The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-20
BY THOMAS j. PENCE.

Al JOiiN liz Ildltl6u COlOIeu man
who was body guard to jefferson
Davis, the President Of the Confed-
eracy, has figured very much in the
public prints during the past few
days as the result of his appearance
at a meeting Of Confederate veterans
in this city, where he stated that he
had buried the great seal Of the Con-
federacy at h request Of the South
ern chieftain, and that he alone
knows the secret Of it's present hiding
place.
The aged Wake county colored
man, who is now almost bent double
with age has always contended thai
he pledged Jefferson Davis, undo,
cath, previous to the evacuation of
Richmond, that he WOULD hide the
seal in some spot where it could not
be found, and never disclose It's
whereabouts.
The wide publicity given to the
story of Jones in Washington papers
last week has evoked a contradiction
from W. Mex. Darwood, who-in a let
ter to h New York Times says:
In an article headed Bailey De-
tends Secession it was stated that a
certain negro. James A. Jones. who
served as Mr.. Davis body servant,
was the only man living who knows
where the sea- Of the Confederate
States is, n won't tell. This is not
Warranted by facts. On the I'd of Sep
tember 1892, l visited Trinity LII
brary, Cambridge, England, and was
there shown the great seal of the
Southern Confederacy, presented by
Judah B. Benjamin. n l hav no
doubt it is there yet"
The people of Raleigh, who have
known and respected the valet to the
late President 0f tho C0ntoNoYpcv q no
familiar with his story, which has
often been published, and which has
never been denied. That there will
be Investigation of the statement
made by Mr.. DarWood goes without
saying.
James H. Jones is at the present
time an employe Of the United States
Senate, being on the pay roll of the
stationery room. The position was
obtained for him about fifteen years
ago by General w. r. Cox, then Sec
rotary of the Senate, on the recon-
mendation of Mr.. Wesley n. Jones
thtll about two years ago Jones was
active in the discharge of his duties
but finally he had to surrender to ole
age, and it is very seldom that he i:
able to leave his room. He still re
mains on the "a roll of the Senate
1or that body never disturbs an EN-.
t-N'N L 11lCelS II III IlColkiA 0AAe
j slncapacitated for work. Jim Jones
VIII draw salary from the government
as long as he lives. hat is a way n
Senate has Of doing things.
Jones was BORN a free" negr,
more than 50 years ago. His child
hood was spent IN the town of hi
birth, Raleigh, N. c., where he lvet
until the death OF his father, Jane
I'll. Jones. Then leaving his mother
who was almost a pure-biooded Cher
okee Indian, he started in to earn hi
own living.
While working in the old ST
charles Hotel, in New Orleans, il
1899 Jefferson Davis took a liking t
nm as personal servant and body
guard. From the first day Of his EN-
ployment Mr.. Davis imposed the u
most confidence in his valet and though
Jones had been called a trusty ser
want by many Of his former employ
ers, he never e%njoyeN quite SO mucl
conference as that which Davis plac
ed in him. 1t was this which brough
about, he say his great faithfulnes
10 the Confederate leader.
Faithful Through the War.
From the moment that the frs
gun Of the Civil War was fired a
Fort Sumter until he was release
from Fort Monroe, where he ha'