, 1873-06-24
MURDER NEAR BELLEvILLE, ILL.
A Young Man Shot and Killed by G1fs
Stcp-Entllcr.

From tho St. Louis Republican, June q.
At half-past o'clock Yesterday morning, nj d
farm three miles from Belevillo, H., Stephen
hs Rssss Se &nrJ PeiG %s Ss Ss sa 4say by
STANCES Of tho affair, IA developed at tho inquest
hold yesterday evening by Corouor Ryan, Of st.
Clair County, woro thoac:
About q yoar, ago a widow named Mrs. Doa-
(the doceaBod), ngod 21 years, and another named
Eugene, aged 10 years, married Henry Wilkins
fho murderer), aged % years.. The elder BOIL,
Stephen, did not like the marriage, and he and
bis step-father did not got along harmonlously.
Quarrels wore frequent; and the step-son made
frequent threats Of cleaning out tho concern"
Stephen rented d firm Of his mother, and was in
the habit OF borrowing OF her various argricul-
tural implements, and this, although not brought
out in tho testimony, is stated to have boon the
cau8o Of dissatisfaction between him and lis
step-father.
engaged in making some repairs on reaper,
when his stap-sou came to the house for the
Bomo angry words passed. botweon them on the
subteet, md the son went out into tho kitchen
whore lis mother waB, aud said to her, "What
ia tho Old doing with that roaper?" Tho
mother tried to pacify him, aud told him no
should hayo the uso OF tho implemont to cut his
grain with, also.
At this junctlro tho Btep-father carno up and
tho Btop-aon ran to him, and, shaking his fist
under Ills nose, reiterated his threat OF cleaning
out the concern. Wilkins then went into another
room, leaving Stephen Oh tho stop just before
the kitchon door talking with his niothor. In
moment lo returned With pistol and fired two
aliots at Stephen, whoae back waB towards him,
ono taking effect in his left ehoulder-blade and
the other In the back Of his hoad, from which ho
died aimoBt instantly.
Stephen, who had but ono arm, m,-the loft,-was
holding q hatchet at tho time ho received tic
shot, but not IN naenaeing posture: After tho
shooting Wilkins went to Beleville, and was
Boon by several persona, but nothing was
known then about tho murder. When It waa
discovered ho could not be found. It WAS known
that ho had mounted his horse and rodo away.
Coroner Ryan Was notified Of tho affair, and at q
late hour in, tho afternoon proceeded to tho
quest on tho body OF tho dccoasod.
Tho principal WitnoaA at tho inquest was tho
young brother Of deconsed, Eugono DeBhays.
Hc related how bis brother mud Btnp-fathor quar-
rolled, tho threats Of cleaning out the concorn
made by lia brother, tho going for tho pistol
by hie etep-father, and tho particulars Of tho
shooting.
Tho mother ontcayorcd to rcbnt tho testimony
of her son by showing TINT lo was not at tho
time III q position to HOO tho parties, but dia-
gram OF tue promises wero produced showing
two ottlcr witnesBoa It was shown that tho boy
was 30 situated that ho could Hee all that occur
red up 10 tho firing of tho first Hhot Els Btate-
mont ,Yaa that when one shot waB fred ho be-
camo alarmed and ran oir. Tho verdict OF the
Corner'B jury was III accordance with tho aboyo
facts.
When the murder bccamo known mounted off,
cers wero sent In pursuit. OF The murderer, but
he had not been found ut our latest account.