The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-03-11

marriage, divided the land, Jones
taking one-fourth.
A Triple Killing.
| One morning in November, 1885,
the Pressleys were out in the field.
Charleb and Ed PRESLEY ND re
ploughing, and the old man vas SOW
ing the oats. There had been trou-
bic beforehand, because Jones didn It
want them to plant oats on all the
land. So that day when he walked
into the field and saw the younger
Pressleys ploughing, and the older
Presley sowing, he went straight
up to Charles Presley and fired
upon him with a gun, killing him.
Then he ran. Like the historic oc-
casion when the Roman youth killed
three adversaries, thre was ''method
in jones' - running. Ed Presley
pursued Jones, the former being un-
armed. After they had run some
distance down the field Bob Jones
stopped. Ed Presley advanced and
drawing his knife, Jones cut out the
end Of Ed Pressley's heart, killing
him instantly. Ed was the youngest
of the Presley boys.
Jones then reloaded his gun and
walked over to where old man Press
ley was. Suffering from palsy, a
man Of 78 years, the elder Presley
was helpless before the then young
Bob Jones'
Killed His Grandfather.
"Well, Grandpa, I believe III
kill you, too,'' were the words that
Jones greeted his old grandfather
with when he stepped up, still bloody
from two killings. With these words
on his lips, Bob Jones fired, the
load taking effect in Mr.. Pressley's
stomach, another victim being added
to the days terrible work of ven
geance.
Net content with killing these
three Hnsmen, Bob Jones, so the
story goes, looked for young John
Presley, but fortunately the boy
was working in another part Of the
field, and he was spared, Jones could
not find john Pressley.
The Surrender.
Bob Jones went directly from the
field to Edgefeld Court House and
gave himself up to the officers. II
have killed three Of the best men in
the county," he said to the sheriff.
Then he began to cry.
Jones was put in jail at Edgefeld.
In that same jail were seventeen
men who were charged with the
lynching of Towles Culbreath. These
men, who subsequently, were tried
and freed, argued with Jones and
told him be did right.
Conviction Was Hard.
Tried at various times between the
year 1885 and 1891, Jones, up to the
last trial, succeeded I'M escaping with
mistrIals. No conviction could be
secured in Edgefeld; the juries would
not agree, and change Of venue was
had.
1891, before Judge Fraser, Bob
Jones was convicted Of manslaught-
er and sentenced to serve twenty
years. Col. P. H. Nelson, Of this
city, was solicitor at the time. The
trial was at Lexington Court House.
Jones had a brilliant array of eoun-
sci. He was defended by W. I.
Gary, brother Of Gen. Mart Gary,
and by Gary and Evans, the former
member Of this firm being Ernest
Gary. These men were considered
as good criminal lawyers as there
we're in the State.
R. G. Bonham was the solicitor
who first handled the case. Mr..
Bonham died in February 1887, dur
ing the pendency Of the Trials. Then
P. H. Nelson was made solicitor and
he secured the conviction In LeNng-
ton county before Judge Fraser.
Will Be Released Soon.
Bob Jones will soon be released
from the penitentiary. When he ls
freed he will have served nearly
twenty years. 1t is the custom IN
this state to deduct one month for
each year of his sentence If a man
behaves himself at the State prison.
Those who know Bob Jones say that
his sentence expires in May, but the
penitentiary authorities were asked
to-day and September was the date
given for his release. At any rate
# will .,ot he LONG NOW before Bob