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

From the Mckinney. Tcvas. fquirsr, Nay 25.
Yesterday, the Gath inst, Stephen NJ.
Lailew convict,d of the murder Of james
r. Golden OF or about the 1st uf October,
1870, was executed on the commons inn
lnediately south Of town. About 2
| o'clock, seated 10 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
cigar during the tune. His face wore
suIlen, determined look. andNafter hesscan-
ned the vast multitude Of three or four
thousand persons without catching the
glance of a plying eye, he de6autly 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 were 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, whercupon the body was
slightly raised aud the rope: readjus'ed.
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 Us to his guilt.
The circumstances of the murder have
been published in full, so far as were elici-
ted in The trial, which occupied eleven days,
and closed on the 9th of December last,
and briefly we're about as follows: On
Sept. 30, 1870, Ballew and his victim,
James 2. Golden, started to Texas from
Quincy, ILL.,, on trading expedition.
Ballew having successfully playing the
confidence game on the Golden family,
inducing the belief that he was q 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 Goldens father on cred
It, representing that it could be sold at
high prices South. Upon starting Balsw
gave to the Senior Golden his note for
Sl,5OO, which he promised to pay young
Golden while in Texas. The young men
came overland aud, as is supposed, reached
Mckinney sometime early in October,
1870; and within few miles OF this place
and about that time the murder was COM
mitted, how, is not, aud may never be
positively known. But it is generally be
neved that the unsuspecting victim was de.
coyed into thicket upon some pretense and
theu Knocked on the head with an axe Bal.
lew scooped out hole under large log neat
by aud 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 III Illinois, expressing great
astuu.shment at the absence of his compan-
ION, who as be stated, had started on his
return home some weeks in advance Of him
self
Balew told the Goldens that be had
given James, the murdered man, large
sums, of money, among other amounts
sl,5U0 to pay of the note, and other
moneys with which to liquidate claims
against Ballew, held by parties in Missouri.
threw out inuendoes that James had
taken that money and fed the country.
He, however, us reported, told many con-
Hlcting stories, eudeavoring to destroy the
faith Of the parents in the integrity Of
their son, and lead them to believe that be
had been wrongcd by their murdered child.
But week or SO after his re urn to the
home oil the Goldens, he stood up before
the hymenial alter, clothed, as is told, in
he apparal OF his victim, and gave in
marriage, to Miss Clara Golden, the hand
tn t had dealt the murderous blow to her
brother but a few weeks before.
The plotter had been more successful in
his schemes; he had eluded the vigilance
OF human eye, but his actions prove hat
The brand OF Cain had been put upon him,
that be had been drived from the garden,
aud his own breast contained secret which
must out. At short intervals, and in diff
ferent and contradictory ways b. would
speak Of James until suspicion Of foul play
| fell upon him Now it seems strange that
It did not attach to him sooner, suspicion
once aroused, shrewd detectives were put
upon the scent, and one developement
following another, convictions were soon
E reed upon all parties connected With the
flair that Golden had been murdered BY
Iby Bsllew. All facts brought to light
we're carefully collected, and brought into
court upon his trial, and notwithstanding
able counsel in his behalf. everyone present
at the trial was convince that there existed
scarcely a possibility OF 3 doubt % to bis
guilt. e-...-..,. j. .!..-a-...,.....--.s.sa7
The Mobile Register (Joha Forsytbe's
paper) ays: "rhe Greeleyises snap their
fingers at the Democratic party and tell
l "a