 Sherman Daily Democrat Friday, September 6, 1912 pg.4 The News of The Courts - Sam Jones Murder Case This afternoon at 12:30 o'clock the attorneys had finished arguing the case against Sam Jones, the Negro charged with the murder of Eddie Jones. Judge Pearson charged the jury soon after court reconvened this afternoon. Yesterday there was some delay in securing witnesses for the defense and the argument of the case was not entered into until this morning, after one witness had been introduced by the state. Yesterday afternoon one of the principal witnesses was the defendant, Sam Jones. He admitted every essential detail that was contained in his confession given in writing to B.F. Gafford soon after the killing Friday, August 16th. He said that he meant to kill Eddie Jones, his divorced wife, because she would not agree to marry him again, that he determined if he could not live with her no one else should and that he told her the same. He asserted that he at first attempted to fight the woman with a pick and hit her on the arm with it but she got it away from him. Then he got his knife but she also took that away from him. After th is he choked her unconscious and then hit her 2 blows with an ax. Prince Childs, an old Negro man, who stayed at the house with the woman, testified relative to Jones visiting the house on Thursday night previous to the killing. Alonzo Holland, a Negro man 22 years of age, testified that he was at the ho use with Eddie Jones when the defendant came Thursday night. Holland had been visiting the woman for about 2 months and for about a week prior to the time she secured a divorce from Sam Jones. The deceased was about 45 years of age. Assistant County Attorney Gafford was the first to speak this morning and after E.W. Neagle, counsel for the defendant spoke, County Attorney Cal T. Freeman made a speech. Both of the attorneys for the state affirmed t hat the jury should return a verdict of murder in the first degree according to the law and evidence in the case. Mr. Neagle asserted that the defendant should not be charged with a more serious crime than manslaughter or murder in the second degree. Towards the close of Mr. Freeman's remarks he made the statement that the Negro citizens of this county are entitled to equal justice as any other citizens. He said that Negroes are hanged for murdering white people, therefore in this case where the defendant is charged with murdering a Negro woman this should be no difference in the eyes of the law. Mr. Freeman remarked that this was the last appeal that he expects to make to a jury in behalf of the state.  Sherman Daily Democrat Wednesday, October 16, 1912 pg. 1 NEGRO HANGS FOR MURDER Sam Jones Pays The Penalty For Killing His Divorced Wife ROPE CUTS HIS THROAT Head is Almost Severed From Body by the Fall and Blood Splatters in Every Direction - Talks on Gallows Samuel M. Jones was the third Negro to pay the highest penalty exacted by the laws of the land, within the last 67 days at the Grayson county jail. Sheriff Lee McAfee pulled the trigger at 11 minutes after 12 o'clock, noon, today. County Physician Dr. J.F. Jones felt of the body immediately after the drop and said: "There is no pulse, he is dead." In 4 minutes after the fall he was cut down and given over to the charge of S.L. Talley and assistants for the Dannel Undertaking company. The hangman's rope used was the rope that has been at the jail for a long time. It was rather stiff, and on account of the damp weather the knot did not work just right. However, there was no bad effect from that. When Jones dropped, an artery in his neck was severed and an immense quantity of blood flowed from him. His neck was partially torn from his shoulders. The request that no one be allowed to visit his cell was rigidly enforced by the officers until the very last. Jones was consulted as to whether or not anyone should be admitted. He could be seen talking with his friends and was not remarkably sad about the affair. He said all morning that he was anxious for the time. Just at 12 o'clock Sheriff McAfee was talking to him and asked him if he wanted the hanging to be put off awhile. He said that he did not, but was ready as soon as he could finish dressing. When he was brought from the cell and faced the crowd, Mr. McAfee called for quiet and said that Sam could make a statement if he desired. Jones said: "I ain't got much to say, but I'll say this: I am a Negro and I know it, and I've always stayed in a Negro's place until now. I'm willing to go, and I don't fear it a bit. That is all I got to say. I don't fear it a bit, not a bit." Soon after this and when his hands and feet were being tied, someone called from the crowd and asked if he wanted to tell them goodbye. Discovering that it was S.F. James, a white man of Sherman, he asked for him to come upstairs and that the execution be delayed until he told him goodbye. The request was granted, and Sam told Mr. James that he hoped to meet him on the other side of the river. Just before the trap was sprung, Jones told Sheriff McAfee and his death watchmen, Arthur Vaughn and Jimmie Gee, goodbye remarking to each of them that they had been his friends. Sheriff Murphy of Coalgate, Oklahoma is here today and assisted Sheriff McAfee. JONES' LAST NIGHT Condemned Man Slept Well and Arose at Usual Hour Sam Jones calmly dressed himself in his new suit and attire this morning, shaved himself and talked freely to