In late April 1878 Dr. J.B. Jones was among those who purchased the first lots in the new town of Whitewright, Grayson County, Texas; he had contracting with C.H. Suhdam to build his future drug store at Whitewright.  The lots were all located on Grand Avenue, which was the central roadway through downtown Whitewright.

Less than three weeks before Dr. Jones' murder, he was in the city of Sherman and attended to a man who was injured in a train accident.

Denison Daily News
Saturday, August 10, 1878
pg 4

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
Dr. Jones Killed at Caddo, Indian Territory

Yesterday afternoon three half-breeds on horseback rode up to the depot at Caddo.  One of them named Will Stewart, carried his shotgun on full-cock, and shouted at Dr. Jones who stood on the platform, “I am on it, you
son of a -----,” and pointed his gun at the Doctor who stood with his arms folded against the depot.
Stewart was drunk and followed Jones to the south end of the platform, where he shot him through the left shoulder, severing the jugular vein and causing instant death.  Stewart and his companions immediately rode away.  A posse of six or eight citizens pursued them and at last accounts had them corralled in the brush, and
were exchanging shots.  It is hoped the villain Stewart will be speedily captured.  We understand the origin of
the affair was Stewart claimed that Jones had reported him to the marshals for dealing in whiskey.
Dr. Jones has resided in the Nation several years and was universally esteemed and respected. He leaves a
widow and several children.  At the time he was assassinated, he was enroute to Whitewright, where he had
lately established a drug store, and which place he had selected as his future residence, being rather dissatisfied with the life in the Territory.  He had many warm friends in this city, who will learn with deep regret of his sad fate.


Denison Daily Herald
Sunday, August 11, 1878
Pg. 8

THE CADDO MURDER
Dr. Jones, who was shot by the half-breed Stewart at Caddo on Friday, was buried yesterday at two o’clock.
The Doctor was a Royal Arch Mason but for some private reason the funeral was conducted without  Masonic services.
A large force is out in pursuit of the murderer and every effort will be made to capture him.  He is said to have
sent word to the pursuing party that he was ready to stay with them as long as they pleased, and had plenty of half-breeds to assist him.  The latest report was that Stewart was at a house fifteen miles east of Caddo, near Armstrong, and the marshals had good hopes of arresting him.
The pursuit will be kept up until he is taken dead or alive.

Denison Daily Herald
Monday, August 12, 1878
pg. 4

The pursuers of Stewart, who killed Dr. Jones at Caddo, are making every effort to capture the murderer.  He,
with seven friends, is surrounded at a point seventeen miles from Caddo. One of the pursuing party returned this morning riding one of Stewart’s horses.  John Burks’ horse was shot from under him by Stewart during a skirmish.  At latest accounts deputy U.S. Marshal Smith was preparing to go to the assistance of the attacking force with a posse of twenty men.  If Stewart can be held at bay until Smith’s squad arrives he will surely be taken.

Denison Daily News
Tuesday, August 13, 1878
pg. 4

Wiley Stewart, who killed Dr. Jones at Caddo Friday, was accompanied by his brother, Henri Stewart, the same party who robbed Mr. Lebermann’s establishment in this city last summer, and now under bonds under that charge.  It seems that Henri Stewart fired the first shot at the Doctor with a revolver, wounding him in a the fore-finger of the left hand, after which Wiley Stewart fired the fatal shot with a shotgun.  The two Stewarts then rode up the road and when near the Congregational church, threatened to shoot Rev. Edward Morris, who was standing in front of the building.  They were shortly thereafter joined by Texas Dick, an escaped convict from the Texas penitentiary, and stopping at a house, were overtaken by a party of eight citizens from Caddo. A few shots were exchanged, and one of the Caddo party slightly wounded.  While the citizens sent for reinforcements, the desperadoes made their escape towards Armstrong Academy.
About half past one o’clock p.m. Monday a darkey who was one of the pursuing party, rode into Caddo and reported that they had had a fight with Stewart and his two companions, in which they killed Stewart’s horse and captured the horses of the other two.  The pursuers had them dismounted and surrounded, and had sent him for help and ammunition.  The horse of John Burke was shot under him.
A reinforcement of eleven men, headed by the darkey and Deputy U.S. Marshal Smith, left for the scene of the fight, seventeen miles east of Caddo.

Denison Daily Herald
Wednesday, August 14, 1878
pg. 1

Officers in Texas should be on the lookout for the Stewarts, the murderers of Dr. Jones, at Caddo, as they are reported coming this way.  One of them is reported wounded.

Denison Daily News
Thursday August 15, 1878
pg. 4

Latest from Caddo

Constable Spence returned Wednesday morning from Caddo, where he had been for the purpose of taking a look at Hobbs, a fellow from Texas. Hobbs was with the Stewart party and was captured by the citizens of Caddo. He is held on the charge of horse stealing. Spence says that the report of the two Stewarts having crossed Red River into Texas is not credited in Caddo. That Henry Stewart is badly wounded seems to be certain, as only with the assistance of his brother, Wiley did he manage to get away. It is supposed that he was shot in the leg. Parties are still engaged in scouring the country for the villians, and strong hopes of their ultimate capture are entertained.

Denison Daily Herald
Saturday, August 17, 1878

INDIAN NATION

A Gathering of Desperadoes on the Canadian
From the Caddo Free Press

We understand, from what we consider a reliable source, that there is a gathering of Texas desperadoes on the Canadian, about seventy-five miles west from here, for the purpose of robbing the U.S. Paymaster when he passes by to pay the troops at Fort Sill.  That a part of their plans was to murder a few leading men in Caddo, and rob their stores.  Their plans were precipitated by Wiley and Henri Stewart getting drunk and killing Dr. Jones.  There has been a steady influx of loose men, for the past month, who have made Wiley Stewart’s house their stopping place while in Caddo, and there is a station on Blue, some fifteen miles west.  This is evidently the programme as laid down.”

HENRI STEWART – Dr. JONES’ Murderer
We are informed that Henri Stewart who was concerned in the assassination of Dr. J.B. Jones, is the son of a man by the name of Stewart who used to keep a store at Doaksville, long years ago, and was from Connecticut.  He married a Choctaw woman, who died after bearing him two children – Henri and another son.  After the death of
his wife he removed to Connecticut, his former home.  Henri was educated and well raised, and at the death of his father he left a good fortune, but bad associates and a reckless life soon got away with it.  He married a woman with considerable money, but soon run through with it.  He came to this country about five years ago, and had
been leading a bad life ever since. - - Caddo Free Press’

Denison Daily News
Sunday, August 18, 1878
pg. 8

We see the Denison News is in error regarding the relationship of the two Stewarts connected with the killing of
Dr. Jones the other day at Caddo.  Henri Stewart is but a distant relative – second cousin we believe – of the elder Wiley Stewart, father of him who did the shooting, and hence would be still more distantly related to young Wiley.  Wiley Stewart senior is one of the most quiet, peaceable and highly respected citizens of the Choctaw Nation, but as is often the case with boys of the best parents, young Wiley turned out to be wild and reckless. - - - Star-Vindicator

FELONY
Susan Hawkins
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