The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-03-19
JOHN J. JONES PARDONED
ABE PEARLSTONE'S SLAYER
GETS HIS FREEDOM.
To Leave State-Going to John Hop
kins' Hospital-To Practice
Law Again.

Orangeburg, March 16.-'I feel
deeply indebted to the Christian wo-
men of South Carolina. l am GER
tain that it was largely through
their prayers that 1 was able to hold
up under the severe strain which I
have passed through since the first
of my trouble. To those who have
been friendly toward me, and have
spoken words of encouragement and
aided me in my effort to be released
from the State prison, feel that I
owe debt of gratitude which I can
never repay. To those who have
been unfriendly towards me, pray
that they shall receive forgiveness. g."
Such were the remarks of John J.
Jones, the Branchville attorney, who
was convicted in the criminal court
in this county for the killing of Abe
Pearlstine, and who was paroled by
the governor Saturday afternoon
on the condition that he leave the
State within twenty-fourt hours af-
ter being paroled and never return.
Jones was in the city this morn
ing, coming in from the county poor
farm where he has been for the past
nine months, having been brought
here from the State prison in Colum-
bia. !
Jones appeared very much pleas
ed with his release, and when ask
ed as to his plans said that he would
leave this afternoon for his old home
at Branchville. He will spend to-
night there, and tomorrow morning,
in company with his wife, who has
worked hard for the release of her
husband, Jones will leave for Balti-
more. He will enter John Hopkins
where he will undergo an eXamina-
tion to ascertain if his health will
warrant his taking a special course
at a law university. If he is assur-
ed of this fact he will take a special
course, after which, he will seek a
new home for the practice of his pro-
fession. Other than this Jones stat
ed that he had no plans.
It has been 80 months since Jones
was first placed in prison. Tomor-
row II months ago Jones entered
upon the term of his sentence.
The parole of John ]. Jones comes
as very pleasant surprise to his
many friends and was not altogether
unexpected. Jones has been at the
county farm for some months. He
has been we'll cared for. He has not
been able to do any great amount OF
work on account of his health. While
in the penitentiary he contracted
lung trouble, it is stated, and has
been suffering from this malady ever
since. He has suffered several Sc
we're attacks since being at the coun-
ty farm. The conditions of the par
ole will, therefore, serve dual pur-
pose; it will offer to Jones an op-
portunity to seek new surroundings
where he can shut the unpleasant
memories of former days at Branch
Vile, in the Orangeburg county jail
and at the State prison, and it will
also offer him the opportunity OF
seeking such location as will be
beneficial in his efforts to regain his
health.
The case of John J. Jones is one
of the most remarkable in the annals
of Orangeburg county criminal his
tory.
History of Case.
The case was twice before the cir
cult court in this county, and during
the trial of same the array of jurors
as prepared for the jury box was at
tackled, and shown to have been pre-
pared contrary to the requirements
of the law. Following this his case
was reviewed by the Supreme Court
on several occasions and from diff
ferent standpoints. In every in
stance, however, he lost. During the
time that his case was before the
highest tribunal of the State, a petl-
ton carrying innumerable sigma
lures, secured from all over the
State, was presented to the governor,
asking for his pardon. On account