The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-06-08
JONES WHISTLES.
.'Must Be Showers in Life as Well
as Sunshine.

Columbia, June 2.-Smiling and
whistling as gaily as if going on an
outing, w. T. Jones, the rich Union
county planter, boarded a train at
Union Wednesday morning in the
custody of an officer and came to
| Columbia to begin life term in the
penitentiary for killing his wife.
| There was large throng at the sta
tion to see him off, some drawn by
| curiosity and others by sympathy,
and at least 25 people grasped his
| manacled hands and bade him good
! bye. To an old negro who express
ed sorrow, Jones said philosophical
ly. "There must be showers in life
as we'll as sunshine"
At points along the railway there
were standing men who waved fare
we'll to him. AS the train passed
Santuc, Jones looked intently at his
handsome home, the scene of the
murder. He kept his eyes on it as
long as it was in sight. How much
of this land do you own?" asked the
guard. Everything for three miles
back and two miles ahead" said the
prisoner.
At Blair station two women en-
tered the smoking car where Jones
was seated and chatted with him for
several minutes. Both told him they
were satisfied of his innocence and
believed he would soon be freed.
One said that her broth her, who was
devout man, was praying for Jones'
A newspaper man on the train ap-
preached Jones and engaged him in
conversation. "You seem to be
mighty cheerful" Il am cheerful
said Jones, because l know l am in
nocent and right must prevail. l
couldn't stand the strain if / were
guilty, but being conscious of hav-
ing committed no crime l am con-
vinced that everything will turn out
we'll in the end
Jones then discussed the case at
some length. He said the truth OF
the matter was that his wife had
been guilty of certain indiscretions,
and in order to save her reputation
her relatives had conspired to con-
vict him of numbering her.
"If had killed my wife under the
aggravated circumstances charged -
said Jones, II ought to be hanged;
and if the jury had believed I killed
her they would not have recommend
ed mercy. The verdict was really a
victory for me. It showed that the
jury did not believe me guilty, but
lacked the moral courage to acquit
me in the face of public clamor for
my conviction"
"How do you expect that you will
obtain your release from the peni-
tentiary. Have you had any assur-
ance that you will be pardoned,?"
''No; I don't expect to be pardon
ed. There are some people who
know why my wife committed sui
eide and some day they are going to
tell"
Jones was asked if it was true, as
reported, that he had speculated
while in Jail in cotton and wheat
and had lost 100000. He said it
was untrue that he had lost $780,
900 but admitted that he had specu-
lated in cotton futures. He confirm
ed the report that he had eppointed
the Nicholson Trust Company, OF
Union, trustee of his estate and had
instructed the company to pay his
debts out of the income of his plan
| tation. -
Jones and his guard attracted no
attention when they stepped off the
train at Columbia. Trying as best
he could to hide the chains on his
wrists, Jones stepped into a hack
with the guard and they drove to the
| prison.