Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-07-19
witness examined, was sworn and
testified as follows:

witness examined, was sworn aiiu
testified as follows:
MRS. sTEPHENsoN's TESTIMONY.
II am the wife of Mark Stephen
son and live in the southeast part
of the city. l have been married
to Mr.. Stephenson about thirteen
years and have lived in Mexico
about three years. Mr.. Stephen
son is a laborer. He has been
working at harvest in the neigh
borhood of Worcester. He left
home last week and returned Mon
day afternoon at 3 or 4 o'clock.
| first met him on the crossing
near Mr.. Bruce's house, on my
way to Mr.. Wheeler's. I usually
stay at my house all night when
Mr.. Stephenson is away. Sunday
morning | went to Mr.. Wheeler's
and stayed there until Monday
morning. | then went to my
drcssmaking shop over Harper's
store. | usually 60 home from
the shop about 5p. m. | was sick
yesterday and between 10 and II
a. m, went home because | was
sick. | did not coll in a physician
to attend me when | was sick.
After | met my husband | went
back home with him. We ate sup
per between S and 9 o'clock. |
retired about 10 O'Clock and Mr..
Stephenson retired at the same
time. We always sit up that late.
[ heard some one step on the
porch. We had been talking very
loud. a train passed just as he
stepped on the porch. We stop
ped talking when we heard the
noise on the porch. Mr.. Stephen
son was in bed at the time. but he
jumped up when he heard the step
on the porch. He took a revolver
from under the head of the bed.
The man did not knock but just
came in. | saw him when he
came in. | said, Mark /
thought it was my husband who
opened the door. Just as | called
Mr.. Stephenson's name, he fired.
The person then a out and my
husband shot at him the second
time when he was on the porch.
The third shot was fired when my
husband was at the gate. | fol-
lowed my husband to the gate and
asked him who it was. He said
he did not know who it was and it
did not make any difference, for he
did not allow any man to come
into his house in any such way.
Then my husband went out in the
direction the gentleman was. |
asked him when he returned if he
saw the person. He answered by
saying that he guessed he'd not
bother anybody again. We ther
went to Mr.. Bruce's. Mr.. Bruce
came with us and we went to the
body. Mr.. Bruce lit a match to
see if we could identify the body.
None of us knew him. | went on
to the house and Mr.. Bruce said
he would get some Of the neigh
bors. We rent from Mr.. Ewing.
Either Mr.. Heckler or Mr.. Ewing
collects the rent. | was not ac-
quaintcd with Mr.. Mosby; |
never saw him to know him or
speak to him in my life. | cannot
account for his coming to my house
at that time of night-about II
O'Clock. AT the time we heard
the step is when my husband first
got up. My husband remarked
that the darkies must be having a
meeting. Mr.. Stephenson has
owned the pistol since he was in
the army. My husband said he
knew Mr.. Mosby. We always
keep the pistol under the head of
the bed. We lock the door every
night; it was notlocked that night"
THE VERDICT.
The %coroner's jury assembled at
IL O'Clock Tuesdaymorning and in Il
few moments prepared the follow
ing verdict:
1--WE, the undersigned jury, inn
panneled and sworn on the 18th
day of July, 1888, in the township
of Salt River and county of Au-
drain, by E. S. Cave, coroner, to
diligently inquire and a true pre-
sentiment make as to how and by
whom William S. Mosby, whose
body was found in the Southeastern
part of the city of Mexico, in Au-
drain county, on the 10th day OF
July, 1888, come to his death.
Having viewed the body and heard
the evidence We find the deceased
came to his death by a pistol shot
in the hands of one Mark Steven.
son. J.. n. Bass, Foreman.
J. r. COOKS.
K. d.. GRAHAM.
JOHN S. CAVE.
f. w. CLARK.
G.. b. TwYMAN.
Attest: +. S. CAVE"
Biographical, etc.
Mark Stephenson was seen a,