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KILLED THREE PRESSLEYS BOB JONES, A FAMOUS CONVICT, IS SOON TO GO FREE. | Spent Four Years in Jail Before the Supreme Court Finally Ordered Him to the Penitetiary. " Bob Jones will leave the penitentiary on May 18 after a service of 19 years of a sentence of 25 years, four years of which were spent in the Edgefield county^ jail. At the State penitentiary the records show that he killed three men. "Yes, I will leave the penitentiary on May 18," said Bob Jones yesterday, as he watched over the convicts at work on the State house grounds, "and when I am once more a free man I am going back to Georgia and start life anew. I am 55 years of age, and have been in prison since 1885. I am going to Richmond county, Geor. gia, and settle near the little town of: Harlem, where I intend to start as a farmer and engage in the mercantile business. I am a good trader." In 1885 Bob Jones, who is one of the most picturesque prisoners at the penitentiary, killed Edward Pressley and his two sons, Edward and Charles Pressley, after a dispute over a boundary line. He was tried several times and was for four years confined in the Edgefield county jail awaiting the outcome of the appeal to the supreme court In 1891 he was brought to the penitentiary, and it is said that he has made a good prisoner and for the greater part of the time has been a trusty. As the result of his good behavior several months of his sentence will be deducted. He has never tried to escape and, it is said, has always performed his work faithfully. When Bob Jones came to the penitentiary he was a physical giant, with broad shoulders, erect body and an ? y athletic step. Now his hair is snowy / white. He feels keenly the humiliation of being a convict and vows that he will yet live down his past and make a man. "It was back in 1885," he said, "and I was doing well. I had a good business in a little country store. I was making money right along, and if the trouble had not occurred, I would to-day have been one of the most independent men in the State. I had always been good to the boys, but we quarreled in a field over a line and I killed three of them. "I think that I will go over in Georgia just as soon as I leave the penitentiary," he continued, "and settle near the town of Harlem. I am going to get married again and I am going to be independent before I die. Prison life has been hard, and I don't know how I would have - 1 stood it naa it not oeeu iui mc &uwness of the officials?they have been good to me." He estated that he had been a "trusty" for the greater part of his prison life, with the exception of two years, and that ho has never thought of escaping. "I was convicted, and I knew that I must serve out my time," he said. "I am only 55 years of age, and my body is ndt so weak and there is some hope for me yet." Jones drew on the ground with a stick a plot of the ground and gave his explanation of the trouble. "The Pre6sley8 wanted to take about seven acres of my land/' he declared, "and as I had always been so good to them, they did not believe that I would resent their threat to kill me and I didn't shoot until one of the boys advanced on me with an open knife. I then shot him dead. I next had a hand-to-hand encounter with the other boy and cut his left arm off with vnifa onH fTiAn imt three of his AUJ AUUV it * - -i - _ ribs in two and severed his heart. The father then shot at me, and I shot him in the legs and the wound * proved fatal. It all seems like a dream to me." "I came to South Carolina from Georgia over 30 years ago," said Jones, "and I think that it would he best for me to leave the State upon being freed." Jones is a man of intelligence and has a shrewed eye and is very observant. He gave a detailed account of the trials and finally ended by saying, "it's all over now, and I am go. ing to try and forget the past." Twenty-five years ago Bob Jones, then a young man, went to the town of Edgefield and announced to the sheriff of that county that he had killed three of the best men in the county. He surrendered and was placed in jau. The killing of the older Edward Pressley and his two sons, Edward and Charles, was one of the most sensational murders that has ever occurred in the State. For four years the case was fought in the court, the State finally securing a conviction carrying a sentence of 25 years. In the fall of 1884 Col. U. R. Brooks, the present clerk of the supreme court, who was at that time agent for the sinking fund commission, went to Edgefield to collect the dues on the land known as the Jennings