The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-01-07
JONES BEFORE COURT.
Union Man Under Life Sentence
Hears His Appeal.-The Attor-
neys' Arguments.


Columbia State, 5th.
With his little boy at his side ".
T. Jones, the Union county farmer
who was convicted Of killing his
wife, listened to arguments in his
own behalf in the supreme court yes
terday. While his attorneys were
making earnest pleas for new trlal
Jones sat with lowered eyes and
now and then his face betrayed some
of the emotion that must have been
lurking in his heart. The detailed
story Of the crime with which ne IS
charged seemed to move him most
and it could be plainly seen that the
memory of that fatal night when his
Young wife went to her death bore
deeply upon him.
The penitentiary for life stares
". T. Jones in the face. Repeatedly
having declared that he would rather
die tnan come here to serve his SEN
tenee the condemned man is grasp
ing at a last straw and the result OF
this appeal to the highest court OF
the State means much to him.
Should a new trial be granted there
is the hope the next jury may not be
so hard with its verdict. There is the
hope that some evidence not adduced
at the first trial may be brought out
in his favor.
Exercising the right given under
the laws the defendant appeared at
the supreme court. BE wore a light
gray suit, was carefully groomed and
altogether gave the appearance OF
being a prosperous man. When the
supreme court hands down its dec1s-
ion in this case viii be written the
last chapter, perhaps, in one Of the
most sensational trials ever held IN
South Carolina, unless, Of course a
new triad is ordered. The supreme
court justices ppea-ed to be very
much interested in the words OF the
sttorneys and now and then leaned
forward to catch the argument more
clearly, evincing more than ordinary
interest in the case. ~....
Judge Memminger Attacked"
Solicitor Otis and Attorney Saw
yer were not present for the State,
the former having been confined to
he'd for some time and the latter
having been called to Spartanburg
However, written arguments had
been submitted by attorneys on both
sides and have been printed from
+;ae to time as they were fled IN
the supreme court.
The feature of the hearing was
the attack upon the charge OF Judge
Mernninger which has already been
referred to. The verbal attacks
were. moreover, more vituperatlve
than the written argument. In ad-
dition to the argument Of Attorney
Wilson, who especially dwet upon
the matter Of the second charg" OF
Judge Memminger Of Charleston, IN
hhis case. Attorney George John
stone stressed the reference that
Judge Memminger made to the Hoyt
Hayes trial, the famous handwriting
ease. ''This case," declared Mr.
Johnstone, "was presented in such a
manner as to show them his conVle-
lions thereon He reviewed the
Two cases, in part, and showed the
effect, as he conceived it, Of the com
parison Of the cases.
He objected to statement OF the
presiding judge that II thought the
aovernor did wrong in pardonine
that man. this referring to Hoys
Hayes.
Most unasuM were the lawyers
references to the judges ruling as &c
objections. "You've objected te
that already; I'll consider that you
are objesting to every syllable Of
This witness he pointed out thai
he was very much embarrassed bJ
SAis.
Another unusual reference, is tt
The admission Of statement tina
Mrs. Jones was crying. Was shas al
expression to be ruled upon just a
conversation would be2 That is tt
say is crying to be ruled out az belnE
the same as words not spoken In tn
presence Of the defendante This
a very important obiter dictnm tha
NAV be touched on by the court.
Reference vas made to afhdaV1t