The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-07-01
]. |. JONES CASE UP.
Disbarment Proceedings Heard
Before Circnit Judge Hig-
gins, of Fayetteville.
CASE CONTINUED UNTIL NEXT
TERM OF COURT.
From Wednesdays Daily.)

The disbarment proceeding in the
case OF the State of Tennessee, in re.
against John L. Jones, attorney. is on
trial today before Circuit Judge
Joseph C. Higgins, of Fayetteville
The case was taken up at 10 80 o'clock
this morning, and the court room was
we'll filled with spectators anxious to
hear the proceedings. in which there
exists much interest and the usual NOR
bid curiosity that such cases excite.
Contrary to all expectations the char
acter testimony, bearing directly upon
the general reputation and character OF
the defendant, will not be introduced.
When the case was taken up this
morning, the attorneys for Mr.. Jones
made motion to quash that part OF
the charges relating to the defendants
character, on the ground that no spe-
clfic act was charged to show the bad
character. The motion was argued at
some length by the lawyers on both
sides, and all the speeches were able
ones. The state is represented by At
torney General Garner and E. II.
Hatcher, ESQ.,, and the defendant is
represented by Messls W. S. Fleming,
w. j. Webster and W. b. Gordon.
After the arguments on %the motion
had been completed, Judge Higgins an
uounced his ruling, sustaining the mo.
ton of the defendants attorneys.
The case was taken up at the after
noon session of the court, the case 60
ing to trial on the specific charges
made by Judge Sam Holding. to the
effect that the defendant Jones wrote
and caused his client to sign and swear
to false atfidavits, at the present term,
and at the the December term OF the
Circuit Court, in order to get a case
continued, and that he made false
al statement to the court in the same case
in order to get the case reset; all for
the purpose of deceiving the court.
That part of the charges which were
stricken out was the last charge, which
was in the following language: That
the said Jones has so conducted him.
self as to lose his standing at the bar
and that generally he sustalns Dao
character, both as to honesty ana
veracity. :.
This afternoon will be consumed in
taking testimony and the case Will
probably be decided tomorrow morn
ing.
Later. When court met this after
noon the attorneys for the state an
nounced that they desired to file addi-
tionaI charges in the case, and they
asked that the case he continued ana
that they be allowed until the first OF
September in which to file same Inc
continuance was granted, and the
court ordered that the defendant MAKE
answer to the additional charges py
the first day of the November term, at
which time day will be set for the
trial of the case
A Young Judge.
Circuit Judge Higgins. who is here
at the request OF Judge Sam Holding,
70 hear the disbarment proceedings
against Attorney John l.. Jones. IS the
Youngest Judge in Tennessee. being
onlv 40 years old. He was formerly a
newspaper man and went into tne
..proff sh" as ''printer devil he
saws he still has love for news,
naper work, and he is always giau
70 meet newspaper men. Juage
Higgins attracted most favoraoie
criticism from both bar ana
m. spectators today 10y the business
like methods OF conducting bis court.
He h not back ward in the use OF DIS
aavaI and he is an ineistent
sticLler for good order. lie an
nnnnces his decisions with force ana
o,aarnsss accompany ing them with for
c,be GESTURES, as ii he were at ene 90,
pleading. lie is already regarded as une
81 the ablest Circuit Judges .ue
state. although be has only been Oh 'ne
bench about three years.