The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-15
DAUGHTERS SHAME
MADE FATHER INSANE
John Jones Became So Dangerous Tie
Had 10 Be Placed Uuder Restraint.
HIS WIFE CAUSED HIS ARREST
Unfortunate Man Had n Revolver and
swore lie Wouid Kill the Man Who
Led His Daughter Astray--He Is
Now Confined in the Central Police
station and the Girl Is In the
County Jail as an Incorrigibie.

John Jones, So years old, is in the
central police station--a raving mani
ac. Up in Dickson City there is
small cosy dwelling. The table in the
dining room is spread-ready--but the
bread is dry and hard, the milk is
curdled i'm the pitcher-and the only
living thing in what was once n home
Is a mewing cat, moving restlessly
from empty room to empty room look
ing for a friend.
And in the county Jail is a l9-year-
old girl, Elvira, daughter of the maniac
in the police station and of the woman
who caused her husbands imprlson-
ment because she feared The revolver
lie carried.
That revolver was meant for the man
who betrayed the daughter and led her
down the road to ruin.
Elvira Jones is young and pretty. Up
to year ago she was the pride of
the Dickson City home. A younger
brother, II years old, worshipped her.
a married sister welcomed ElVira at her
home in West Scranton, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Jones were father and moth
er in all whicn that means.
But in December, 1897, Elvira Jones
met a man from this city. He, If the
suspicious of the police authorities are
correct, is a married man, living with
his family. The young girls downfall
began here. A months waywardness
and she was taken back home: three
| weeks ago she again disappeared and
last Tuesday John Jones, the father,
went before Alderman w. S. Millar,
of the Eighth ward, and swore out a
| warrant for his daughters arrest on
the charge of incorrigibility.
THE GIRL ARRESTED.
Tatrolman Day found the girl on the
street at a late hour and she was lock-
| ed in the police station. This story
has been told before in the papers-El-
vira Jones was sent to the county Jail
Wednesday because her father. who
appeared against her, wished it, Now
| comes the climax.
Yesterday Mrs. Jones, the mother
| signed her name to information against
| her husband. The charge was threats
| for want of better name. She stated
| that since her daughter was put in Jail
John Jones had been dangerously de-
| mented. Wednesday morning after the
| hearing he purchased a revolver and
| box of cartridges and went home
| Reaching there the mother and sor
| were waiting with the table spread
| for dinner. Jones entered,he would not
| eat but went to bed. Soon afterWarC
| he came down stairs. Il cannot Sleep
| he cried wildly; Il cannot sleep until
| send that man to his last sleep
| He had the revolver in his hand. As
he spoke, Jones raised the weapon and
| fired. The bullet passed between
| mother and son and shattered pic
| ture on the wall. Then he continued
| firing until the revolver was empty.
| Mrs. Jones left the house and her son
| followed to the home of the married
| sister in West Scranton. Yesterday
! morning she decided to have her hus
| band arrested.
| Detective viii Clifford took the war
rant and with the young son went tt
| Dickson City. They found the house
empty and the doors unlocked. AL
through the dwelling the marks o
Jones' violence could be seen. The
| walls are punctured in a half hundred
| places with bullet holes. An outhous'
| is also marked by the revolver. Th'
| table was as it had been left. Chairs
were broken, window panes smashed
Rut Jones had disappeared.
| BENT ON MURDER.
The man was located in North Scran
ton, and was coaXed to Alderman Mil
lars office. Here he was like a ragint
| bull. He swore again and again tina
he would kill his daughters betrayer
1T will cost the county nothing; l vii
kill him and then myself" he said.
BY strategy the revolver, 32-calibr'
weapon, was taken from the man anC
he was locked in the police station un
til he either calms for a hearing on tn,
charge of threats or is committed t,
an asylum. Jones is grey haired and
naturally of a gentle disposition.