Evening journal., 1918-12-07
Stone DUST CLOUD
LIFTS FROM JONES.
Twelve Criminal Suits S
Against Him Already Dis
missed by Court
FIVE CIVIL SUITS
THOUGH. ARE PENDING

Upon motion OF Attorney-General
Reinhardt mole pros was ordered by the
Court Of General Sessions yesterday In
the four indictments. returned by the
Grand Jury on November 10. against
Holmes Jones, better known In VIII
mington as "Hatless" Jones, because he
walks about the streets with his head
devoid Of covering
Few cases have had as many turns
and twists as the "stone dust cases" as
these prosecutions have come TO be
known about the court house.
II seems that Jones bought 'pile OF
stone dust" on the old quarry property
on August 10 last. from J. A. Bader and
Company. who had bought II from the
producer, the old Delaware Granite and
Mining Company. The stone dust sold
for twenty cents a ton when Bsder
bought; had advanced little when
Bader sold. and Jones, II seems, was
selling Il at s2.73 per ton, and still has
many thousand tons TO market.
Jones was 10 make payments to Bader
and Company In three installments,
during August. September and October,
and those payments seem to have been
made, on days agreed. but no evidence
OF that fact was received In court, al
though IL was repeatedly offered by
Jones, the court ruling that such proof
was not necessary.
When Bader sold TO Jones. the Bader
firm reserved 1000 tons OF stone dust
They had taken, 20 tons. and on October
25, brought suit 10 replevin 92i tons.
Later Bader testified that his ilrm had
ne a.. MI -
away, and why the suit was brought
has never been revealed.
Then came the amusing part, Deputy
Sheriff Parker went 10 Jones yard, on
old quarry property, notified Jones that
the sheriff had repleyined 92i tons Of
stone dust, and Jones suavely and
sweetly said: Take 1t with YOU" II
ssenis that he used the telephone. and
following consultation with Ward, Gray
and Neary. his attorneys. gave the
sheriff notice 10 take what he replevin-
cd. The sheriff thereupon faced a white
elephant OF the most unruly kind, and
decided neither to take his elephant
with hm, nor leave a custodian to
watch and care for the burdensomeI
thing on his hands.
Again following advice. Jones billed
the sheriff for $50 day. whether IL was
for peanuts for the elephant or for
damage and nuisance the sheriff caused
by leaving the replevined 92i tons Of
stone dust In Jones' yard. has not come
out.
Then two surveyors got busy. One
ran bottom TO the pile and did II with
such slants and elevations that he certl-
ned 7qi tons as the gross tonnage in the
pile, and the other, taking the level Of
tho land before the pile OF screenings
was deposited. certified there were 4,2t3
tons Of dust IN the pile on November 1,
1918.
On October 30, Bader swore out-a
warrant for the arrest Of Jones. charg-
Ing larceny. The charge was dismissed
by Judge Churchman.
on November 4, a charge OF secreting
dust" upon which levy had been made
was lodged against Jones, and dismissed
by Judge Churchman.
Nothing daunted, and pausing only 10
give bail, Jones kept right on with the
acts, which were said 10 be larcenous.
He kept his men shovelling the dust
out, so as 10 shovel some dust into his
pocket, and Bader held TO his habit OF
swearing out warrants On November
|, Bader sworn out two more warrants.
and on November and 4. he repeated
On November three warrants were
sworn out before squire, whether It
was because the ink gave out In the
Court. or Clerk Coleman de-
,lded that information blanks and !
blank warrants were valuable and
should be conserved. was not made TO
appear. Judge Churchman dismissed all |
I've cases in his court. and Jones kept
light on shovelling dust out and pre-
iumsble shovelling dust in.
Finally the grand jury took the mat
er in hand and indicted Jones and |
hlngs settled down for the final stage.
rhe curtain was drawn yesterday with