The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-06-08
Additional Facts Conserving the Murder
nf Sauo IN Sfnnhane ~

Additional Facts Conserving the Murder
of Senator stephens. 80
The following additional particulars con-
corning the murder, death, and burial Of
Senator Stephens, have been placed at our
disposal, and as everything relating to this
thrilling tragedy is of public interest, We
lay them before our readers.
On the Saturday afternoon of his death
Mr.. Stephens informed his wife that he
would attend the Democratic Convention to
be held at the Courthouse in Yanccyville, and
return home SO soon as the Hon. Bedford
Brown had concluded his speech.
Mr.. Stephens entered the Courthouse,
heard Mr.. Brown, and as Mr.. Phil. Hodnett
succeeded him, Mr.. Stephens began to take
notes. This was near o'clock, in the al
|, A Mr.. Wylie, who testifes that Mr.. Ste
phens had spoken TO him concerning his
candidacy on the Republican ticket for
Sheriff, approached him, and they went out,
OF the room together. Iat * II '.it ST.
| When they parted, according TO the tes-
timony, Mr.. Stephens went towards one OF
the lower rooms, where the tax list was be
ing taken r'a aaeatat at5r 'aI' tf
Nothing more was seen of him, according
to the testimony, until after his body was
found Lad I'D. .....-.-. --..f,. ......
Agentleman in the meanwhile called at
his residence, in order to get Mr.. Stephens
to do some writing for him. His wife told
him that he would be back so soon as Mr..
Brown was done speaking. He told her
that Mr.. Brown had finished speaking for
some time. She then sent off to search for
him, and as darkness approached her suspic-
ions of foul play increased. rt ai ap
Meanwhile brother of Mr.. Stephens prose-
ecuted the search. Suspicion was directed
to the Courthouse. Every room was search
| ed, save the room, where his body lay, and
the key to that could not be found. The
| room was faithcst removed of all others
| from the street, for the Courthouse at Yam
ceyville sits back from the, street, and is
| fenced with an iron railing. ii ,Htfft B,
However, a candle was taken, held to the
window and the room thus scanned that
night, but no discovery was made.
Early next morning, Mr.. Groom, relative
Of Mr.. Stephens brought thither a goods
box-mounted it, looked in the window and
saw the body on the pile ofwood An entry
was made through the window-the door
was found bolted on the inside, blood had
trickled through the wood to the floor, a
rope was around the neck of the corpse,
two stabs in the throat, one above and one
below the rope, stab in the heart, blood
on the wall, the knife, with horn handle and
pointed blade by the side of the body, his
three pistols gone, his watch remaining and
his stick in the corner -..
The door was opened and Coroner's
jury summoned. They were not able to
show other facts than these, and the muir
derers are still at large. There was no blood
to be found on the window-sill, as it has been
reported
The theory of the murder is this: Mr..
| Stephens was decoyed into the room and
killed by two or more men. All, or one OF
them, went out at the window, boiling the
door inside. This occurred about four
| o'clock in the afternoon, and during the
| progress of the meeting up stairs. That be
was killed by his political enemies, the Ku-
klux, we have not the shadow of doubt
On Monday when the denunciatory meet.
ing was held, at which Hon. Bedford Brown
and Mr. Kerr spoke, we learn that between
dozen and twenty persons only were pres
emit, and that the meeting was held about
the time the burial took place. Besides
while the corpse was being conveyed to its
resting place, his political opponents showed
no feelings of commiseration or pity, and
only handful were present to witness the
interment. --
These are horrible facts But they ART
not all. We forbear at the present to say
more, but in our opinion the finger of jus
tice has pointed to the murderers of thu
Senator, with sufficient clearness to indicate
who sl.ey are. TIE time will come, wher
this murder will out, and the truth BIZ
| known. Political assassination has no more
elements of security from detection than
other kinds of murder. and this dan,nins.
decd, which has attracted the attention and
curiosity of the whole nation, will yet be
seen in all its hideous nakedness. Time sets
all things even. We can afford to wait q
little while longer. .... ... .. ..r.l
P. S. We learn that another outrage has
been committed in Caswell by the Kuxlux,
since the murder of Senator Stephens and
that Mr.. Butts, white farmer, has been
scourged by disguised assailants. There
are but few peace officers now left in that
County, who seem disposed to try to enforce
the law The time will soon arrive when
military aid will be the last resort in MAIN
tanning peace. We believe that it is at hand
now. Why should there be longer delay