that the
woman might have come to her death by
rat poison, and ON crOsS-examination said
that the presence of the arsenic might be
accounted for from the fact that the fluid
in preparing the body for burial. He said,
however, that the manner of death as de-
scribed BY the physicians who have testi-
fled was consistent with the theory of
poisoning by arsenic creating diseasef
meats.
John Kivel of this city. counsel for the
defense, made the opening argument for
his client, saying that it was proposed to
show that Alfred W. Jones had neither
motive, means, nor opportunity to cause
the death of his mother by poisoning.
DIR. John S. Parker of Pennington was
called and said he was at Sally's house
the day the will was made, and that it
was satisfactory to her as sho dictated it.
The next witness was Ida Cook. who
She said she was called into the house
quite often during the day by Mrs. Jones,
so she could 60 to sleep, because she said
she was afraid to sleep nights on account
of William Jones's actions and threats.
Then followed large number OF wit
nesses from Portsmouth and Attleboro,
Mass, to show the incompetancy OF DR..
Virtues testimony.
Mrs. Henrietta Darsey, daughter of
Mrs. Jones, testified that her mother told
her at Places Crossing that the accident
was the second time her husband had
tried to kill her. She said that after the
accident and the will had been made, her
mother told her that William said he
would give her dose that would fix her
unless she altered the will and made it in
his favor.
Several witnesses were called to show
that Alfred never had any poison in his
possession. as alleged by the state. Mrs.
jenkins of Somersworth, testified that
she sold all the medicines her husband
left to the late Dr. Prescott and that AL
fred never had particle OF it.
Alfred W. Jones, the alleged murderer,
then took the stand in his own behalf
and made specific denials of the stats
ments made against him in connection
with his mothers will including the
claim that the will was made in his favor.
He said the relations had always been
pleasant between his mother and himself
and also between his father and himself,
until after the death of his mother. He
denied purchasing posion of DR.. Virtue
in Exeter and also denied having been in
Exeter for several years. He said the will
of his mother provided that after the
death OF his father the property should be
divided equally between the children.
In closing his testimony a fired said he
had reason to suspect both his father and
sister, Mrs. Prescott OF poisoning his
mother, from conversation he overheard
on the afternoon of his mothers death.
Court then adjourned until nine O'clock
tomorrow morning, when Attorney Gen
eral Eastman will make the argument for
the state and Attorney Crowley for Jones.
1t is thought the case will go to the jury
by noou