Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-06-03
THE KEOKUK TRAGEDY.
Particulars OF tho Killing OF Jacob
stcficn by his Insane Son

The Constitution Of May 30th says Tho
pretty little frame cottage at | N2 Bank stree,
Was the scene Of u terrible tragedy last night
The OcC u Jants ale Jacob StciIcn, some ines
known as Stephens, aged n, carpenter by
trade, his wife and his sons, Edward AMI
John, aged 25 aud %. respectively For II
year pnst John has been exhibiting symptoms
OF insanity which became so marked that the
first OF July last he was taken to tho asylum
at Mt. Pleasant, where he remained three
months, at the expiration OF which time he
was brought home, and has been assisting HE
father at work ever since. The past few days
he has been restless, aud the fear Of his be-
coming insane has Invaded the minds Of the
members Of the family, which werc realized
last night when he shot and killed his father
From Mrs StciIcn, his mother who was the
only eyewitness Of the tragedy, we obtained
the following particulars regarding his history
and the tragedy;
Mrs. St.ifrn states that John has been IN
III health for several years past; that he
went 10 Colorado and remained several
years, returning In 1884, aud snco that
tmo he has been worse. lie afterwards
went TO Minneapolis and Dakota, remain
Ing several months. When he returned In
tho winter Of 1884 " he seemed Ill Mt case.
He had been laying attentions TO young
lady for about year and she jIltcd him, and
II Is possible that this had something 10 do
toward affecting his mind. On one occasion
he showed knife to a neIGhborlng lady who
he imagined annoyed him, and this AMI his
desultory talk induced his friends TO send HIN
TO Mt Pleasant. After his return on one oc-
casion he threatened Theodore Hultz., Inn
ag,ning Mr. Hultz had poisoned some peanuts
which he had purchased there, and was arrest
ed and confined In jail, but was released II
seems pity he was not taken TO the asylum
Immediately. During the last few days he
las been growing rapidly worse. The family
retired Friday night about 10 O'Clock, but
John was unable 10 sleep, and got up and
walked the floor In his night clothes, his faith
err said he must have sleep himself, and took
rome OF his bed clothes, saying he was going
10 the shop 10 sleep, where he would not be
disturbed This awakened Mr.. Stcffen and
she got up Just as her husband was going
out OF the back door into the yard, John fired
three shots. The shots were fatal for his
father dropped TO the floor and died In short
time. lie never spoke word after nc was
shot. Edward, the eldest son, was asleep up.
stairs nj the time. A IA ri time before the
shooting John said to his mother, "rm 50
restless ] can't sleep" After shooting his
father John said: ~ couldn't help IL; father
wanted 10 kin me-" lie imagined his father
wanted to poison him, aud one night last
winter he got up out OF bed and hit the old
man, who was asleep. John exhibited great
grief when he founi his father was dead and
said: "Take me to the renitentiary and not
TO the asylum" His parents had told him
recently that II he did not get any better they
would have TO send him back TO the asylum.
The neighbors were aroused and the police
sent for Officers McCaffcry and Washington
came out, and as John refused 10 walk or dress
they put on his trousers and shirt and bundled
him into a hack and took him 10 the police
station about O'Clock this morning and put
him I'm a cell He fully realizes what he has
done, but keeps repeating that his father want
ed toposon hin. lis mother says he was moi
addicted 10 drink. The revolver was found In
Mrs Steffcn's work basket this morning.
DIR. jenkins was called, AL arrived about
1:l5 In the morning. lie found that the ball
had entered the left side, under the arm, aud
passed through the lung, near the heart; also
that bullet had passed through the right
hand, and one had entered the back, near the
left side.
The funeral will occur at 3 O'Clock Sunday
afternoon at the residence Rev. A. Gehrke,
pastor OF the German Evangelical church,
officiating.
The coroner's inquest was commenced at
2:30 this afternoon before a jury composed OF
Joseph HARDWOOD, William Van Stwenewyk and
Cortes Maxwell
The jury brought in verdict Of death by
the bands OF his son, John, during fit OF In
sanity,