Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-06
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY,
Which Occurred in Howard County,
Arkansas.
Fatal EncOunter Between Two
oYOuDg Ladies.
iitla Rock Ar Gaaetto, NAV al

Little Rock ark Gazette, May A.
The Howard county tragedy, thu
killing of one young lady by another
has created a sensation wherever the
news has been told. Several days age
we published a meagre account of the
affair, but herewith give a full ac-
count, taken from the Center Point
News, OF the 10Th inst:
On last Monday morning a terrible
homicide occurred at the residence OF
Esquire w. p. Stephens, in Muddy
Fork township, about eight miles
from this place. Sarah Stokes, a
young girl only eighteen years of age,
stabbed and Instantly killed Linda
Stephens, a daughter of Esquire w.
P. Stephens, also a young lady only
about tw~entyyears of age, while stand
ing at her fathers gate. The circum-
stances, as related to US, are as fol-
lows:
About 10 o'clock Monday morning
Sarah Stokes, accompanied by a mar
ried sister-Mrs. Shelton-rode up to
the gate in front of Stephens house
and engaged in a violent controversy
with Mrs. Stephens. Words soon ran
high, and Sarah called Mrs. Stephens
a liar. Linda, her daughter, who was
zeal by, then took up the quarrel in
behalf of her mother, and came up to
the gate where Miss Stokes was sit
ting on her horse. A few hot words
then passed between the two girls,
and Linda got over the low fence
which separated them. As she did
so Miss Stokes drew from her riding
skirt a long knife and jumping from
her horse. dealt Miss Stephens a
heavy blow with it in the
neck, the point of the knife
entering Just above the collar
bone and passing downward
severed the carotid artery, jugular
vein and windpipe and producing in
slant death. The murderess then
remOunted her horse and started
home. As she passed the field where
Esquire Stephens was blowing she
called to him and told him that she
had killed his daughter, Linda
Stephens Immediately attempted to
arrest her, but her father who was at
work near by in an adjacent field, came
outand forbade Stephens toching her.
On being informed, however, of what
had happened, Mr.. Stokes told
Stephens to take her into custody il
he desired to do. so. Meantime the
girl rode on home. The coroner, Mr..
w. j. Talbot, was Immediately mott
fed, and an inquest was held on the
body Of the dead girl, resulting in a
verdict of death at the hands of Sarah
Stokes.
The murderess made no attempt to
escape, and was arrested and is now
undergoing preliminary examination
before Esquire D. Moore and A. H.
Hearne. The defense claims that
Miss Stephens had a large stone in
her hand when she got over the fence,
and that Miss Stokes only acted in
self-defense. On the other hand it is
claimed by the prosecution that she
went armed to Miss Stephens house
for the express purpose of killing a
sister of the deceased, with whom she
was at enmity, and who happened to
be absent on the morning OF the kill
ing.
The affair is a most unfortunate one.
The parties lived on adjoining farms,
and have been neighbors many years,
and both sides have many friends,
among whom there is much feeling.
We hope no further trouble will grow
out of it, and that all parties will
peaceably acquiesce in the action of
the courts.