The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-03-17
sERvED TWENTY YEARS.
1sb Jones, Of Edgefield, viii Soon
Come From the Pen.

bsb Jones, Of Edgeaeld. VIII Soon
Come From the Pen.
He killed three men single-hand-
a."
That is what they tell you out at
he State penitentiary II you inquire
Who is that gray haired man who
marches in the gang Of convicts ap-
Dafently contented with his lot.
Twenty-years spent behind prison
walls! That il the history Of the best
years Of Bob Jones hfe Leaving his
farm In Edgefieid county a score of
years ago he kissed his wife and five
little ones and came here to serve out
hiS sentence. Now his wife has
passed away, and Jones has not even
all his children to spend his last days
With.
:. Once Bob Jones moved with erect
step, once he dared to fight many
men, but now his step is slower he
Aas passed the youthful period and
ct the dfty years Of his career the
lsst twenty have been fraught with
much sorrow. So, bowed down in
apifit, Bob Jones at the expiration Of
his term this year viii pass out Of
NE prison gates.
The Joneses and Pressleys.
In EdseAeld county there are many
Who know the story Of old Bob Jones'
strange tight twenty-five years ago.
when Bob Jones goes back there the
/. cid fellows will sit around the IRE at
nights and talk over that triple kill
Mg. Back In 1884 U. R. Brooks, now
( the veteran clerk Of the Supreme
court, Was State land agent. Before
that time the Joneses and the Press
kys, two Edgeneld families connected
b marriage. bought . tract Of land
knoWn @ the Jennings tract" on
Hog creek. In Edgefeld county. Bob
Jones had married q granddaughter
sf old Mr.. Presley, and he was one
ct those that made the purchase.
The rule Of the sinking fund COM
mission was that where q piece Of
And was bought one-fourth Of the
amount should be paid In cash and
The remaining three-fourths in an
Aual instalments. Bob Jones paid the
9rst instalment on about 200 acres
et land valued at about 500 or
thereabout. Land was cheap In
those days. and the amount paid on
the Arst instalment was q mere mat
tsR of $50.
The purchasers kept the land for
several years, and In 1884 Col.
Brooks went to Edgeneld county to
sse the Joneses and Pressleys and
J demand another payment on the
And Il was agreed by the pur-
ahasers that they would rather rent
ths land. Col Brooks sent word to
Bob Jones 70 meet him 1t Edgeneld
courthouse. Bob Jones, and Charles
PreGsasy met Col. Brooks at Edge
1sld the next day and the place was
rented from Col. Brooks, land agent;
Charles Prsssley witnessed the pa
DeR. TIE Pressleys and Bob Jones.
Who. ~ stated. was connected by
marriage. divided the land. Jones
J laking one-fourth.
A Triple killing.
Ono morning in November. 1885,
the Preoslsys we're out In the field.
Charles and Ed. Presley were
D3oughing. and the old man was
sewing the oats. There had been
trouble beforehand, because Jones
didntwant thsm to plant oats on all
shs land. SO that day when he walk
1ed into the field and saw the younger
kPrsssleys ploushins and the older
Pressley sowing. he went straight up
% Charles Preasley and fred upon
him with . gun, killing him. Then
10 ran. Like the historic occasion
when the Roman youth killed three
a6versaries. there was method In
Jones' running. Ed Pressley pur-
susd Jones, the former being ufi-
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 nd Pressley's heart, killing
him instantly. Ed was the youngest
q the Pressley boys.
Jones then reloaded his gun and