The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-23
CROSS EXAMINED BY POU
he Says He Made Contrary Affidavit
Before Justice of the Peace Be-
cause He Was Afraid
of the Other De-
fendants.
Especial to News and observer.l !

1enQantSs
Especial to News and Observer.i
Wilson, N. c., June 2:.-The afternoon
session of the court which is trying the
men indicted for the murder of Percy
Jones, the insurance agent, furnished the
most startling development yet occurring
in this celebrated case. At the opening
of the session. at 2:sO O'Clock, Wiley
Dixon, ]. b. Lemons and Policeman Eel
lon were placed upon the stand. but their
evidence shed no new light on the crime.
Then came the event of the day. the
testimony of William W. Barnes. Barnes
is one of the defendants. He was put on
the stand by the State. He told of how
the plot was formed to whip Jones. where
the crowd held their meeting on the night
of the homicide. He implicated Allen.
Rich, Morgan. Pittman. Walls. Ward.
Baas. Piver. sgd Davis and himself. He
said that Allen, Rich. Pittman. Bass and
Ward were IN Jones room when the
shooting took place.
On cross examination by Mr.. Pou it was
brought out that Barnes had signed IN
affidavit before s. A. Woodard, notary
public, IN contradiction to the statement
made by him on the stand. 1t was also
brought out that Barnes ted the defend
ants that he was not going to turn States
evidence.
The affidavit referred to follows:
II have seen Jones twice, / saw him
at the mayors office once, the second time
on the street and / told Piver Jones was
on the street and that he swore out a
warrant against Whitley. This was the
afternoon before the trouble. l think
Jones was standing about Dannenbergs
market. / had said any man that asso-
eiated with negroes should be driven away
from. / did not agree with any person
or persons to run Jones out of town /
know nothing about any committee being
formed to drive Jones out of town. l was
not on Branch's cotton yard the night
Jones was killed. | went down town that
night about nine or ten O'Clock, and stood
around on the street. No one in particu-
lar was with me. / heard not a word
about any one going to whip Jones. After
the bars closed | went off to look for
Piver. I was working for him. / knew
he was drunk, and I went to get him to
take care of him. went down the street
towards Taylor's bar-room and>staid about
looking for Piyer. had been drink some.
but not to excess. 1 met Piver some
where about Farmers stables and we
came down street. He gave me the key
to unlock the door that leads up stairs
over brakes bar. We heard guns firing.
We were between Farmers stables and the
entrance to the hotel. We started up and
heard Jno. Alley say he was shot and
Piyer and Rich carried him to the Sanito
hof oil Ern ah \
Afterwards Piver came back and went up
stairs and went to bed.
Sworn to before me this June 9th.
(Signed) IS. A. WO0DARD,
Notary Public
On examination by Mr. ]. r. Uzzeli.
witness said he made this affidavit and
told the defendants that he was not go
ing to turn States evidence, because be
was afraid of the defendants and did this
to allay suspicion.
VIM. w Barnes. who was ordered into
the custody of the sheriff this evening by
Judge Shaw, has been taken to his own
home. and is being guarded by deputies
so that no harm may come to him on ac-
count Of his turning States evidence.
THE MORNING PROCEEDINGS
During the Jones murder trial,
winch was TAKEN up mere Oh
last Monday at a special term of
criminal court, Judge Thomas ]. Shaw,
presiding, only two of the defendants.
Whitley and Rich. were confined in jail,
bend having been furnished for all the
other defendants. On Saturday night
John Allen was surrendered into custody
by one of his securities. r. L. Davis, he
having informed the authorities that he
would withdraw from Aliens bond In
consequence three of the five defendants
now ON trial are confined in jail during
the lntermissions of the court.
Aiter court had been opened this morn
ing and the preliminaries dispensed with,
Mr. +. A. Woodard addressed the court
IeiatNe TO the Luther Barnes incident on
oaturday. Judge Shaw. addressing Mr..
"oouafo. said no remarks would be al
oWed relative to this incident in the
presence OF the jury. Mr. ;. GODDARD said
ne thought that Barnes was put under
bond IN the presence Of the jury but that
he didn't know.
Judge shaw said. Il do. No part of the
Barnes incident took place in the pres
ence OF the jury" His Honor ruled
further that no mention Of the matter