tract, which the Pressleys and Bob Jones had purchased from the fev '. . ... V . State. They had failed to keep up the payments. Col. Brooks told them that if they were not able to keep the payments up that it would be best for them to rent the place. When the land was first purchased from the State, the terms were that one" 1 ' ^ -X- A lourtn snouia ue paiu m c<tsu auu wc . remainder was to be paid in three equal annual installments. Bob Jones made the first payment on the land, and by a mutual under- , standing between Jones and the Pressleys one-fourth of the tract was measured off to him and their agree- , ment was that Jones had paid for his share and would not be required to pay any more. The contract of the 1 State was lost sight of in which it was stipulated that if the land was not paid for it should revert to the State and the payment of the onefourth of the amount would not be ; considered. Later the land was rented to i Charles Pressley. It will be thus seen that Jones did not have any interest in the land. He witnessed the contract of the State in renting the land : to Pressley and knew that he had no more interest. In the fall of 1885, while old man Pressley and his two sons were planting oats on the land, Bob Jones, who was then a young ] man, went to the field. He carried a i shotgun. He shot Charlie Pressley , dead between the plow handles. He then ran off and was pursued across ; - - - ^ -s r-fc -i^,: I the neia DJ" Jtuawaru rrt;s?it;y. nunc [running he managed to open his I [knife. Stopping suddenly he turned 1 [ upon the boy and literally cut his heart out. He then went back to < where the father was standing and said, "Grandpa, I believe that I will 1 kill you," and following the ^tate- 1 ment fired upon the old man, the j wounds afterwards proving fatal. He then went to Edgefield and surrend- ' ered. Jones narrowly escaped hang- ' ing. He was convicted and got a new i trial. There were mistrials and a 1 change of venue to Lexington county and another conviction.?The State. m 1 A Knockout. ] A young lawyer was engaged in a case when a witness was put in the * box to testify to the reputation of the place in question. This witness in answer to a query as to the reputation of the place re- 1 plied, "A poor shop." The lawyer inquired. "You say it has the reputation of being a 'poor shop?' " 1 "Yes, sir." "Whom did you hear say it was a . 'poor shop?' " The witness did not recollect any ^ one he had heard say so "What!" said the lawyer. "You ^ have sworn this place nas me reputation of being a 'poor shop' and yet . cannot tell of any you have ever heard say so?" The witness was staggered for a moment at the words of the lawyer. , The lawyer was feeling triumphant when the witness gathered himself , together and quietly remarked, ad- , dressing the lawyer: , "Well, you have the reputation of 1 being a poor lawyer, but I have never heard any one say so." Dukes to Buy Hotels. ] j Asheville, N. C., April 27.?If pres- : ent plans go through the vast boun- 1 daries of the Toxaway company at Lake Toxaway, including the hotel i property and the adjoining lands, will j pass into the hands of a syndicate, 1 the primary purpose of which Is to < develop water power. Inquiries today revealed the fact that the deals have not been closed yet, but that representatives of a well known firm of this city, which has handled many \ of the large deals in this section, are now in New York, and possibly the deal will be closed within a short time. While it could not be definitely learned to whom the property was to pass in case the deal is consumated, there is a rumor to the effect that J. B. Duke and N. B. Duke, the millionaire tobacco magnates, and the principal owners of the Southern Power company, which controls the "plectrical situation" in Piedmont South Carolina, are prospective purchasers. To this rumor further confirmation is added to-day by a special from Washington to the effect that it is reported there that the Dukes have an option on 50,000 acres of the land in the Toxaway section, and that the company plans to develop 30,000 horse power to be used across the line in South Carolina. It is well known here that a deal has been pending for some time, and that the title to the large boundaries of land in Transylvania and Jackson counties is being looked up. Rumor has it that the syndicate, if it takes up the option, will build several other large dams and dpvplnD hvdro-electric power. ? Further rumor has it that the resort ] features will be preserved and the hotels managed as in the past. Pend- i ing the close of the deal