The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-25
Drew His ReyoIvers and Threatened
TO Use Them.
PLAYS A SUCCESSFUL RUsE
Stephen Baptist, 4 Young Negro Be
lieycd to BE the Murderer OF Dir. Pc
ter Jones in Mecklcnburs. Safe
Iy Lodged in Petersburg
Jail To Prevent His Bein.
Taken by the Mob.

BOYDTON. VA, April 2t.-Special.-The
probable murderer of old Mr. Peter Jones.
escaped iynching this morning at Buffalo
Lithia springs, where he was brought FOR
trial, only by the skin OF his teeth. He
was saved by ruse which was perpe-
trated by the officers and later when
overtaken he was saved by the artfui act
of Constable W. C. Tally.
Baptist was brought before a magistrate
and under pretense of sending out for
more witnesses the Constable went or
taking the prisoner with hiux and was
making his way 10 the railroad station
when a mob of half dozen men overlook
him and demanded the prisoner.
officer Tally coolIy drew pair of re-
volvers and told the mob his duty was toN
protect the prisoner and that he meant TO
do so and warned them that he would fire
if they interfered with his prisoner
The mob saw that this brave officer was
in earnest and let him pass on.
Judge Homes ordered Baptist to be car
ried to Petersburg and he passed through
here to-day on the noon train for that
city.
PETERSBURG, VA, April 2t.-Spec-
ial-Stephen Baptist the alleged mur-
derer Of Peter Jones in Meckienoufs
county, is in jail here.
THE MURDER.
BOYDTON, VA, April 25z-Speeial-Ad-
ditOnal particulars OF the murder OF Old
man Peter Jones, which occurred Sunday
about noot near Buffalo I4tiiia Springs.
show that MIR. Jones started out Sunday
morning to so TO a nelghbors. As he left
the yard his sister who lived with him.
thought she heard some one call him in an
opposite direction from that he pIrposed
going, but she thought nothing of this.
but wilen their dinner hour came he had
not returned: she waited in great anxiety
until /, then ., 3, and then O'Clock, and
still ne did not appear. Sae than became
| alarmed, and notified the ncighbocs of IL.
| A searching party was soon gotten to-
gether and the search began with torches
| and lanterns. 1t was s O'Clock in the
| morning before any trace could be found
of the missing man. Then it was that
in lonely tllicilet, in a bottom, where man
scarcely ever went, the body of the old
man was found dead. lying face down
ward, with the back of his skull crushed
in,
AN IRON BAR
An iron bar, about two feet long. was
found near the dead body, which was evil
IDENTIFY the instrument with (which the dead
ly blow was inflicted. The crime was COM
mitted within quarter OF a mile of the
house, and robbery was believed TO be the
cause of the crime.
A negro man. named Stephen Baptist a
son OF Ras Baptist about twenty years of
| age. is strongly suspected of being the
guilty murderer, and the circumstances
point to flui.
He went to Mr.. Jones' on Saturday Ian
unusual thing for him to do) and offered
to do any kind OF service that might be-
wanted about the house. and asked Miss;
Polly Jones, the murdered mans sister. IL
ner brother kept his money in the house.
| or in the bak. He has been arrested. and
| the excitement in the neighborhood is in
| tense.
| The theory IS that the old man was
enticed into the woods and then murdered.
| News comes over the wires this morning.
| stating that Stephen Baptist is being tried
before d magistrates court. and that the
evidence is very conclusive OF his guilt.