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PARICIDE,JOHN JON KM SMOOTH HIS FATHER.I/wit h Sliot Oilli Willilm. k Shot.Monday of last week, on Lookout Mountain, aoatii of the Walk nr county line, and a half mile from any house, Ayers Jones was murdered by his son, Johri.Bad feeling had existed between them for some time caused by the stealing: and killing: of a steef that belonged to Baz Jones but the direct cause of the killing was a quarrel about the two youngest children of old man Jones’ first wife, a boy and a girl.Ayers Jones when killed was living on the Tapp Gap road, leading across the mountain to Valley Head, and some six miles from where he was shot. When the first Mrs. Jones was on her death bed she made the two youngest children, Grier and Te lia promise to live with their brothers, John and Baz, John taking the boy and Baz the girl.Sometime ago, from Will 11111-bnrn, John Jones secured a contract to pile tanbark. He had his brother helping him, and for some reason, possibly because the boy did not work to suit John, he whipped him. The boy at once left for home. Going af ter him John brought him back and with him his sister. Because the boy had been taken away Ayors Jones got very angry and started to John’s to get the boy back again. He found John before he reached the house and about half a mile away, getting out stave timber. Coming up, the two men commenced quarrelling, and it ended by the old man trying to hit John with a stick, but John dodged the blow by running out of the way on his bauds and knees. Ayers Jones followed up the attack but could not get in reaching distauce of his son. John left going in the direction of his home. After a tihio the old man followed but he had gono pnly a short distance before he met John, who had been to liis house and armed himself with a gun. Meeting his father in the road he told him to get out of his way and give him the road that he didn’t waut to hurt him, but Ayers claimed the road, and after more quarrelling John Btepped to one side, giving up tho road. Ayers, started to walk by, but stopped to tell John that ho was a d—n coward or he would have stayed and had it ont with him. At this the younger mu warned his father not to call him a coward, if he did he would I shoot him. Repeating the above Ayors advauoed on John, the 1st ter backing off from him, until both had loft the road. Going as far back as he could until he struck some brush, John raised his gun and fired. Without a . word, almost without a sound, the [old man fell over dead, the victim i of his son’s wrath. Tho shot eu-j tercd just below the poiut of the j breast bone, and a little to one ! side, tearing a hole into which ! you could put your three fingers.| The witnesses of the killing '! were Grier aud Telia J ones, and ('has. Stoker, a young fellow who I was workiug with Johu at the time. ‘When the shooting occurred the two meu were only a j few steps apart. The gun used was a double-barrel breech-load-I iug shot gun, and loaded with i duck shot, aud ouly one barrel was fired. The place where the i the killing took place was on a woods road, running south, from the main road that leads from Neal's Gap to Valley Head, and ^ is a comparatively smooth, clear , place. When shot Ayers fell upon j his face, but was turned over on | his back by the two childen who had followed him as he started after John. When they got to him he was dead.The killing occurred Monday morhing about 10 o’clock, but no alarm was given for some time. Not until Tuesday did the Coroner, Hr. Falmour, summons his jury aud make inquiry as to the death of old man Jones. The following men were summoned: Lum Neal, foreman, Doc. Wilson, Geo. Davis, Watson Alexander, Jos. Cook, Jesse Kinsey, Jesse Ulson, O. D. Wyatt, Bob Knox, Kirk Knox, John Hogg aud James Bridges. After examining the witnesses, the jtiry adjourned without making known their verdict.The evidence before the Coroner’s Jury brought out the fact that Ayers Jones had a knife in his left hand. When tho quarrel was taking place, the knife was wrapped in a cotton handkerchief with a red border. At the inquest and when the body was being stripped, the handkerchief was taken from between the stiffened fingers, aud tlie knife rolled out. The blade was open. It was a plain pocket knife, and according to Mrs. Jones’ testimony, belonged to her husbaud.John, after shooting his father, went to Jim Gilreath’s, liis broth-er-in-law, and there got his dinner. After dinner, he sold his slock consisting of cows, steers and hogs to Gilreath. Taking 840 with him aud leaving the balance for his wife, he left for parts unknown.Ayers Jones has lead an eventful life. As a moonshiner no man for nfany years was better known to the Revenue officers. In his veins ran some Indian blood and into the unlawful business lie followed he brought all the cunning of that race. ■ Originally from Fannin county, it was in the mountains of that and other counties of Northeast Georgia that he claimed his reputation as a maker of wildcat liquor. It is said that he was concerned in the death.of a revenue officer. He and the officer had u tight with knives, and it was a fight to the finish. Ilow the officer died was never known, whether from the wounds received in the tight or whether a son of Jones’ sent the man on the journey into the uuknown. By all whom he has lived, Ayers Jones is reported as being a good neighbor.Up to Tuesday night no warrant had been sworn out for Jones pnd no attempt made to arrest him.
Newspaper Details
LaFayette Walker County Messenger
Lafayette, Georgia, US
Thu, Sep 21, 1893
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Andrew W.
USA 03 Mar 2025
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LaFayette Walker County Messenger
