The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1891-12-04

May:
YANcEYvTLLE, May %, 1870.
SIR On the e :ening of the 21st
instant we were startled by one of
the most shocking murders that can
be classed among the outrages of
modern times. During a meeting
held by the Democratic or Conser-
vative element of this country, Jno.
w. Stephens Senator from this
county, was most cruelty and bar
barously murdered. About 4 o'clock
in the evening of the 21st instant.
Senator Stephens was in the public
court room in the court house in the
town Of Yanceyville, attending a
public county convention, when a.
supposed friend of his touched him
on the arm and said "let's 60 down."
and he did 60 down with him
and was not afterwards seen.
MIR. Stephens, on leaving home
that evening, told his wife
he would return as soon
as the meeting was over, and as he
did not return at the time designa-
ted his family became alarmed and
sent in search of him. He could
not be found anywhere on the
streets and no person could give
any account of him since he was
seen to leave the courtroom with
this man. His friends concluded to
obtain the keys to the various rooms
OF the court house, and search for
him.
All the keys could not be ob-
tanned and the building could be
only partially searched. His friends
not being satisfied with the search,
concluded to keep watch on this
building during the night and did
so.
Early next morning some per-
son looking in at the window of the
clerk and masters room saw him
lying with a small hemp or grass
rope around his neck, dead. The
coroner was Immediately sent for,
and when he arrived on the ground
summoned jury and went to the
keeper of the building and asked
for the key of that room; but The
key could nowhere be found. They
then opened the door and went in,
and upon examination found that
he had been choked with a rope
made in loop and put around his
neck, and his throat cut in two
places with knife and stabbed in
the left breast to the hollow.
The inquest was continued all
day on the 22d, and all proper
means are being used to bring the
guilty to justice, and it yet remain S
to be seen what the consequences
are. CASWELL.
The Standards Comments.
The following we quote from the
Standard (Holden's paper) of May
26th:
"Charlotte Observer of the "a in
slant says that two young men by
the name of Hubbard were arrested
on Sunday at Bethel church, in
Caswell, by a constable and posse,
charged with having connection with
the assassination of Mr.. Stephens.
The Standard commenting fur
ther upon the death of Mr.. stephens
says: cit is alleged that Mr.. Ste
phens was a man of bad character.
1t is charged that he stole chickens.
During his lifetime he explain
ed this charge, and we now
give his version of the mat
ter. "He was about to be con-
scripted in the Confederate service,
and determined to cross the lines.
He ordered his servants to kill two
chickens, and with these and other
provisions, he made his endeavor to
escape. They were killed in his
own barnyard. When he returned
after the war, he was indicted by
his neighbor, who was a violent war
man, for stealing his chickens. A
prejudiced jury found him guilty.
But no liberal or fair-minded man
in Rockingham or Caswell believed
the CHARGE that hA ctnla thorn and