The Shasta courier., 1872-06-29
NUMBER ID.
HANGED TEXAS.

From the Mckinney. Tcvas, Equirer, May 25.
Yesterday, the Oath inst, Stephen NJ.
Lallew convict, of the murder of james
r. Golden OF or about the 1st of October,
1870, was executed on the commons inn
lnediately south Of town. About 2
oclock, seated in a wagon with the Sheriff
and posse, he reached the gallows and pro-
ceeded to mount the scafold, where he
seated himself on the railing; smoking a
ci gar during the time. His face wore q
sulen, determined look, and after he scan
ned the vast multitude of three or four
thousand persons without catching the
glance of a plying eye, he de6antly set
his eyes on some object above the heads Of
the spectators and kept them steadily fixed.
Sheriff Bush announced that the prisoner
declined to made any remarks, and proceed
ed to adjust the cap and rope. The drop
fell with dull, heavy thud, and Stephen
Ballew was dangling between heaven and
earth. The fall failed to break his neck
al d convulsive struggles we're plainly
visible for some minutes. After swinging
twelve Or fifteen minutes, is Was found that
the moose fitted so loosely as to admit air
into the lungs, whereupon the body was
slightly raised aud the rope: readjusfed
He was allowed to swing about 3v minutes
when when the body was cut down and
placed in cofin. Ballew was dressed in
genteel suit OF black cloth, and had less
of the cutthroat appearance than he pre-
sented during the trial. So far as We have
been able to learn, he made no confession
whatever as to his guilt.
The circumstances of the murder have
been published in full, so far as were elici.
ted in he trial, which occupied eleven days,
and closed on the 9th of December last,
and briefly were about as follows: On
Sept. 30, 1870, Ballew and his victim,
JauIes 2. Golden, started to Texas from
Quincy, ILL.,, on trading expedition.
Balew having successfully playing the
confidence game on the Golden family,
inducing the belief that he was regular
trader in Texas stock, driving stock North
aud bring back goods, which be sold in
bulk without breaking package. By these
Misrepresentation he was enahled to buy
farming stock from Godens father on cred
1t, representing that it could be sold at
high prices South Upon starting Ballew
gave to the Senior Golden his note for
Sl,5UO, which he promised to pay young
Golden while in Texas. The young men
cume overland and, as is supposed, reached
Mckinney sometime early in October,
1870 and within few miles of this place
and about that time the murder was CON-
United, how, is not, and may never be
positively known. But it is generally be
neved that the unsuspecting victim was de.
coyed into "a thicket upon some pretense and
then Knocked Oh the head with an axe. Bal
lew scuoped out hole under large log neat
by and deposited the body in it. After
this he remain, in this country few days
with some relatives who live here. The
murder remained undiscovered, and Ba lew
10 possession OF the murdered mans proper
ty, horses, wagon, clothing, etc lett in the
direction Of hreveport, and in short
time made his Appearance at the home Of
the Goldens ID Illinois, expressing great
aslun.shment at the absence of his compan-
Ion, who as he stated, had started on his
return home some weeks in advance OF him
self.
Ballew told the Goldens that be had
given James, the murdered man, large
sums ct money, among other amounts
Sl,5UO to pay of the note, and other
moneys with which to liquidate claims
against Ballew, held by parties in Missouri,
d threw out inuendoes that James had
taken that money and fed the country
He, however, as reported, told many con-
actiug stories, eudeavoriDg to destroy the
faith Of the parents IN the integrity Of
their son, and lead them to believe that he
had been wrongcd by their murdered child.
But week or SO after his re urn to the
home OF the Goldens, he stood up before
the hymenial alter, clothed, as is told, in
me apparal Of his victim, and gave in
marriage, to Miss Clara Golden. the hand
tn had dealt the murderous blow to Ler
brother but a few weeks before.
The plotter had been more successful in
his schemes; he had eluded the vigilance
of numan eye, but his actions prove hat
The br md OF Cain had been put upon him,
that he had been drived from the garden,
and his Own breast contained secret which
must out At short intervals, and in diff
ferent and contradictory ways h. would
speak Of James until suspicion Of foul play
fell upon him Now it seems strange that
1t did not attach to him sooner, suspicion
once aroused, shrewd detectives we're put
upon the scent, and one development
following another, convictions were soon
f reed upon all parties connected With the
affair that Golden had been murdered by
by BalIew. All facts brought to light
we're carefully collected, and brought into
court upon his trial, and notwithstanding
able counsel in his behalf. everyone preseEs
at the trial was convince that there existed
scarcely possibility OF a doubt as to bis
guilt. s----.'s... s-ss.,. .--.e,
The Mobile Register lJoho Forsythe's