Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-31
.EX-MAYOR JONES
FOUND NOT GUILTY
Ousted Coatesville Official
Freed of Embezzlement
Charge, but Censured
BOOKKEEPING CRITICIZED
Friends Say Reelection Is AS
sured-Costs of Prosecution
Taxed to County
From q Stef Correspondent

WEST CHESTER Pa, Jan, 3l.--Ex-
/ Mayor Walter L. W Jones, of Coatesvile
was declared not guilty of cmbezzling
| Coatesvilc funds and falsfying his ac-
counts while in office by the jury today
before Judge Butler in the County Court.
The jury put all the costs of suit on the
county.
The verdict was n sealed one. The ju'
rors sat until last last night and when they
! finally made up their minds court had adj
jourucd Seemingly the only serious point
Of discussion for them was as TO the dis-
position of the costs They evidently agreed
early in their deliberations to acquit Jones.
This was made clear by their request for
Instructions less than an hour after retiring
as whether or not they could divide the
costs between the defendant and the county,
The Court replied that if the county paid
any II would have to pay all the costs,
but that the iury could divide the costs
between the defendant and the men back Of
the prosecution if Il cared to determine who
the latter were,
The defense all through the trial tried
70 make it clear that the prosecutors were
l. b. Kirk and Harry Hook. Of Coatesville's
Council Nominally the complaining wit
ness was Charles Frcymoyer, Coatesville's
constable.
Ex-NIayor Jones was not i'm court to
hear the verdict. but he was in the court
house. Tho news Travelled fast and he soon
Il
downstairs receiving congratulations
Gaddest Of all, more glad. it seemed,
than Jones himself, was Walter L. Green
wood. city Solicitor of CuateSNlle, who.
because Of his long friendship with the de-
fendant refused TO conduct the prosecution.
THANK God" he said ferventy.
Councilman Brown. of West Chester, was
one Of many who came up to Jones and
said something like this:
"You don't know me, but I'd like TO con-
graduate you"
Jones said the verdict was what he had
expected
"I'm pretty sure now, ! think" he sad,
that I'll be elected Mayor again
He was asked if he regretted that some
Of the costs We're not saddled on kirk
and Zook, and said mo, I'm perfectly
satisfied"
He was told that the jury in acquitting
him and putting the costs on the county
had. nevertheless. added a line of Censure
to tell him that his methods Of bOOkkCcp-
ing were very negligent. He answered that
the Tebullc was deserved and that if he
was returned to Office he felt he would do
better
Maybe I'll take course in hookkoep-
ing at n ght school" he said, jokingly.
Asked If he expected his political
enemies to keep up their assault, he said
they probably would
They will. too.
cution. refused to comment on the verdict,
but said there would be no let-up in
Coate.wille's reform circles with the fight
on Jones and his element
The Rev. T. w. Mckinney, who has been
a leader in the fight on Jones, was not in
court to hear the verdict, though he at
tended both days of the trial. He is
candidate at the coming election, as are
James Pugh and \. II. Swing 1t was
said before the trial that if Jones won,
Pugh would withdraw in his favor Mr..
Pugh wasn't on hand today to talk for
himself
The primaries for the election in Coates
willie will be held February 10.
All the preliminary campaigning has
been held off for the result of the Jones
trial. Now the campaign will begin in
earnest Heretofore each of the four can
didates has been in the field for himself.
With Jones's name cleared it is expected
there will be soihe new algnments.