The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-08-31
THE STATE AGAINST FL Wiley.

| WITH COmptiCity Al eno 'hon Va '"o nav
Senator John W. Stephens, Of the County of
Caswell.
The only business, however, which was
transacted, was the calling and swearing of
the various witnesses, whose names we ap-
pend as follows:
Anderson Graves, Julia Robinson, L. Hall,
Fl. Lawson, Benz. Shaw, Mac Leith, Rufhn
Hill, Ham. johnson, H. Lee, Dolly Lawson,
Jerre Graves, Lewis Evans, George Rowe.
Daniel johnson, Grace HARRISON, ]. Mckee,
George Bigelow, John Williamson, George
Pennix, Lee Hensley, Jerrc Smith, ]. Kim
bro, P. Roam, Thos. Kimbro, A. J. Hooper,
A. Henderson, Branch Pinnix, Thomas
Bigelow, Alex. Fuller, Wiley Turner, Calvin
Miles, Jno. B. Memphill, Richard Graves,
w. Fl. Stephens, (brother of the deceased,)
Mrs. Martha F. Stephens, (wife of the de-
ceased) Iverson Gwynn and Zack. Hooper.
Mrs. Stephens returned to the hotel, while
the other witnesses for the prisoner and the
State were divided into'tw parties, placed
under the care of officers and it was order
ed that no person be permitted to approach
them save their counsel.
The Chief Justice further announced that
he would adjourn Court to meet at the Wake
County Courthouse in the afternoon at
o'clock, because Of the large audience, and
| for the accommodation of the various at
torneys on both sides.
We observed his Honor, Judge Dick,
sitting upon the bench with the Chief Justice.
The following lawyers appear for the
State: Messrs. Badger, Bailey and McCorkle,
Olds, and Hon. Nathaniel Boyden. For the
prisoner: Messrs. Bragg, W. H. Battle, K. P.
Battle, R. H. Battle, Watt and Withers and
John R. Winston.
We append to this brief summary dia-
gram of the Caswcll County Courthouse,
Qower foor) in which the murder was COM
mitted. The explanation accompanies the
plat.
AFTERNOON sEsslON-MONDAY.
The Courthouse was densely crowded
when his Honor resumed his seat at
o'clock.
MI. Battle moved the arrest Of 1t. Col.
Burgen upon the ground that he had threat
ened to kill certain of the prisoners on their
release. The matter was taken into con-
sideration by the Chief Justice.
DR.. Roam was then called as the first wit
ness. He gave description of Court house
building. He said that he was sent for on
Sunday morning; went into room where the
body lay; the door was opened before he
got there; the corpse was lying in hollow
in the pile OF wood at the north side of the
room; knees and arms were drawn up,
three stabs were discernable, rope was
around the neck, known as grass rope,
drawn tightly in moose, with two ends
both hanging from behind; two of the
stabs were in the neck, one severing the
windpipeE another pierced the heart;
knife was lying near the body, it had
buckhorn handle, two blades, one of which
was open, about 3 inches long and I
an inch in width; the rope was drawn
tightly around the neck, sinking into
the skin; tiIoro were ooss;asr~ll~ signs
of blood on the wood and plastering;
the stabs had been inflicted rapidly,
and strangulation was effected before the
infiction of the wounds. No portion of the
body touched the floor; it lay in space in
the wooG-pie, and could not have been seen
during the night-search, from the windows; ;
a few sticks of wood were under it.
The back was toward the east, the side
towards the wall. There was no doubt
that Stephens was killed in the room. Saw
no signs of blood at the window till next
morning, then saw drop on the granite
sill and on the box, as if it fell and split; it
| was florid and fresh. He had ordered the
use of the box at the window ledge for the
night.search. There was no blood on the
floor. A servant got the box. One of
STEPHENS brothers made examination. A
candle was used, for the night had set in.
When the windows were down stick
was usually put up to confine them; the
door of this room was bolted as he leaned
that night; there was thumb bolt at the
hasp. He was not present when the door
was opened. No key was seen by him.
The spot of blood on the window sill might
have been made by the print ofa finger, step
could have produced it, but there was
no blood on the floor. The body might
have been seen in the day. 1t was not
discoverable by candle-light. Had been
asked permission to search the Courthouse
on the night OF the murder. The South
window was too high to make an examina-
ton, both windows on the East were used
Permission was asked for the search by Mr.
T. Stephens and Cooke. Door was closed
Didn't know where the key was. Was moi
asked for it. Granite would not absort
blood as readily as wood, and stains upon ii
would appear more plain and distinct.
Daniel johnson (col) was called. and Oh
motion, charged to deliver the truth. HI
testified substantially as follows:
live in Yanceyville. At home on th'
day Of the murder till or 4 o'clock. Wen
down town to the Courthouse. Mr.. Hill
was speaking. He said but few word
before the meeting broke up. DR.. Roam salt
hold on, that the colored meeting on mex
Saturday in that place would be protected
&c. after meeting was over about sunse
Mr.. Stephens hired man, Lafayette Graves
came to him and said Mr.. 8. was missing
, went home; Squire Cooke said same thing
3 went down town; crowd was at tn
two Mr.. Stephens and Mr.. Hemphill
other white men came afterwards; searcl
! was made and all but rooms examined
!, one of them being the room where MIR.
: lay, the other two were the lawyers rooms
there was no key to the Clerk and Master
room; went round to the windows; DR.. Roa
5 ordered the box, but couldn't see in tn
4 room. Fifteen or twenty persons RENAME
there all night on guard; none of ther
inside of the enclosure, save Mr.. Hemphil
n who staid in the passage-way some OF th
). time. Crowds were on the street all nigh
at the stores, principally. Both parties coul
!, lie seen. At day break the body was di
g covered. DIR. Roam was sent for. Sal
e Crowder entered the window he remove
3 the hasp; both the tongue of the lock an
;, tbumb.bolt were out there was no KY
q be found; the jury had been summone
n .o,od. . tho hodv Law in the hollow