Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-14
Hampton, Phoebus and Old Point
HARDY GETS NEW
LEASE UPON LIFE
Supreme Court Grants Writ Of Error
in Case of Convicted Murderer
os Jones.

Hardy VS.. the Commonwealth, winch
comes up from the county OF Nanse,
mond on judgment rendered in
April. 1909.
Samuel HARDY is the man convicted
of the murder of Tiberius Gracious
Jones in the little village of Holland.
and unless the states highest court
finally decides in his favor. he will
meet his doom i'm the electric chair.
Today's action of the tribunal. it
should be understood. merely implies
that the prisoner now has = fighting
chance for his life Ii means that the
Judges see enough in his petition to
merit their looking further INFO the
matter.
The record in this case is a most
voluminous one, as the petition for
the writ of error alone covers about
eighty pages of typewriter matter
Accompanying this document are sew
eral photographs showing scenes as
ISOLATED with the crime. and what is
more grewsome still. the pistol anu
part of the gun which figured in
the homicide
Two Exhibits Unwrapped.
Neither of these two exhibits was
unwrapped today. and Clerk Stewart
Jones handled them as II they had
been red hot Goals. He said that the
court. since his encumbency in office.
had received many odd things in the
shape of exhibits. but that this was
the first time he had ever handled
weapons connected with murder.
The story of the Hardy Jones homi-
eide is a highly interesting though de-
cidedly complicated one. and If the
cOntentions of the Commonwealth be
true, ii was the sequel of bnother
court case which also attracted wide
attention.
On the evening Of October &c. 1908,
after the victim of the crime had
been with ]. II. Joyner. he left the lat
ter in the village of Holland and was
'abou; to enter the eastern gate lead
inc To his premises. when he was shot
down by some person or persons theh
unknown.
Jones received two wounds In his
abdomen. made ty No. shot evident
ly fired from ? shotgun. and three
wounds made BY pistol bullets.
Ether the gun or the pistol wounds
would have sufficed to end The lie
of the men.
Victim Wac Not Sure.
Mr.. Joyner. who hurr-e: TO the
scene ON hearing the reports, found
Jones in a diving condition. Jones
then remarked that it was too dark
for him to see the person who shot
him, bit that he beliveed he had
been wounded either by Luke or
Samuel Hardy. short while later
and cnlv q few hours before he died
that night-Jones made the state
ment that he had been shot FOR tell
ing the truth in reference to the VIII
Of Zachary Holland"
On the dav following the killing
the scene of the shooting was exam
ined, and near the gate was found
the forearm of a gun-that is the
wooden part of the weapon. which
serves to connect the barrel and
stock.
The doctors, too. in examining
Jones wounds, removed piece Oh
wadd ng which had evidently oeeh
fired with the load from the shotgun
This waddng had OF it me name OF a
certain concern which manufacturers
ammunition.
CleW Against.
These were important ciews, as
the prosecution was able TO estab-
lish the ownership of gun by Hards
which had a way of casting its fore
arm. Then. too. it was known tha'
as a merchant he handled amruuniticn
from the concern whose name APPEAR
ed on the wadding.
II was further alleged bv the state
that Hardy. on the day following 'he
homicide. got into wagon and was
driven for miles from his home 10
place in the woods where he spent
some time
II was charged by the Prosecution
that this trip was made by HARDY
so he could prevent MS rail being
followed H., bIoodhounds taken 10 the
scene of the killing
or course the petition of the &C.
crsed denies all Of the conclusions
reached nv the LAWYERS representing
the state. but to a layfnan the recoru
certainly adduces facts which lead 70
a strong <uspic.on OF guilt
Motive For Crime.
The motive for the crime. as mas
been intimated. Is found in the con
troversv growing ont OF the Infection
over the will Of Zachary Holland VINO
died a year or more ago. leaving
large estate.
AT first II was thought Mr.. Holland
had died interstate. which world have
required the court 20 divide the prop
ert. according to ;he statute OF de-
scends and distributions.
Tihc~ius Gracious Jones came toI
ward however. and asserted that he
had hoard that Mr.. Holland had mace
viii. IN; that 8; had hcca destroyea
hv certain members c. ne Hoiiano
family. whose Interests would aaVe
suffered had the viii been duly pro
bafcd.