Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-05
AMIABLE AMAZONS,
ON TRIAL FOR THEIR LIVES IN AR
KANSAS.
Jealousy Between Two Rustic Bellies
Results in Thrilling Tragedy-A
Beautiful Young Girl Stabbed
to the Heart by the Ri
val Of Her Sister.
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF MURDER.

LITTLE Rock, November The most
extraordinary murder case ever tried in
this State is now in progress at Arkadel-
phia. The defendants are Miss Sarah
Stokes and Mrs. Elizabeth Shelton, who
ale charged with the murder OF Miss
Malinda Stevens. The tragedy occurred
near Mineral Springs,i in Howard.county,
one day last April.
The Stokes and Stevens families are
prominent people, and live on adjoin-
ing farms. Sarah Stokes is a very young
and exceedingly handsome girl OF seven
teen. Her mother died years ago, and
she has had charge OF household affairs
ever since, looking alter the comfort of
her father and brothers with motherly
soicitude. She has violent temper,
and is quick to resent real or fancied
insult, cherishes implacable hatred
toward her enemies.
Some time ago sister Of Miss Stevens
made very derogatOry remarks concern.
ing Miss Stokes, and this coming TO the
ears OF the latter she swore to revenge
herself in terrible manner. 1t is said
that the girls were rivals, each wishing
to become the belle OF the neighborhood.
However this may be, Miss Stokes at
once mounted horse, and, accompanied
by her sister, Mrs. Shelton, set out to
find Miss Stevens, who they heard was
doing some shopping in neighb boring
town The two women reached the
place after short and rapid ride, but
Miss Stevens had been somehow warned
that they were searching for her, and
advised to keep out of their way, and
had acted on the suggestion.
After visiting all the village without
finding Miss Stevens, the women started
to return home. Miss Stokes was very
angry at the failure to discover the girl,
who had, as she alleged, detained ner,
and expressed determination TO keep
up the search until Miss Stevens was
found. Presently the twain came by
the dwelling OF the Stevens family,
which stood near the roadside. The
mother OF Miss Stevens was standing i'll
the yard, and Miss Stokes addressed
few passionate words to her. The con-
versation brought ont Miss Maliuda
Stevens, fourteen-year-Old sister OF
Miss Stokes enemy.
The girls soon became involved in 4
bitter dispute. Miss Stokes denounced
the statements made by the elder Miss
Stevens as malicious ialsehoods, and
the girl warmly defended The absent
sister. At last the taunts OF Miss Stokes
stung Miss Stevens to the quick, and
she started impulsively forward. As
she approached the open gate Miss
Stokes sprang from the horse and
plunged keen, long bladed knife,
which she had concealed in the bosom
of her dress, into the neck Of the ad.
vancng girl. Miss Stevens sank on the
ground, the blood gushing from the
wound in torrents, and she died in
few minutes, with, as the inquest dis
closed, rock tightly clasped in one tf
her hands.
Miss Stokes and Mrs. Shelton were
promptly arrested, but have been out
on bal pending their trial. The verdict
of the jury is awaited with keen inter
est. The sad tragedy is said to have
ruined the Stokes and Stevens families,
the members OF which are overwhelmed
with grief and modification.