The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-05
MERCY OF COURT.
Case of Theodore Jones Comes
TO Abrupt End.
He Pleads Guilty When Ready
~ for Trial.
JUDGE DANA'S TALK.
Refused to Listen to Story
From Attorney.
Jones, Wealthy Negro Who Has
Property on Governors Square.

The case of State of Kansas against
Theodore Jones of Governors Square
fame, charged with having one wife too
many, came to sudden and surprising
end shortly after o'clock this morn
ing, when the defendant entered a plea
Of guilty, and threw himself on the
mercy of the court
Jones, who personally is "nobody's
fool" met his Waterloo. He made a
serious mistake, and will know better
the next time he faces Judge Dana of
the Shawnee county district court
The case has been continued twice
at the request of the defendant, but
no OBSTACLE seemed in the way of the
opening of the case this morning
The alleged crime of Jones. a wealthy
chicago negro, is marrying a colored
woman named Marie Thomas, his for
mer stenographer, without first pro-
curing legal divorce from his former
wife, with whom he had lived over 20
years He married wife No. on last
Christmas, in Topeka, and a short time
later, his first wife appeared in the
city, sued him for divorce and furnish
ed information upon which Jones was
arrested for bigamy. Jones defense
was that he went to Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, a year ago, established a legal
residence in that state. and secured a
legal divorce. To subStantiate this
claim, dispositions to be used in this |
case, were taken in Sioux Falls and in |
Chicago, the latter for the purpose of
proving that papers had been served
upon Mrs. Jones No. l. 1t devolved
upon the taking of repositions, that the
alleged papers had been served in Chi
cago by a negro friend of Jones, who
had made an affidavit to the effect that
he had handed the papers to Mrs. Jones
No. l. When the attorneys We're ready
to take dispositions. about three weeks
ago, this important witness was obligi
ingly drunk, and unable to make depo-
siton.
Assistant County Attorney Atohison,
who attended the taking of dispositions
in the interest of the prosecution, also
proved too smooth for the defense in
South Dakota and secured admissions
from the Jones witnesses which were
very damaging. Jones intended to |
prove by deposition that he had rented
a room in Sioux Falls and lived there
six months. But <Atchison found a
man named Peck, owner of the build
ing in which Jones lived, who stated
that Jones lived there a while, but that |
Marie Thomas, wife number two in tn.
case had rented the room for herself
and husband" and had lived there
with the defendant, in the same room
-whfeh ~osutaiHed sleeFias@faeili
one only
In pleading guilty this morning:
Jones places himself at the mercy or
court.
for a few days. and will probably an
nounce the same next Saturday. Jones
is liable to a sliding scale, ranging
from a minimum OF $500 fine, or small
fine and three months Jail sentence, 10
five years in the penitentiary, without
fine.
nished by M NJ. Thomas" which
means, Marie NJ. Thomas. his alleged
second wife
There was sensational lncldenl con-
nected with the disposition OF the case
And the Court Remarked
"You may monkey with the attor-
nevs but YOU can't monkey with this
With these few but pungent words.
Judge A. w. Dana, of the Shawnee
county district. spoiled all the plans
when the court opened. the Jones
case was slated for first place, and all
arrangements had been made for a
long siege Jones is wealthy. and was
equipped with one of the best attor-
nevs in the city, Z. D. McKeever. Nc
Keever is recognized by the bar as
fighter who will go to the last often
with his client, and John Sehenck,
county attorney, who is prosecuting IN
this case is also known as fighter.
The case was called in due order,
but the defendant who was present
and the attorney for the Defense
Who present. seemed unable to
get together for more than minute
at a time Together they chased into
the hall. and back again into the
court room. The court became i'm
patient.
! .sWeI. well, how about this case?"
he inquired
Your Honor" said McKeever,
while his client sat on a back seat and
erfnued broadly. 'There is some dis
apreement between the defendant and
his attorney. I ask permission to
withdraw from the case"
perhaps the court has some
cognizance of this alleged disagree
ment.'' remarked the court in a mild
| tone of voice. Il have~this to say:
| The case is called for trial, and such
subterfuge on the part of the de-
PENDANT will not pass"
Your Honor" began Jones, the
broad grin fading from MS
countenanee.
"Sit down." suggested the court. 81
| do not care to hear from YOU Ad-
dress this court through your attor-
| neys."
Jones was instantly tanned. He
conferred earnestly with McKeever
| for a minute and then announced
that he was prepared to plead guilty
/ to the charge.
you plead guilty of your own free
will?" asked the court
81 do" answered Jones.
! Very we'll" responded the court.
and the case of the State of Kansas
against Jones was closed.
DRAINAGE BOARD MEETING.