The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-02-23
ATTORNEYS STATEMENT.
''Giye Us a Rest on Jones Case"
Pleads w. G. Wolfe, Esq.

ing to the continued discussion OF tne
Jones case in the newspapers and es-
pecially the letter published Monday
in The News and Courier, from it's
Columbia Bureau, signed "A. k
the correspondent of The News and
Courier here interviewed this morn
ing Che was absent from the city
yesterday Mr.. w. C. Wolfe, the lead
ing attorney for Jones, and after dis
cussing the matter freely and candid
ly, Mr.. Wolfe handed the correspond
ent the following statement for The
News and Courier:
Attorney Wolfe's Statement.
1.-The continued discussion Of the
Jones case in the newspapers has
not been especially agreeable to
Jones nor his counsel, and number
of erroneous statements have been
made in connection with the case,
both before and since the trial. In
order to set these questions at rest
his counsel are induced to make
brief statement.
First of all, Associate Justice
Gary has been severely criticised for
granting Jones bail before trial. This
was wholly undeserved, as Solicitor
Hildebrand, consented to it and to the
amount of BAIL Again at the trial
Mr.. Raysor, leading counsel for the
State, in argument, practically con-
ceded it was manslaughter under the
evidence, and the verdict was for
manslaughter. Manslaughter before
trial is always bailable. Before
criticising Justice Gary these facts,
which were of record, could have
been ascertained from the records.
"As required by law counsel for
Jones gave notice within ten days
after adjournment of court of inten-
ton to appeal. The appeal has never
been abandoned. Counsel for Jones
have 80 days in which to prepare the
case for appeal, which will be done;
then the case cannot be heard in the
supreme court until during the first
week in May next, and Jones has
until that time to determine whether
he will press or abandon his appeal.
OF course he may abandon the appeal
at any time before then, and in can
dor his counsel have been consider
ing the advisability Of abandoning
the appeal and allowing him to en-
ter upon his sentence.
Jones Wasn't Comfortable.
''The jail at Orangeburg has an
iron cell or cage in which the negro
prisoners are confined; then there is
one cell fixed up for white prisoners,
but the lunatic, Cunning, (who has
within the past few days been taken
to the asylum,) occupied this cell,
and, of course, Jones could not be
put in a cell with him, and had to
be kept in the corridor of the Jail,
which was neither safe nor comfort
able; hence the sheriff took Jones to
the penitentiary, Jones asserting to
same, pending the appeal. The
sheriff carried along certified copy
of the sentence so that in case of
abandoning the appeal, which was
then, and even now, seriously con-
sidered, there would be no hitch and
further formality required. Prison
ers are often carried to the peniten-
tiary for safekeeping, both before
and after trial, so why so much talk
about this case?
Petition for Pardon.
''As to Jones's intended applica-
tion for pardon we will say that we
know nothing of this at this time
and have taken no part in such an
effort but if necessary, and at the
proper time, we have no doubt that
an application for pardon will be
made, as it ought to be. AS we un-
derstand, Jones has the constitution
al right to apply for pardon; he has
the constitutional right to work for
his pardon whether in Jail or. in the
penitentiary, pending an appeal or
while serving his sentence, and upon
proper showing the governor, who
ever he may be, will have the consti-
tutional right to grant him pardon,
all prejudicial newspaper correspond
ents to the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
1--WE have been informed that some
of Jones's friends, without consulta-
tion with us, are now circulating pc
titions for his pardon, to be used,
no doubt, at the proper time, and We
see nothing improper in this, for the
overwhelming opinion in Orangeburg
and surrounding community is that
Jones should be pardoned. In impos-
inp sentence Indpe Memminper STAT