Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-16
SANITY TO Be TESTED
Case of Mrs. William Jones
viii Go Before a Jury.
STATEMENTS BY COUNSEL
Valuable Tract of Land Involved in
the Contest.
PROCEEDINGS BY NIECE
Respondent Not in Court-Denies
Mental Unsoundness and
Fights Suit.
STATEMENTS BY COUNSEL
PROCEEDINGS BY
NIECE

a jury was sworn today before Justice
mental condition Of Mrs. Catherine NJ. b.
Jones' aged eighty-tive years, the wife of
William Jones. known as Bill Jones. the
Charles J. Guiteau, the assassin Of Pres
ident Garfield.
Mrs Jones owns a large tract OF land
roads near Brookland, valued at about
$4,000. 1t is around this land that the
present contest may be said to revolye.
Attorneys Joseph J. Darlington and
William A. Donch represent Charlotte r.
Bates, the niece of Mrs Jones. who Seeks
to have her aunt adjudged insane, and
to have the court appoint person to
conserve her property interests.
Denies Mental Unsoundness.
Mrs. Jones denies the charge OF in
sanity and has retained Senator Isidor
Rayner OF Maryland. Daniel w. Baker,
former United States attorney, and At
torney John r. Shields to conduct her
defense
Mrs. Jones Not Present.
The elderly respondent was not in
court this morning when the case was
called, and her absence brought forth
verbal clash between counsel
Mr.. Darlington insisted he could not
proceed in the absence Of Mrs. Jones, and
Mr.. Baker declared he would produce
his client at the proper time
Justice Barnard directed that the in
quiry proceed and told counsel for the
respondent that IL Mrs. Jones physical
condition permits she must be in court
at the future hearings of the case.
Mr.. Darhngton's Statement.
In making an opening statement to the
jury Attorney Darlington rehearsed the
life history Of Mrs. Jones. He said she
had contracted an unfortunate marriage
many years ago. marrying a man half
her years. The husband, he stated, led a
dissipated life, abandoned all work and
lived on the income Of his wife. Frequent
demands for money on the part of the
husband, Mr.. Darlington told the jury,
were enforced by cruel treatment of the
wife. On several occasions. counsel said,
Mrs. Jones had been obliged to leave her
husband.
MIR. darlington asserted that through
this alleged cruelty and her advanced age
Mrs. Jones mind has become impaired
and he cited as example two occasions
when Mrs. Jones left her home and took
up her abode in a negfo's cabin on the
property and was living in squalOr when
discovered by her niece, Charlotte E.
Bates. Mr.. Darlington said the shooting
by her husband, William Jones. Of a
farm hand in a quarrel at her home about
two years ago also affected her mind.
Jones was acquitted on q plea OF self
defense. but the wife. counsel said. en-
tered into deed Of trust by which she
incumbered her property to the extent Of
$4,000 for counsel fees to defend the
charge Of homicide.
Declares Inquiry Not Bona Eide.
For the defense, Attorney d. w. Baker
told the jury that he expected to show
that the proceeding on the part of Miss
Bates was not bona fde inquiry into
the mental condition Of Mrs. Jones. but
was "a grab for her real estate" the
object of which, he said. was to secure
the real estate on the death Of Mrs.
Jones, and to leave her husband pauper
at her death.
Mr. Baker declared he had no inten-
ton Of refuting the proposed testi-
band which was not involved in the
inquiry. He denied the imputation
that Mrs. Jones was found living In
squalor. He said her financial condition
would not permit the keeping up Of
the mansion house, and she removed
to a smaller house on her property,
where she was cared for by negro
servants.
Testimony viii be taken next week
concerning the present mental condi-
. ton OF Mrs. Jones.