The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-06
Criticizes Joncx's Confederate SEM
Story,

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
sir, with perhaps thousands OF
others. read with interest the thrilling
story which appeared in your valuable
paper on Sunday. October 20, in
which James II. Jones, the body SER
|. want Oh President Davis, tells of his
hiding the great seal Of the Con-
iederate states and many other things
IN connection with the career OF Mr.
Davis from the time he was inaug-
urated as President until his capture
in Georgia.
There were two things about the
article that impressed me very much
one was the charming and attractive
style in which II was written, and the
other the inaccurate and Nibsurd state
ments made by the reputed body SER
want OF President Davis
| regard the statements alleged To
have been made by Jones as mischiev-
Gus and calculated to mislead those
who are seeking from every source
mat which Is true history of incl
dents and conditions prevailing during
the evenUul period embraced in the
years OF 1876.
Much OF Jones's narrative is light
and frivolous. and therefore not likely
TO mislead, certainly the thoughttul
and intelligent reader. and shall
only refer to two or three Incidents
so highly colored by the writer AZ TO
contradict true and generally accepted
history.
There is something very peculiar
about that mythical great seal OF the
Confederate States"
Jones seems to have been not only
tho bodyguard OF President Davis.
but his confidential friend and chief
adviser
Is ii possible that there was not
amongst the Presidents Cabinet, stan
and military guards one other beside
MS carriage driver aNf valet that His
seal of state, which. under no circum-
stances, could he use except by au-
thority OF Congress. under the pro-
visions OF the Constitution?
II Is customary, ] believe, for the
Secretary OF State to have the custody
of the great seal OF the government.
Jones gives very minute and
graphic description of this great
England by order OF Mr. Mason and
shipped over. coming by the Fanny. IA
blockade runner. 1t was in beauti-
ful rosewood box. all inlaid with pearl
and , ivory just like pistol case. 1t
m me nn lions OF Eoid and weighed about
General Washington on horseback, Il
wreath Of corn, wheat. tobacco. cotton
shortly after 1t came" continued
Jones. MT. Davis put 1t into my hand
and said; Jones. ] want you to hide
t I'M, a. and ne Eve tel any one where you
there to-day, and no other human
being except myself ever knew or ever
wiz know where l put it,"
Jones need not have excepted him
unreasonable from start to finish. Why
hide the seal?
Then follows the statement that the
President Entrusted him with $4,000
900 In gold. with instructions to take
II down South
If that statement be true Mr.. Davis
had more confidence in Jones than he
had In the Treasurer of the Confed-
crate States.
The old man. 1t seems. had a vivid
recollection OF the evacuation of Rich
inond. According TO Joness statement,
ne was prominent figure in that
whole affair. He claims to have acted
as orderly adjutant- general. etc. dur
ng that never TO be forgotten day by
those. like this scribe. in that city
April and 3. 1865
Jones states that Lee and Grant
were at Appomattox. and Mr.. Davis. as
usual. on the Sabbath was at church.
when a message came for him"
Knowing" said he. that 1t was i'm
portant, | hurried to the churcn with
it,.
Jones was evidently. IL his state
ments are true. the biggest man at the
presidential mansion. except, perhaps,
Mr. Davis
AS soon as the President read the
message" said Jones, The walked out
of the church, followed by the whole
congregation That message" said
Jones. told of the surrender of Cen
eral Lee"
or course, every intelligent reader
,of The Times Dispatch knows that
these statements are absolutely false.
| need not say that General Lee did
not surrender until April 9Th at APP
pomattoX Courthouse, and that the
news was conveyed to the President
who. with his Cabinet, was i'm the city
Of Danville, by Captain John 5. Wise
r. II. BEAZLEY
South Boston.