The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-01-28
u 5'.r7 2 e, . Z. =. q y u q.
IS t.n Editor Sees 1t.

We present below the view Of an
outside newspaper on the Jones case.
tits from the Lake City News, which
as edited by the Rev. VS.. Stokes,
at sone time member of the South
Carolina Conference of the hMetho-
dist: church, but who had to give up
pulpit work because .of, serious throat
trouble: I Many who heard the -tes-
timony In the. case agree with 70 uch
that the News says, especially as to
the severity OF the, punishment in
Sflicted on Jones. But here is what
the News says about the case: s:
IS The. case Of J ohm ] I. Jones, con-
Yicted of killing Pearlstine at the
town Of BranchYille appears to be
another one of those demonstrations
OF cowariice which our courts are
continually giving Jumping on the
weak, and defensefess with both feet
and lifting the hat$to 1.-THE strong
regardless Of guilt or innocence. Ne
groes and weak white men have a
poor. show tones is a $timid, spare
built, frail, humble man. We doubt
that if he: ever acted with boldness
and limpudence toward any man.
Perlstine was a stout. heavy set man
and. we Judge, quite forward and
aggressive in his bearing generally.
80 ts5seems that he or the Pearl
,stine business was poor pay and a
creditor had put q claim in the
hands OF two seperate concerns to
collect. Jones collected and for
warded the money promptly and then
the ather concern sent in;.a dun for
the same money. Pearlstine. doubt
less thoughtless, and hot-headed,
jumped to the conclusion that: Jones
hadn't remitted. 1t seems he re
sented Jones continual dun for
moneys due anyway, SO he, big stall.
wart man, fell foul of the weak lit
tie man and beat him terrifically.
We really doubt that Jones was re-
sponsible fol shooting. We have no
doubt that timid, weakly creature
that he. is, was in mortal fear. Of
course, he should not have had that
gun. Just what would have been the
result. to himself we do not know
but he would not have shot however
frightened, and hurt. ~ ~ 'z; 5 S
"And We doubt that Pearlstine
would have received any punishment,
but Jones, the friendless, would not
have been In the fix he now is. He
was convicted of manslaughter and
Judge Memmingeri soaked him for
ten years. If we were in the habit
Of betting we would risk two to one
that if Pearlstine had killed Jones
he would never have gotten convict
ed. If And if he had he would never
have gotten over two years in pris7j
on. Wash Hunter killed Copeland,
so the jury said without cause over
algame Of cards and got only eight
years. Bingham and 3Ayant butch
cred a poor, innocent woman, sitting
by the seaside and got: only three
years. But timid, shrinking, friend
less Jones gets ten years. It hap
pened he killed a man who. had
81. q,
Jones. was not entirely friendless,
as: the News seems to think. While
possible he did not have as many or
as Influential friends as the man he
killed, still he had some good, loyal
and true, friends who stood BY him
to the last. Some Of the very best
people in Branchville came up and
testified in his behalf It was real,
~ a case Of manslaughter, and the
verdict Of the jury was a correct one.
The only criticism we have heard on
the case was that the sentence was
too severe when all the circum
stances connected with the case are,
considered. Judge Memminger eVl-
IDENTIFY thought SO, as he told. Jones
that In a few years be would sign
petition for communication of his SEN
tence. A sentence Of three to 1--WE
years would have been enough
i rs 5z4 -------c-1s- EltFa j So.