the few people who were permitted to see him. His hand was steady when he buckled the straps of the grio containing his cast-off clothes and several possessions that he has had with him at the jail; his voice did not quiver when he would talk of almost being time for the hanging. He has conducted himself in a decided opposite manner from that of Sellars Vines and Wood Maxey, who were hanged on August 9. They were rather restless for most of the night preceding the execution. They kept the jail in a hum by loud prayers and hymns. Jones did not sing or pray in a loud manner this morning. He said that he did not believe in it and that he thought that was mostly for show. Sam said a day or two ago that his desire was to fulfill the penalty in a cool deliberate manner and to be possessed by his normal sense, unexcited. KEEPS UP HIS NERVE When a representative of the Democrat first saw him this morning, he was getting ready for the hanging. He recognized him at once and said, "Well, do you think you could do this as easy as I am?" Not to exaggerate, Sam Jones was a most resolved man to die as a penalty for killing the woman that he once called his wife, and that he continue to love and almost worship. RELATIVES DISAPPOINT HIM Jones seemed somewhat disappointed that none of his relatives have spent the last few days with him. He said that no matter what kind of trouble they were in, if he was free he would see them through to the last. "But it is with them and their God," he remarked. He is survived by a brother, J.M. Jones, 8 miles east from Mt. Pleasant; a sister near Pittsburg, Texas, Joe Alice Trailer; a sister near Corsicana, Mollie Robinson; Rachel Elliott Jones. This afternoon a hearse will carry the casket, which equipment will be furnished free of charge by the undertaking company. STORY OF THE CRIME Jones Killed His Divorced Wife Here Two Months Ago The crime for which Sam Jones today paid the law's penalty was one of the bloodiest in the history of Grayson county. On the morning of August 16, just two months ago to the day, Jones killed his divorced wife, Eddie Jones, at her home, 1000 North Throckmorton street. The murder was committed with an ax. Only two licks were struck. The first split the woman's head over the left eye and crushed her skull into the brain. The second lick actually severed the left eye and cheek bone, leaving a gash from which her life blood and brains ran onto the ground. Jones first attacked his wife with a pick but she overpowered him and took the pick. The he drew his pocket knife but the woman also took that away from him. Then she ran from the house. Jones pursued her, overtaking her just outside the door. He choked her down and while she was almost unconscious he went around behind the house and secured the ax with which he finished his bloody deed. Jones and his wife were married at Mt. Vernon, Texas, several years ago. On July 12, 1912, the woman was granted a divorce, the decree being granted on the grounds of cruel treatment. At the time of the crime Jones was working on the section, being located at Choctaw, about 5 miles east of Sherman. The night before the tragedy he came to Sherman, went to the home of his wife and pleaded with her to return to him. She refused. He remained around the house all that night and the next morning again went in and begged his wife to return to him. When she again refused he told her that if she would not live him [sic] she could never live with any one else, then proceeded to murder her. After the murder, Jones started toward the city and had reached the post office when he was arrested by Deputy Sheriffs Jim Spears and Arthur Vaughn. Jones admitted from the first that he killed his wife and said that he was ready to hang for the crime. The grand jury of the 59th District Court was in session at the time the crime was committed and Jones was indicted the very day he killed his wife. On the afternoon of the day of the murder in Justice of the Peace T.W. Hudson's court at a preliminary hearing Jones pleaded guilty to the murder and was remanded to jail to await the action of the grand jury.  Left to right: Sheriff R.L. McAfee; County Attorney, C.T. Freeman; District Judge, J.M. Pearson The trial of Jones began in the 59th District Court on the morning of September 4. District Judge J.M. Pearson presided at the trial, County Attorney C.T. Freeman was in charge of the prosecution and E.W. Neagle, who had been appointed by the court, made a strong defense in behalf of the Negro. The jury sitting in the case was composed of M. Young, painter, Denison; J.B. Shipp, farmer, Preston Bend; W.R. Perkins, farmer, Gordonville; J.C. Moles, dealer in feed stuffs, Whitewright; S. Jobe, farmer, Luella; J.D. Case, farmer, Luella; O.T. Thornton, farmer, Ida; M.C. Cordell, farmer, Rockport; M.?. Michael, car repairer, Denison; G.E. Martin, Drayman, Van Alstyne; J.L. Blackburn, merchant, Howe. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty and assessed the punishment at death. On the 14th day of September Jones was sentenced to be hanged and at his own request the date of his execution was fixed for October 16. He asked to be hanged at 10 o'clock in the morning, as that was the hour he killed his wife. The court told him he could not grant the request as the law fixed the time of execution at any time in the day between 11 o'clock a.m. and sundown.  FELONY Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |