The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-07
CHARLES {. JONES
NOW A FREE MAN
Judge PurneII Changed
Sentence to Fine,
RAISED BY FRIENDS.
Fine Was $4,000 and Costs 1900
In AZ Minutes Friends in G0ldsboro
Raised 81, 500, Came Upon Night
Train and Released
Jones.
RAISED BY FRIENDS.

Charles c. Jones, of Goldsboro, is a
| free man.
Yesterday he was found guilty by a
jury in the Federal Court of receiV-
ing stolen postage stamps, knowing
them to be stolen.
Judge Purnell sentenced him to two
years imprisonment at hard labor and
to pay fine of $500.
Last night Judge Purnell, after
much urging by counsel for Jones,
changed his mind and made the sem
tence a fine of $4,000 and costs, which
brought it up to $4,000.
Capt. w. II. Day, Judge w. S. O'B.
Robinson, Messrs. Pou and Fuller and
Mr. Horace Comfort, of New York,
counsel for Jones, worked on the
judge all the evening, until finally, a
little after nine o'clock last night, he
consented to make the punishment
only a fine.
Jones wa sstill in the custody of the
marshal, and in his office in the Fed
eral building. The news reached
Goldsboro as fast as the wires could
carry it, and in a few minutes Jones
friends were at work raisingt the
money. In forty-seven minutes II. IG.
King had collected $500 without the
scratch of q pen.
Then they took the night train for
Raleigh and got here about twenty
minutes to one o'clock, the train be-
ing late. In the party that brought
the money We're Messrs. II. e. King
G. +. Granger, j. =. Lewis, George
Stanley and w. Il. Jordan. They went
at once to Marshal Dockery's office,
where Jones still was, and in q few
minutes the formalities were conclud-
ed and Jones was free to rejoice with
his friends. He leaves this morning
for home.
The argument in the Jones case was
resumed yesterday morning. Col.
Harry Skinner the District Attorney,
addressed the jury and made very
powerful argument for conviction.
considering the weakness of the evil
dence, Col. SINNERS speech was Il
mastery one. Judge Robinson closed
for the defense, and Judge Purnell
charged the jury, and gave them the
case about twenty minutes after eleV-
en- o'clock. About two hours and q
half later they came in and announce
ed their verdict. 1t was not guilty
of completely in the poStoffice rob-
berries, but guilty of receiving stolen
postage stamps. Judge Purnell sent
the jury back to put the verdict in
writing. They retired and returned
the following verdict:
1--WE find and adjudge Charles c.
Jones to be guilty of receiving stolen
postage stamps knowing the same to
have been stolen"
Judge PurneH then stated that he
would pronounce sentence at hal-past
three o'clock.
At that hour Judge Robinson NOV
ed for the verdict to be set aside,
on the ground that there was no ev-
idence to support it, and hat it did
not say from whom the stamps We're
stolen or from where
fn1 Cfyi or C1i1 hn tln
motion was merely a formal one, and
not made seriously.
Judge Robinson said he was fear
fully in earnest. When he joked he
joked, put he was not joking now.
The only evidence introduced to the
stolen stamps, he said was that from
Apex and Whiteville, and at both of
those places the sheets had been torn
into halves of fifty each, and yet the
stamps Jones sold were in blocks of
ten.
CAPTAIN Day also spoke to the mo-
ton to set aside, but Judge Purnell
overruled it. and said they could go
ahead with their appeal.
Colonel Skinner prayed The judy
ment of the court before notice of APP
peal.
Judge Purnell then sentenced Jones
to two years imprisonment at hard
labor and a fine of $500.
Then notice of appeal was given,
but the court would nOt accept bond
until the record on appeal was made
up, and so Jones had to stay with the
Marshal, and would have mad to go to
jail iast night and perhaps for sew
eral days had not Judge Purnell been
persuaded to change the sentence,
and so give Jones friends an oppor-
t11,iitv To him ont