James R. Jones (Virginia politician)
James Richard Jones was a Virginia state legislator as well as a postmaster and a member of the Capitol police.
He first served in the legislature in the Virginia Senate from November 1876 to 1877 taking over mid-term to fill the vacated seat after the death of Albert P. Lathrop.[1] He ran for the next session as a Radical in 1877 but lost to a white conservative E. B. Goode by 373 votes.[2][1]
In August 1880 he started work by appointment as postmaster for Boydton a position he held until January 12, 1885.[1]
During this same period he ran again for the senate as a member of the Readjuster Party and won to serve the term from 1881 for four years.[1][3] Jones introduced two bills to abolish the Whipping post and to remove that slavery legacy from the state.[1] Jones did not serve his full term and resigned on December 1, 1883 part way though his term.[4] He was one of four senators found to have flaunted the constitution and laws by being elected whilst holding a salaried office under the State Government.[5]
He then ran for representative in 1885 winning by defeating the democrat Charles L. Finch[1] and so serving in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Mecklenburg County, Virginia from 1885 to 1887[3] as a Republican.[6][7] He then failed to gain the Republican nomination for the next term in 1887.[1]
Jones was charged in December 1885 with stealing a registered letter whilst he was the Boydton postmaster in 1883.[8] He was tried, April 13 1886, at the federal court in Richmond on charges of mail tampering resulting in a hung jury,[9] and then was acquitted in a re-trial later in October.[1]
By December 1888 he had moved to Washington, D.C. where he joined the Capitol police force.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "James Richard Jones (d. after August 20, 1902) – Encyclopedia Virginia". Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "The Elections". Richmond Dispatch. 12 November 1877. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Bill Tracking - 2012 session > Legislation". leg1.state.va.us. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Vacant Senate Seats". Richmond Dispatch. 11 December 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "The Senatorial Vacancies". The Norfolk Virginian. 12 December 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "The Legislature". Southwest Examiner. 14 November 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "African American Legislators in Virginia (1867–1899) – Encyclopedia Virginia". Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Delegate J.R. Jones Charged". Richmond Dispatch. 3 December 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "James R. Jones Trial". Alexandria Gazette. 14 April 1886. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
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