New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-06
f.sie IL, MOTH, Carolina.
Murder OF Senator John w. StepIzns-A
Terrible scene-shali His ssa SIS ns b. M .


nes,id. NC ""'
RALEIGH, n. O., February 25.-Tho am
nesty bill came up in the House to-day, and
was discussed to adjournment. Niessrs.
Watson and Morrison, Democrats, spoke in
favor Of the bill. Messrs. Marlsr and BRYAN,
of Allegheny, Democrats, opposed the bill
upon the ground that it would encourage
crime, retard Immigration and capital, aud
provoke bad blood throughout the State.
Mr.. Bowman, Republican, made an earnest,
dispassionate appeal to the House not to pass
the bill: He read from the amnesty act,
passed in 1867 by the Legislature, at Hills.
boro', which contained proviso that per-
sons guilty of wiltul and deliberate murder
should not receive amnesty and pardon. He
also referred to the hanging Of Wyatt, an
outlaw, on the court house green 10 the town
OF Graham; he then related from the sworn
evidence of one Of the parties present the
particulars Of the murder of Senator John
W. Stephens, Of Ca,well, which occuRed in
June, 1870; and that warrants had been is
sued for the guilty parties.
lie stated that public Democratic meet
ing was in progress In tho court house at
Yanceyvlile, the county seat Of Casvell that
Stephens was In attendance on that meeting !;
that prominent Democrat of Caswell APP
preached Stephens with smile, and asked
atiAa w kO oo"u Will uItu. SlSpUPlS
assented, and they went into a room formerly
occupied by the Clerk Of the Court of Equity /;
that as soon as they entered the room the
door was locked; that there wers in the
room eight white men and ono negro. Ste.
phens was surprised to find the room full of
men, and was struck with horror when rope,
fixed as lasso, was thrown over his neck
from behind, and LIE was told by the spokes.
man Of the Ku-Klux crowd that he must re-
nouncs his Republican principles, leave the
country or die. Stephens said be could not
give up his Republican principles that be be-
leyed they were right, and that the Republic
would prosper II they were carried out that
he could not leave the country and State, ba-
cause his all was thers; that the colored
people looked upon him as leader; that
they depended on him, aud that be could not
desert them.
Stephens was then told that he must die.
He then asked to be allowed 10 take last
look from the window OF the Office at his
home and any Of his family that might he In
view. The request was granted, and when
Stephens stepped to tho window be beheid
bis little home and bis two little children
playing in front Of the house. He was then
thrown down on a table, two Of the Ku- Klux
holding his arms. The rope was ordered to
be drawn tighter, aud the negro was ordered
to got a bucket to catch the blood. This
done, one of the crowd severed the jugular
vein, and the negro caught the blood ia tho
bucket, and Stephens was dead. His body
Was laid on Pile Of wood In the room, aud
the murdercrs went up stairs, took part 10
the meeting, and stamped and appiaudsd
Democratic speeches.
Mr. Bowman was asked II be made this
statement of his own knowledge. He replied
that be was In possession Of the sworn evil
dencS OF ono o! the parties who was present
and assisted at the murder; that the state
ment was made and sworn to before an officer
authorized to administer oaths and to Issue
warrants Of arrest.
This information fell like bomb-she!l from
battery in ambush. The Democrats we're
astoundsd; dsath-lIEs stillnass pervaded
tina House, aud al the conclusion Of Mr. Bow
mans speech the House adjourned.
Since the amnesty bill passed the Senate,
the Ku-Klux Of Alamance county have been
ralding and committing outragss again. About
two weeks ago number of these midnight
assnssins went In the night time 70 the house
OF Alexander Russell, peaceahle, honest
citizen OF Alanance county, and as1aulted
andstabbed him seriously. On Sunday night,
the 10th instant, a party OF disguised men
went TO the house OF negro woman living
on the land Of J. w. Stockard, In Alamaucs
county, and with their pistols and threats 10
kill, drovs the inmates of the house from the
premises. The screams Of the woman aroused
Stockard, who went 70 the scene Of outrage.
and upon demonstrating WITH the crowd, he
was told he would b Killed U he intsyssrsd
with them.
Othsr outrages Of . similar character to
these have been committed 10 Alarnance
county during the lastmaoth Toprovs that