Newton County GaArchives News.....ANOTHER MURDER, ASSASSINATION OF MR. WILLIAM G. JONES December 6, 1888
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Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 July 17, 2005, 6:46 pm

The Georgia Enterprise December 6, 1888
     It gives us pain to record another mysterious murder which took place in 
Newton County on Saturday afternoon last, about 8 miles west of Covington, in 
Stansell’s district. Mr. Wm. G. Jones,  one of our county commissioners and a 
worthy and honorable citizen, was brutally assassinated in a skirt of woods, 
not far from his home. The news did not reach town until about noon Sunday, 
when Coroner Osborn left at once for the scene of the murder, and upon arrival 
impaneled a jury consisting of Col. L. F. Livingston, as foreman, and Messrs. 
T. A. Boyd, O. P. McCord, W. O. Melton, L. B. Livingston and W. S. Ramsey. 
After the organization of the Coroner’s court, the body of Mr. Jones was 
examined and removed to the residence of his son, Mr. T. W. Jones half a mile 
distant.
     After the body was removed, a more thorough examination of the wounds was 
made by Dr. J. T. Gibson, in the presence of the jury. The jury then adjourned 
until Monday morning. The body was  washed, placed in a wagon, and removed to 
his own home, about half a mile away. It was about dark Sunday evening when 
this sad and weird procession moved off.
     Mr. T. W. Jones, son of the deceased, was the last family or friends who 
saw him alive. This was Saturday about 2 o’clock. Deceased informed his son 
that he had been over to Mr. Alex Reagan’s, that morning, to see him on some 
business, but Mr. Reagan had gone to Covington, and he did not see him. 
Deceased further informed his son that he was going over to Mr. Reagan’s again, 
that afternoon as he wanted to see him on business.
     Deceased and his son then separated, the son, Mr. T. W. Jones going to his 
home nearby and deceased going in the direction of Alex Reagan’s. Mr. Reagan is 
a neighbor, and lives about one mile away. Deceased was walking. This was the 
last seen of him alive by his friends.
     He was not missed from home until early Sunday morning. Inquiries for him 
were made at all the homes in the neighborhood, but no one had seen him.
     A large crowd had collected at his home by this time, when a 
regular “skirmish line” was formed, and a forward march was made through a 
thick body of woods, went by, and the body of Mr. Jones was found therein 
covered with blood, and stiff and cold in death. There was no pathway
leading through the woods and no evidence of a struggle could be seen about the 
body.
     An  examination of the wounds which caused his death, showed a large 
pistol shot, just under his left cheekbone and some four inches from his nose, 
ranging through and lodging under the right cheek bone, also a fearful gun shot 
wound in the back of the neck, between the ears, but a little nearer the right 
one than the left.
     The wound in the back of the neck was made with a load of bird shot, and 
the gun was so close that the coat and neck were burned with the powder. The 
neck was dislocated by the shot.
     These are the facts as given by the Star and are in the main correct. The 
coroner’s jury remain in session Monday and Tuesday and as we go to press early 
Wednesday morning, it is presumed that the jury is still in session. Several 
arrests were made Monday but the parties were released, there being no proof to 
warrant their detention. It is to be hoped, and it is probable, that the 
perpetrator of this cowardly act will be apprehended and brought to justice. 
The jury is composed of good and true men who will discharge their duty 
carefully and fearlessly.
     Would that we could give more and fuller particulars of this unfortunate 
affair, but to do so intelligently and truthfully would, at his time, be 
impossible, as all appears to be shrouded in mystery, although it is said that 
circumstances point to one or more parties as being implicated in the deed. As 
to this, we know nothing and of course cannot deny or vouch for any of the many 
rumors that are afloat. All we knew is that Mr. Jones is dead, and it is almost 
certain that he fell at the hands of some brutal, cowardly assassin. At the 
time of his death he was about 64 years old. He was a generous, kind and 
courteous gentlemen. In life he was our friend and in death we lament and mourn 
his loss. He leaves a family and many relatives and friends. Peace be to his 
memory and rest to his soul.


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