The sun., 1901-10-01
SHOOTING
4 MYSTERY
Jury Did Not Place Blame For
Winners Death.
JONES WAS NOT RELEASED
Prisoner Still Held on Murder Charge
for Hearing on Thursday Morn
ing---Witnesses Tell Diff
ferent Stories.
JONES WAS NOT RELEASED

Conflicting statements by witnesses has
caused the shooting of John Wesley VIII
lner, colored, which occurred at the house,
No. 612 Christiana street, on Sunday
afternoon to be shrouded in mystery
After hearing the testimony of witnesses
for more than two hours yesterday after
noon in the Municipal Court room the
jury empaneled by Coroner Frick to IN
vestigate the cause of death, rendered
the following verdict:
Resolved, That John Wesley Wilmer
came TO his death on September 20, 1901
at No 612 Christiana street, about 12.4o
y. M, from gun shot wound inflicted By
Il person unknown to this jury.
The statement of Alexander Jones, who
was arrested few minutes after the
,hooting took place, on the charge Of
murder, and his mother, Mrs. Lucinda
Jones, who as far as has been learned,
were the only two persons i'll the roon
when Wilmer was killed, differ as to
how the shooting occurred. Jones testi-
led on the stand yesterday that Wilmer
on entering the room, pulled out re-
solvcr and pointed it at him. He Jonesl
knocked up the revolver and it went off,
ne DU1ltl tHltIlliS w llilitl litiu.
Tones testified that Wilmer was leaning
over pulling the revolver out of his
pocket or belt when it went off. A num-
ser OF other witnesses testified as to
what occurred directly before and after
he shooting. Their testimony was also
.onfiicting. The most damaging evi-
Ience heard against Jones was the testi
mony of .Iary Jones who was in the
Kitchen when the shot was fired. Mary
testified that she heard Jones say: "Shail
shoot him." and in short time she
heard the report of the revolver. She
,lso testified that she heard Mrs. Jones
ny: "Oh. Aleck, you have killed him."
The inquest was started shortly before
o'clock. Charles Whann was foreman
md examined the witnesses. Deputy
Attorney General Robert Richards was
PRESENT and cr0ss-eXamined the wit
nesses.
The first witness was DIR. j. A. Draper.
Tr., coroners physician. DR.. Draper
testified to having examined the dead
snan and found the bullet in the upper
art of the brain.
Lucinda Jones, mother of the accused,
who was the next witness, said she was
present when the shooting took place.
She was cleaning a pan at the dining
'oom table when Elbert and her son
'ame in and sat on a lounge. Her grand
on and Wilmer We're laughing. Wilmer
started to pull revolver from his pocket
" belt. While the pistol was part of the
way out it went off. The report deafencd
Ter. Her son was about ten feet away.
Mr. Richards in cross-examining her ask
"a If she did not say, "Oh, Aleck.
low you have done it," She replied that
Il She said it she did not know it. She
aid her son Alexander, Wilmer, Elbert
md herself were in the room.
Irwin Elbert said he lived in the same
Aouse but denied that he was iii the
room.
Mary Jones of No. 612 Christinna street
testified that she was no relation TO thc
ther Jones. She was in tho Kitchen
prcing potatoes when she heard the re-
,ort. Shortly before she heard Babe
Tones. (.AleXander) say, shall shoot
him."
James Jones, brother of Alexander,
aid that he was sitting on the front
teps when he heard the report He
lid not see the men quarreling.
William West of No. 610 Christiana
trcet, said that after the shooting he
irard Mr.. Jones. Alexander's father, say
'.,leck, -Aleck. you have done it. told
on about fooling with them things"
Alexander Jones, Sr,, father of the
,ccllsed. said that he was sitting in the
'ront room when he heard the report.
He denied that Elbert was in the room
nd also denied that he said what West
-estifed to.
Katie Bartie was on the stand hut her
eStimony brought ont no new points.
Smith of No NJ Ern1tt NJ
young Polish girl, was at dinner when
he heard the report. She ran and look
| d through the fence to the Jones yard
nd heard some man say: 81 wanted To
! 10 that and did do that"
Officer McGarvey testified to going to
he house and arresting Jones.
Jones was next put on the stand. He
aid that he and Wilmer went into tile
house joking. Wilmer rushed Mt him
With pistol. He knocked the pistol up
| md it went off. After being shot he
aid Wilmer stood there for nearly five
| minutes. He then started TO fall and
truck the floor before he could catch
| aim. The revolver was at Winners
| feet but someone picked 1t up and layed
| t on the table. He said that he had NJ
| 'uss with Wilmer
DIR. Draper was recalled to the stand
~ Mr.. Richards. In answer to ques-
lion he said that the bullet practically
took horizontal course and that there
was no powder burns around the wound.
lie said it would have been possible
| for the wound to have been inflicted IL
the revolver was being taken from his
pocket or if it was in his hand as stated
by Jones.
Several other witnesses We're also
heard. Patrol Driver Purcell told of
:oing in the house and getting the revol-
yer from the table.
1t took the jury about fifteen minutes
TO arrive at the verdict. In Municipal
Court yesterday morning Jones was held
NTH Thursday without bail What ac-
ti"n will be taken after Thursday is
not known.
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