no arrange- ments have so far been announced for the management of the hotel property this summer and the boun- j daries have been closed, so far as g fishing is concerned. t GRB1SHAW DIES OP WOUNDS. Death Claims Another Victim in Charleston Mystery. Charleston, May 1.?Another chapter was added to the mysterious sensational murder of Miss Margaret Musgrove, in the death, this afternoon, at the Roper hospital, of C. E. Grimshaw, a Southern railway conductor, who was shot with Miss Mus grove last Thursday night on West Point mill causeway. The immediate cause of death was peritonitis. The coroner's jury was empaneled this afternoon, viewing the body, and the inquisition will take place tomorrow. Until an early hour this morning the condition of Grimshaw was not thought to be of an alarming character. Last night Grimshaw expressed a desire to see a Catholic priest, who was at once sent for and the sacraments of this church was given to the wounded man. Shortly after midnight the condition of the patient was found by the interne on duty at the hospital to have changed for the worst and the coroner was notified. Deputy M. S. Connelly repaired to the hospital and took the dying man's statement, which will be given to the jury at the inquest. When Grimshaw ran into the hospital last Thursday night, announcing that he had been shot, an examination revealed two wounds in the lower fleshy portion of his back. It was at first thought that it was but one bullet making the two wounds, but later it' was discovered that two bullets had imbedded themselves in the body. No serious concern was given to the wounds, although the bullets had not been extracted, and it was not until midnight last night that the patient' showed alarming 3ymptoms. The injured man's condition rapidly grew worse and a few hours later it was apparent that the wounds would have a fatal termination. Grimshaw's ante-mortem statement is of course guarded by the coroner, but it is not expected that it will 3how any material variation from the deposition which was made on Friday and submitted yesterday at the inquest over the death of Miss Musgrove. His explanation was that he and Miss Musgrove were shot by a man, who looked like a negro. Miss Musgrove's ante-mortem was to the same affect. Notwithstanding the theory of Detective Brennan that Grimsha* shot the woman and then shot himself in the fleshy portion of the back, to give the appearance of an assault, it is generally believed that a third party, interested in the woman's family, did the act, having followed the couple to the dark and secluded causeway beyond the rice mill. The police department is still at work on the case. It is not thought that the mystery will ever be satisfactorily-cleared up. The verdict to-morrow will probably be the same as that of yesterday, that the shooting was done by the "hands 3f party or parties unknown to the fury." The secret may be known to the priests who attended both parties, if, [n fact, Grimshaw and Miss Musgrove really knew or had any suspicion as to who committed the act. The funeral services were held this ifternoon over the body of Miss Musgrove at the cathedral and the body was quietly interred at St. Laurence jemetery. Commandant Starting Cut. Angered, it is claimed, because of the enforcement of the regulations governing the Confederate soldiers' lome, Mr. R. M. Davis, an inmate, Thursday afternoon attacked the commandant, Capt. W. D. Starling. The old soldier was armed witti a fix-inch knife, a vicious locking weapon, with an automatic spring catch. 3apt. Starling was not expecting the ittack and before he succeeded in warding off the blows of the infuriated nan, he had been painfully cut on ;he hand. It was only after Mr. Starling, using a chair as a weapon of lefense, had knocked Davis to the ioor, that he ceased his attacks. Davis jears several scars as the result of contact with the chair. Constable R. H. Thackham, acting jinder authority conferred in a war*ant issued by Magistrate Fowles, arrested Davis and lodged him in the county jail on a charge of assault and mattery with intent to kill. He will ce given a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Fowles as soon as Mr. i Starling has recovered sufficiently to i ce in attendance. Mr. Starling was -endered ill as a result of the excitenent and nerve tension. He suffered in attack of vertigo and is confined to lis room. Davis came to the home from Spar :anDurg county, aDout two years ago. ?Columbia Record. Those sample tablets and box pa)ers at The Herald Book Store are rreat bargains, <?et them quick, as