The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1870-05-25
ASSASSINATION or y. W.. STEPHENS,
or CasweIl Counfy,,!

~ or Caswen County.M
Following the killing of u negro at Sam
Aliens in quick succession comes the hor-
rible news Of the murder OF J.W. Stcph-
ems, late State Senator for Caswell county.
He had been reported "missing'' 70 often,
and II proved untrue, that we felt disin-
clined TO credit the nmor when we first
heard II, and had sincerely hoped II would
prove untrue. But we deeply regret to
state the rumor proves true. The unfortu-
nate man was taken from his residence on
Saturday night by disguised men, as we
learn, carried In the Court House and there
strangled or choked to death. We await
authentic particulars.
The character of this man for mischief
making between the two races was such
that II would not liay surprised Us at any
time to have heard Of difficulty between
him and some Of the citizcns--an open UNI
disguised ddy-tight difficulty. But we are
startled 10 hear Of his assassination. Great
heaven! has 1t come to this? Is midnight
assassination to be the order of the day In
this christian land? Shall the bloody ira
gedics that characterized the French Rev.
olution be initiated In North Carolina?--
Are Laws cob-webs Or mere ropes of sand?
With such disregard of law and order
such spirit Of lawlessness peryadiig the
people, what man or woman In the State
can retire to bed ut night In conscious safe
ty? We again lift our voice for Law and
Order. We again conjure every body TO
respect the Laws, whether good or bad
We again call upon law-defying men to
pause! Pause for the good Of outraged So
ciety! Pause, for the good of the loved ones
at home. Pause for your own good In this
world and the world 10 come, and "let US
have peace ON earth and good will to-
ward man.
In the beginning Of men taking the law
in their own hands, we saw the danger 1t
would lead to-the evil tendency ofthe pre-
cedent--and as public Journalists whose
duty II Is to denouncc crime, uphold Law
and protect society, the Recorder shrunk
not from Its duty. But for performing our
duty to God, Man and Society, we were
censured-aye, threatened bya cowardly,
God-forsakcn nlIscrcant who skulks in the
dark, but whose threat disturbed US not so
much as the buzzing Of fiy-it was but
the braying of donkey In the lions robe.
We have never failed TO dcnouncc outrag-
a., whether by kulsmx, the league or other
wise, and when we cease TO do 80, we shall
cease 10 conduct newspaper worthy the
countenancc Of the people.
stephens Is dead. but who Is profted by
his death? Consider Il philosophically.-
There are .aillsu men "better bear than fly
to Others they know not or II was ada
maging blow to the intelligent County O
Caswell 80 distinguished, until recently
for tile law-abiding disposition Of her pco
nile. both white and black. But lad mer
are to be found In all Counties, and the
good shouldn't be blamed for theirvillain'
Gus dce,ls. 1.-THE assassins' dagger drank
Stephens blood, Ii inflicted nj the salne
time wound upon the County, and II be
hooycs all good men to be diligent in fer
rctIng out the assassins and bringing then
70 the bar OF public justice. And they viii
do tive know that people.