Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-21
JURY ACQU|TS VE|TCH
Constable Who Shot John
Jones Ex0nerated.
AFFAIR OF SATURDAY NIGHT
Evidence Showed That Jones Pointed
Gun at the Officer.
BEFORE MAGISTRATE
Same Testimony Given as at the In
quest-Prosecuting Attorney Con-
sents to Constable's Release.

An inquest was held at II o'clock yes
terday morning al Rossyn Va over the
remains Of Uncle John" Jones, the col
ored man, seventy years of age, who was
shot and killed by Constable Edward E.
Veitch Saturday night, after Jones had
shot Terry Godsey and Rastus Ransom, the
first named being badly wounded The
verdict OF the jury exonerated Constable
Veitcn. This was followed today by a pre-
liminary hearing before Magistrate e. F.
Thompson to decide whether the constable
should be held for the action of the grand
jury, which resulted in the release of the
officer
Only three witnesses were heard at the
inquest besides the constable Private Ar
thur Warren of the Sd L. s. Battery sta
toned at Fort Myer was the first called
He testified that he witnessed the scrim-
mage between Jones, Godsey and Willie
Russell, after Jones had secured his re-
voiver, and saw Jones grab Godsey. and,
holdlng the weapon close to his breast,
fired. Joseph Fields stated that he accom-
panied Constable Veitch to Jones cabin and
saw the colored aim at the officer
who then drew his revolver and fired. He
said he thought the officer was justified in
firing the shot. Constable Veitch repeated
in substance his statement that was pub
lished in The Star of yesterday.
Jury Acts Promptly.
After hearing the testimony Coroner Ash
ton ordered the jury to retire and consider
a verdict, but 1t was suggested by one of
the Jurors that this was unnecessary. as
the case was so plain that the members had
already arrived at verdict. A poll was
taken, which resulted in q verdict of ac-
quittal
The preliminary hearing of the ease was
held this morning 10 O'Clock in Of
fee of Sheriff William II. Palmer at Ross
-lyn. Va, f. F. Thompson, justice of the
peace pea ~ presiding I Prosecuting Attorney
Crandail Mackey was present. Several wit
nesses were heard this morning, all of
whom. with the exception of Toliver Ter
rell, colored, testified that Jones was in the
act OF firing at the constable when he was
shot. After hearing all of the evidence
obtainable Attorney @Mackey stated that
Jones had been shown to have been In the
act of loading his revolver, and that he
had aimed 1t at the constable with an
OATH stating that he would kill any of the
officers that came near; that the only testi-
mony that was against the constable was
that Of Terrell, and he, therefore, did not
think there was enough evidence upon
which to hold the defendant for the grand
jury. Justice Thompson then dismissed the
constable.
Colored Witnesses Justify Shooting.
noticeable fact in the testimony for
the defendant was that all but three of
-
the witnesses were colored people who
were acquainted with Jones, and they,
with the exception of Terrell testified
that they thought the officer was justi-
fed in shooting Jones. The coroner's jury
consisted of Messrs. Carl KennZing Jesse
Thomas, Charles Johnson, Walter Ma
gruder, b. T. Colbert and Robert Hove
The trouble grew out of a quarrel be-
tween Jones and Russell in Georgetown,
when the latter, 1t was stated, refused to
treat Jones to a drink. Jones followed
him to Rosslyn and there told him he was
going to kill him anyhow. Jones then
went to his home on Crows hill and pro-
cured a revolver, with which he fired
three shots at Russell and one at Ran
som. Godsey then caught hold of Jones
and tried to keep him from shooting, but
the latter got his arm loose and shot
Godsey in the breast. Constable Vietch
appeared on the scene about this time
and undertook to arrest Jones, with the
result stated.
Godsey sent to the Georgetown
University Hospital, where it is stated
this morning that his condition, although
stin critical, is slightly improved