, 1879-12-29
No, si-," was the indignant reply ;
6 it is not q characteristic of mine."

The writer felt somewhat embittered
against this gentleman at the time, be-
lieving that he was trying to rai>e
prejudice against two unprotected girls;
but he was afterward compelled to
change his opinion. He found Mr..
Stephenson was idolized by his work.
men, and that he was o noble, charita
BILE, good man. He believed implicit
ly in Stephens innocence. and does so
to this day.
A sister of Stephens, whose married
name I forgot, swore that she pur
chased arsenic to poison rats, which
used to make great havoc among her
provisions, and especially her butter,
which she kept in the cellar. Her daugh
ter, girl of twenty, corroborated her.
Officers were sent to examine the
place, who, on their return. testified
that the cellar floor was flooded with
water, and that no provisions could be
kept therein.
But the most affecting scene was yet
to come. After few words in private
between counsel, Mr.. Ashmead called
out:
Bella, my child, take the stand T.
A beautiful, fair-haired child of
seven stepped from beside her father
(Stephens), where she had sat during
the greater portion of the trial, appar-
emily bewildered at what was going on.
She was conducted t. the witness stand,
and the Bible handed to her.
The judge said:
"Surely, you're not goiug to swear
this child !"
Little Bella was questioned. and gave
satisfactory answers as to her religious
training and her knowledge OF the na
ture of an OATH But it was still thought
improper to swear her, and her simple
statement was taken.
Counsel asked =" Do yon recolIect
last year when your cousin, Fanny Bell,
was taken i'll ?"
Bella" Yes, sir" (very promptly.
O." What did she eat to make her
sick. do you remember, dear?"
A." Gold cabbage" equally
promptly
A few more questions were asked and
answered. showing that Fanny vomited
and complained of pains Immediately
after eating the cabbage. She was
tHeu tuIbcu oNeI " tue prosecuting
counsel.
Chauncey Shaffer asked but one
question, while the silence in the
crowded court room was painful,
and men strained their necks to
catch the answer. The question
was:
Bella, my dear. who told You TO
say all this p
A" Ny cunt, sir!r'
MY God !" exclaimed voice near
the reporters table, "she has put the
rope round her fathers neck"
| raised my head from my notes,
which, l am not ashamed to say, were
blistered with tears in vain tried to re-
press. Behind me were strong men
sobbing. Even the counsel for the
people. as we'll as for the prisoner, used
their pocket t-handkerchiefs to hide their
feelings. l looked at Stephens, looked
at his sister, and at his niece, her
daughter. They were all deathly pale,
and the Judge, who tried also to repress
his feelings, thought it good time to
take recess. which was accordingly or
dered.
The judge had prepared written
charge, which he read. 1t gave fall
history of the Bell family, their arrival
in this country, Stephens and his
wife, her illness, Sc, and then pro
ceeded to analyze the testimony The
case was then given to the jury.
The jury was not out an extraordinary
length of time, and returned with
verdict of Guilty of Murder" At
that period there was no " Murder in
the Second Degree"
The homicides were "Murder and
four degrees of manslaughter. Mr..
Waterbury Immediately moved for SEN
tence.
Mr.. Ashmead rose and said:
May it please your honor, there's a
certain decency to be observed
Judge Roosevelt -" The learned
counsel need not speak. shall not
pass sentence now"
The day appointed for the sentence
arrived. Stephens had nothing to say
"why sentence should not be passed"
Judge Roosevelt read long introduc-
tory address, and pronounced sentence
OF death, concluding thus
"And may the God of mercy, in
whose hands are the issues of life and
death, and who knows the secrets of all
hearts, grant you in the next world,
that mercy which you cannot hope for
in this"
Counselor Ashmead (after few
words in private with the prisoner)
said
"Your honor, the condemned man
wishes to say few Words
Judge Roosevelt He has lad his
opportunity"
The crowd soon dispersed, and Ste
phens' little daughter said, while tears
ran down the cheeks of those who re-
mained
Papa, let us go home now. See i
all the people are going. Come home!"