Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-14

He changed his name for reasons
unknown
So saws history of John Paul Jones.
the "wizard Of the sea" He was
man of mystery from first to last. He
was born with the surname of Paul.
John Paul and no more he had been
as a Scotch laddie. when his bare feet
had scampered over the heather; and |
his father an honest Scotch gardener.
had been John Paul, pure and simple.
Indeed, it is a well known fact that
John Paul had been good-enough
name for our hero until he arrived at
the age of twenty-siS or twenty-seVen,
when he must needs don the extra
surname which scores of men have
eona into court to doff that they might
have surer identity.
This precociou9 youth when twenty
four was captain of Scotch brig,
which he took upon two trips 10 the
West Indies. During one OF these
cruises occurred an incident which was
held by some to account for his chang-
ing his name. Becoming involved IN
quarrel with his ships carpenter,
Maxwell. by name, he is said 20 have
f1ogged that insubordinate. One ac-
count says he shot him. Charges OF
cruelty were thereupon preferred
against the Scotch skipper, but were
dismissed as frivolous. When in few
weeks, however. his alleged victim diea,
the charges were revived. Some say
that John Paul was charged with the
murder of Maxwell and was indicted
by a grand jury at his old nome IN
Scotland. In any event, ne was hol
arrested, but the incident preyed upon
his mind and to prove his Innocence
he sent affidavits to his family In scot
land. 1t was TO escape the possibility
of Identification In the event OF his ms
capture that he added Jones' to his
name, according 10 this theory
is -. 9
Other accounts give quite a different
motive His brother, William Paul, had
come to America in 1860, had bought a
large plantation in Virginia and had
entered at Charlotte, y e, INTO mer-
gagged at the time OF bis death, in l112
His store was in the same building In
which George Washington was initial
ed as Mason. John Paul came to N1r-
rinia in 1873 to administer his broth
er's estate. According to one tradi-
ton. his deceased brother William. on
coming to America. had been ADOPTED
by a rich, but childless. relative OF the
name of Jones, and William had taken
this name Of his foster parents, who
had provided that in case William Paul
Jones died intestate. his young brother,
John Paul. might inherit the property
If he also should tai e the name OI
Jones. which he did
According to u third theory. the little
mariner went from Virginia to North
Carolina TO settle the estate IN that
state and there met two brothers, Aller
and Willie pronounced Wylie) Jones.
men of a wealthy and distinguished
I family who had been educated at Elton
/ and who Were very influential in pollt-
ical life Being out of funds and I'M
able to realize upon his inheritance un-
til after many trying delays, john Paul
| became the beneficiary Of these broth
ers' southern hospitality. Col. Willie
| Jones became his bondsman for $4,000
/ when he fled his papers of administra-
! ton and attended to the legal side of
] the probation of the will. Although
| rough diamond compared with his dis
| tinguiSfed hosts, the friendless little
Scotchman's picturesqueneGs won their
I admiration and he gratefully accepted