The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-16
4 REMARKABLE DECISION,
ORDER FROM CHIEF JUSTICE
POSTPONES TRIAL.
Trial OF Jones for Murder of His Wife
Now Set for February, 18O9.-AbOut
Two Hundred Witnesses Had Been
Summoned From Various Counties
In the State.

Union, Sept. 11.-Pecause Of an or
der from Chief Justice Pope the trial
OF w. Il. Jones, charged with having
caused the death Of his wife, Mrs.
Marion Jones, on Sunday night, July
8. was brought to an abrupt halt this
morning and cannot be heard before
the first Monday in February, 1909.
In the intervening time, at least un-
til the supreme court has handed
down its decision, Jones will remain
In the Union county Jail.
Judge Pope's order says:
"An application for bail before
Judge d. E. Hydrick in case Of the
State against W. T. Jones. charged
with murder; Judge refused the orr
der for bail From this order the de-
fendant has appealed and such ap-
peal is now pending in the supreme
court OF this State waiting a hearing
In November next, as evidence by the
receipt Of the clerk of the supreme
court.
"Now the prisoner comes and
makes known these facts to me. claim
ing that II the trial in the circuit court
Is held. a practical denial of the
rights of the prisoner Sefore the SUI
preme court will be interfered with.
1t will not do for me. as q single JUS
tice Of the supreme court, to pass
upon the sacred rights Of the prison.
er. It Is. therefore, ordered that the
trial OF the prisoner. now attempted
to be held In the circuit court, shall
cease until the supreme bench Of
South Carolina sharl pass upon the
rights Of the appeal presented by the
prisoner. and that In the meanwhile
the circuit court shall suspend any
action looking to the trial OF the
accused until the supreme court has
acted"
Jones was in court. He has been
In Jail since July 8. His attorneys
are George Johnstone of Newberry,
James Munro and Townsend & Town
send.
Jones appeared to be in good health,
Notwithstanding he has been confined
In jail since July. though perhaps he
was q little paler and appeared to be
Just little nervous. AS soon as he
had taken his seat, Judge Klugh read
the order from Chief Justice Pope
ard added that this order would be
respected. Solicitor Sease then arose
and dismissed the witnesses in the
Jones case until February term Of
court, 1909.
The action In securing the continu-
ancs OF the case was not altogether a
surprise. indeed 1t was rather expect
ed by the people, as 1t was known
that the counsel for the defense was
vigorously opposing every effort to
have the case come to trial now. This
opinion was strengthened when yes
terday Judge Klugh granted an order
allowing the, counsel for the defense
to employ expert chemists and have
them examine the stomach of Mrs.
Jones. so that they could have evi-
dence Of their own as we'll as that OF.
fered by the State. which had the
State chemists examine the stomach
shortly after her death.
There were about 200 witnesses
summoned in this case. some coming
from Sumter county. some from CO.
lumbia. Chester. Cherokee and Spar
tanburg. besides q host from santuc
and that vicinity. All these witnesses
VIII receive 80 cents a day for each
day they were in attendance at court,
which was Monday. Tuesday and to-
day. and Ave cents a mile each way
they travelled. this mileage, however,
to be allowed but once. they being ex-
pected to remain In Union until the
case was disposed Of or continued. A
conservative estimate Of the cost to
this county for witnesses and mileage