The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-06-22
Texas Man Released Through
the Efforts of a Total
Stranger.
THE EVIDENCE NOT CLEAR
When Vile Sued for Divorce, He
Cut OH His Right Hand and
Sent 1t to Her.-A
Strange Story.

San Antonio Tex, June 22.-Par-
doned from penitentiary life SEN
tenee because of a dream-such is
the romantic circumstances sur
rounding the release of Geo. w,
Jones from the Texas state prison at
Huntsville, where he was incarcerat-
ed II years ago on the charge of
numbering woman.
In many respects Jones was a re-
Elarkable convict. The murder for
which he was imprisoned was COM
mitted in Williamson county A
woman whose name had been hand
led more or less by local gossips was
found dead. Certain circumstances
seemingly pointed to Jones as the
murderer. He was tried and convict
ed. His wife showed her devotion by
removing from her home to Hunts
vile. the penitentiary town, so that
she might visit him frequently He
was well-to-do and furnished money
loI HeI SuppOIl.
Jones maintained his innocence
of~the crime, setting forth that he
was at all times devoted to his wife
and had never associated with other
women For about year Mrs. Jones
was frequent caller at the prison
1t was the one bright spot in Jones
prison life-these visits from his
; wife
But there came time when the
visits were not so frequent. Jones
pined, but his wife explained that
she feared to gain the displeasure of
the prison officials. She felt that they
were annoyed by her calls.
One day after the visits had slack
ened there came civil officer to the
prison with divorce summons for
Jones.
Here is a paper for you" said
the prison officer
Jones heart fluttered probably
that faithful wife of his had secured
him pardon.
He glanced at it hurriedly-he
realized its meaning.
Catching up the hatchet with which
he had been working, he severed his
right hand at his wrist, and with his
| left hand he handed the amputated
member to the deputy sheriff, say
ing:
Take this back to my wife, and
| tell her IT is my answer to her di-
vorce petition-my good right hand
a hand that has never committed a
crime, but has worked all these years
for her support"
! The divorce was granted and the
wife soon married again-married a
man whom she met in Huntsville
where she was living to be near her
convict husband.
Jones' wounded arm healed afte,
painful seige, but he always mourn
ed for his wife and often in the night
| the guards on their rounds would
hear him sobbing her name.
And now for the strange part OF
the story.
]. H. Waldrip, who lives at Ches-
ter, Tex, and who ten years ago read
| newspaper accounts of how Jones
had chopped his hand off, dreamed
a few weeks ago Of the affair. He
also saw in his dream, the murder
of the woman-saw the tragedy en-
acted, he declares, as plainly as
though he had been an actual eye
witness. Waldrip was not acquainted
with Jones-had never seen him, but
he was familiar with his description
from hearsay, and the man he saw
in his dream the man who killed
the woman--was entirely of differ
ent appearance.
Waldrip was SO impressed with
his dream that he felt called upon
to study the case. He neglected his
own business and delved into the
records. He interviewed the prose-
cutting attorney in the case. He
sought the trial judge, long since re-
tired, and begged him for assistance
in freeing Jones.
"The man is not guilty. I know II