The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-31
SENT TO JAIL FOR
WINK|NG AT COURT
Flutter of Eyelid Proves Costly
TO One Benjamin T.
Jones. ,
APPEARS BEFORE JUDGE
IN A CONTEMPT CASE
Clumsy Efforts at Leyity Quickly
Result in His Commit
ment.

Benjamin L. Jones, presented before
Judge Armstrong; divorce matinee on
Friday afternoon to show cause why
he should not be found guilty OF con
tempt for failure to pay $50 attorney s
fees granted Sarah 4. Jones with her
divorce September Il last, INDUCED in
the undue levity of winking at the
court.
The contempt proceedings for failure
to pay attorney fees came to an end
with a crash. The winker was found
guilty of contempt Of court, for unbe-
coming and insolent conduct, and or
dered committed to tho county jail
until 10 o clock Monday morning.
Mrs. Jones got divorce from Jones
September Il, on the grounds Of non
support and extreme cruelty, and was
awarded $50 attorney fees. Mrs. Jones
testified at the divorce hearing that
Jones threatened TO cut her throat with
a razor December 8, last year, and that
on that date and again December so
he drove her and her children by 2
former husband into the streets. then
covered with snow She charged habit
ual drunkenness and said that he had
made life with him longer intolerable.
He was capable OF earning from SIS to
81 day as stone mason, she said.
Ills and Affections.
When Jones was presented in court
Friday afternoon he developed a
healthy list of ills and Affections,
claiming that he was suffering from
stomach trouble, indigestion, broken
ankle and a few other small things,
and that Iva ~ ol
more than s1.50 day. He said he
was out Of work now and had no money.
He had earned but So or SO since the
divorce proceedings, he said,
1t was evident from Jones's con-
duct that he was under the influence
OF liquor, but when the court inter
rupted him to inquire If he had been
drinking, he entered an emphatic but
unconvincing denial. Mrs. Jones then
took the stand, and it was apparent
from her manner that Jones had in
Inundated her, for she either showed
unnecessary hesitation in answering
questions directed against Jones or
evaded them entirely. Enough was
brought out, however, to show that
Jones had four or five times visited
per home since the divorce was granted
and threatened to kill her and her chill
drep. AT all Of these times he was
badly intoxicated. The date of one OF
these rampages was given as October
10. Mrs. Jones said that before the
divorce was granted, Jones was ablo.
bodied, but recently he had been i'll and
unable to work hard Her desire to
snleld Jones, superinduced by fear of
after violence, was so evident that the
court continued the case until the other
cases had heen disposed of.
Efforts at Levity.
Jones WAS then recalled to the stand
by the court. and Judge Armstrong di.
Iected some sharp, pointed questions AT
hlm as to his ability to work and what
he had done with the money he earned
until he became "iIl." Jones's cmmsv
efforts at levjty sorely tried the court .
patience. but the crash did not como
until Mrs. Jones's attorney asked Jones
If he was not able to work, :Jones
shouted: "No, sir!' and then. in m
elephantine attempt to be funny turned
and squinted his left optic at the court
The crash came with anvil-like effects
"You will be found guilty Of con,
tempt because of your manner and in.
solent conduct to the court since fheas
proceedings began witherinely an.
nounced the court "Mr. Bai1iff sae an
that this man is committed TO the cow
ty sheriff's custody until 10 o,cIocL
Monday morning, at which time he ,riiI
be presented before this court for ~.
thcr proceedings