The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-05-29
AT LAST!
Stephens Takes a Flying Leap!
ACoward's Death!
WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING,
He Ascepds the Seafold
AND FORG[VES EVERYBODY
THE SAME MOOSE WHICH STRANGLED
BILL JONES,
Chokes Stephens F.!
AND FORGIVES EVERYBODY!
THE SAME MOOSE WHICH STRANGLED
BILL JONES,
Chokes Stephens !


ey, and the brutes who perpetrated the
ghastly crime, and it is with some feeling
of relief-not to say supreme satisfaction
that we record the last scene in the
horrid drama.
Last Friday was sultry day, shower
of rain falling about one o'clock. At
that hour there were congregated within
the enclosure in the Public Square at
Waverly, about fifty persons, awaiting
the moment which should mark the full
illment of the law in the case of the State
of Ohio VS.. Laban Stephens. Promptly
at one o'clock the little procession of
Sheriff, deputies, murderer and attendant
ministers, filed out of the rear door of the
Jail, which opened within the enclosure,
and marched to the scaffold, which stood
over against the Court House, some fifty
yards from the Jail.
Stephens was dressed in neat suit of
black, wore white cotton gloves, and car
ried beautiful boquet in his right hand.
He presented the appearance of a corpse,
as he walked tremblingly along the path,
and ascended the scaffold. He was ac-
companied by Revs. A. B. Shaw, E. A.
Bridewell and p. A. Baker. Mr.. Shaw
assembled the scaffold with the condemned
man.
Sheriff Jones commanded "hats off"
and the crowd within the enclosure stood
with bowed heads while Rev. A. B. Shaw,
in a trembling voice, offered short
prayer, commencing the soul of the MUIR
derer to the care of the Heavenly Parent.
Stephens then attempted to address the
crowd but choked up, trembled with fear.
and seemed as if about to faint. He
to gulp and stammer out: sGod
has forgiven me. I have not a thing
against any one, nor any ill feeling"
While he was being strapped, he nodded
to parties in the Jail window,
then bowed to Sheriff Cherington-who
stood near the scaffold-and to one or two
other parties. These attempts at bow
ing, were wild gyrations, such as might
be made by wounded monkey. The
man was entirely unnerved, in fact was
almost literally scared to death; and be-
fore the fatal moose was frightened upon
his neck, began to show signs of reeling.
and would doubtless have tainted in one
minute longer.
Sheriff Jones placed the moose about
Laban's neck, and after it had been drawn
tight, pulled the lever, when Stephens
fell about six feet. The neck was not
broken, and death consequently resulted
from strangulation, the body drawing up
for several minutes after
the drop fell In II minutes from the
time the murderer entered the enclosure
be was pronounced dead.
Stephens had maintained stolid indif-
ference to his fate since his arrest, never
exhibiting any apparent uneasiness as
to danger of hanging. His demeanor
had been that of brutal ruffian, as his
death was that of a most pitiable coward.
When, however, the last bubble had been
exhausted in trying to defeat Justice,
when there was no longer any hope of
delays or blunders through the ignorance
or carelessness of Courts, this defiant
ruffian was brought to a realization of
the important fact that he was destined
to have his neck broken in very short
time.
He began reading the Bible, and few
days ago some of the good ladies of Wav-
erly, accompanied by two or three gentle
men, held prayer meeting with him, but
he took little interest in the proceedings.
1t was new experience for him, who
was used to frightful oaths and sinful
living. He sent for the editors of the
Waverly papers and made long ram
bling statement, disconnected, and with
out doubt very erroneous. There can be
nothing new developed in this case. The
people are thoroughly familiar with
every detail, and we will not occupy
space with repetition here, only giving
extracts as to the life of the murderer:
81 was born in Carter county, Ken
lucky, on the 25th day of July, 1862, and
am next to the youngest of family of
seven children-four sisters and two
brothers of which still reside in that state.
When was about 4 years of age my
father was murdered by a man named
VIM. Nethercutt. They were riding to-
gether on horseback and on coming to a
spring at the side of the road they both
to get drink. After drink
ing Nethercutt asked father for chew
of tobacco, and it being given to him he
remarked that he had some better tobacco
in his saddle bags and turned to his horse
as if to get it. On opening the saddle
bags he suddenly whipped out revolver
and shot father dead in his tracks. The
reason he shot father was that some time
previous Nethercutt had stolen pocket
book from man and father happened to
see him have it, and to cover up his crime
he committed the murder. After killing
my father Nethercutt fled into the noun
tains, where he skulked through the
woods for several months. He was never
for the crime, as it was commit
ted after the war, when such crimes were
common in that portion of Kentucky.
81 left home when 1 was but thirteen
years of age and have all my life been of
a rowing disposition. L never could con-
tent myself to remain in one place any
length of time, no matter how well
might be situated; | was married to a
young lady named Effie Farris, of John
son cOuaty, Kentucky, in 1881. She was
Of good family and they were in excel
ent circumstances. After living with
my wife about year, my rowing DISPOSE |
lion again got the better of me and de-
serted her. She was good and affec-
ionate wife and believe loved me truly. |
never saw her again after | left her,
)ut have heard that she is still living |
n Eastern Kentucky"
As to the crime, Stephens followed the
,hain of testimony, to some extent, claim
ng that Bill Jones wanted to rob the
tore at Irwin's Station, but that he coax
d him out of it, and Stephens claimed
hat while he went with Luke and Bill
rones to Anderson Lackey's house for
he purpose of robbing him, that he,