Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1902-06-26
THE TRIAL OF
DIR. JOHN G. JONES.

The law presumes every man inno-
cent until he has been proven guilty
of crime, beyond reasonable doubt.
At the January sitting of the Grand
Jury Of this county, upon evidence
brought before that body by one, Miss
Julia Shields, Dr. John @. Jones,
young physician of Millvile, was in
dicted on the very serious charge of
abortion. At the term of the criminal
court following Prosecutor Fithian
was unable to move the case, owing
to the critical illness of the complain
ing witness, and the case was put off
until the May term. A further post
ponement was asked at this term by
counsel for the defendant, VIM. A.
Logue, but it was finally agreed by all
parties that the trial should come off
on Thursday, June 10Th, at which
time the May panel of jurors were
returned
Court convened promptly at 10
O'Clock on Thursday, with Judge
Trenchard on the bench. Proecutor
Fithian occupied his accustomed table
and at the other table was seated the
defendant, DR.. Jones, with his ooun-
sci, ex-Prosecutor VIM. A. Logue.
Court stenographer Arthur W. Kelly,
of Atlantic City, was also present.
After considerable trouble a jury of
twelve men was placed in the box,
with Samuel M. Hall, of this city, as
foreman, and the case proceeded by
calling to the stand the complaining
witness, Miss Julia Shields, really
handsome looking young lady. Wit
ness testified that she had resided at
Clayton, N. j., for sixteen years. She
went to Millville in 1889 and was en-
ployed at that time at Dix's wrapper
factory. In the year 1900, about May
1st, she became acquainted with DR..
Jones; an intimacy sprang up and she
had promised to become his wife.
In September following the alleged
criminal operation on her person was
performed by DR.. Jones in his Office
in Millville, after which she returned
to her home in Clayton. Complica-
tions setting in, witness was removed
to the Presbyterian Hospital in Phila-
delphia, where she remained for three
months in a precarious condition
While in the hospital she was visited
by the defendant, DR.. Jones, where
upon being paid $3.50, she signed a
paper stating that the doctor had
never performed the operation on her5
Mr.. Logue put the witness through
a severe and critical cross examina-
tion, but she withstood the test with
fortitude remarkable for one of so
delicate and frail appearance
The defense sought to degrade the
character of the witness by getting
her to testify to things which appar-
emily she knew nothing about, but
her answers were very positive and
negtive to these questions. Witness
said that she was 81 years old. Some
love letters between her and DR.. Jones
were introduced, addressed to "My
Dear John," and signed "Yours low
ingly, Julia" The letters related to
good times she and the doctor had
had.
We have briefly outlined the girls
story; much of the testimony cannot
be printed
from Daily Pioneer Friday, June 2O.l
When Court re-convened yesterday
afternoon at l. Is, in the case of the
State against DR.. John g. Jones, Miss
Shields was still on the stand, having
withstood for more than an hour the
sharp, severe cross examination of Mr..
Logue without weakening in the least
her plain, simple story told on her
direct examination on the part of the
State. The attitude of the witness
throughout was such as to make
very favorable impression on the jury.
On ross-examination of Miss
Shields it was brought out that when
the doctor visited her at the hospital
and got her to sign the paper for
which he gave her $3.50, he actually
broke down and cried Witness de-
MED that she had ever said in the
presence of anyone that "I love him !;
I'm going to have him if / have to
wade through fire and water to get
him, referring to DR.. Jones. Coun-
sci for defendant labored hard to get
witness to acknowledge that she was
an habitual user of the morphine drug,
but she persistently denied the use of
morphine except as given to her by
Dr. Jones On redirect examination,
Prosecutor Fithian produced a letter
written by DR.. Jones addressed to
MY Dear Julia" in which reference
was made to his taking morphine,
and in which he hoped that the drug
ne gave her had not dealt as harshly