hey are going rapidly. COTTON SEED FLOUR MENU. Banquet Will be Served of Viands Made From it Alone. In order to bring before the general public the merit of cotton seed AM A fAA/1 A KonA'.'nf fA VVA ornrnn nuui clo a 1 uuu, a uaii^uti iw by the Texas Cotton Seed Crushers' association during their convention at San Antonio will almost entirely consist of dishes made from that commodity. The association recently sent 1,000 pounds of this flour to the king of England and Alfonso of Spain, who are said to be greatly interested in this new product. Cotton seed flour is nothing more than a high grade cotton meal best known hitherto as a very fine feed for milk cattle. Only high-grade seed is I used in its manufacture, and the only [ process it goes through is a finer millng and bolting. Those who have eaten bread and pastry made from it claim that cotton flour products are more easily digested than those made from ordinary flour, and that they have a higher nutritive value. Mixed with cereal flour, it will produce the very best grade of bread and pastry without shortening in the form of lard having to be added. Although in its natural state cotton seed flour is saturated with oil in the flour when prepared for human consumption, resembling both in color and touch the product of wheat. i Cotton flour will be very cheap, and for this reason it has engaged the attention of food experts and economists in this country and abroad t Fired Gun Into Train. Gaffney, April 28.?As Southern train No 41 was rnminE- south at a lively clip, yesterday afternoon, between Grover, N. C., and Blacksburg, a shot was fired into the train, shattering the glass in the window of the rear coach, and narrowly missed the flagman, who was in the rear end of the coach at the time. The shooting occurred just across the line of this county. When the train reached Blacksburg, the matter was reported to the officers, and investigation developed that a young white man named Mike Blanton was | in some way implicated. Blanton was arrested and locked up at Blacksburg, and when charged with the crime admitted that he was present, but said that the shooting was done by Willie Little, with whom he (Blanton) lives in North Carolina, saying that he and Little were both drinking and that Little was drunk, and that when the train came along he fired his shot gun without saying a word. Blanton was brought to jail this morning by Constable J. H. Allison, after waiving examination before Magistrate Ligon. He says he is only 15 years of age, and that he had nothing whatever to do with the shooting. His father is here, presumably to arrange for giving bond for his son, which was fixed at $500. Litte, who is a brother of L. A. Little, of Gaffney, has not as yet been arrested, and it is probable that he will come to Gaffney to-day and surrender. The punishment for this crime is not more than $500 fine or imprisonment for not more than five years. It is said that a deputy sheriff from King's mountain, N. C., saw Little when he fired into the train. South's Crop Damage Not Severe. Washington, April 28.?Damages to crops in the Southern States, east of the Mississippi river, are not as .A. ? ?T6EIL 88 BUmt? Ui llic mot icpvito seemed to Indicate, according to President Finley of the Southern railway. He said to-day that reports show cotton and corn have suffered in the northern two-thirds of the States of Mississippi, Alabama and ' Georgia, but that further south these crops were not injured and that further north they were not far enough advanced to be seriously hurt. "There is still ample time to replant both cotton and corn," he said, and "if this is* done extensively the final yield may not be greatly reduced. Reports indicate a general suspension of cotton seed crushing by oil mills, with a view to conserving the seed for planting. The peach crop does not seem to have been materially damaged. Melons and cantaloupes in Southern Georgia hay have Strawberries suffered little. No damage was done to fruits, vegetables or other crops in Virginia." ? Mole Gives Fire Alarm. Branchville, April 29.?Last night about 10 o'clock C. F. Nettles, a farmer who lives about seven miles from town, had the misfortune of losing his barn, stables and provisions by fire. Mr. Nettles says that he had just retired for the night and that he was awakened by a noise made by his mule in trying to get out of the burning stable. He succeeded in getting his mule and cow out of the stables, but could not save any of his provisions. A ton of fertilizer was also burned. 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