The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-10-06
DIPS0NANIA AND MURDER
TR Al CF c. c. STEPHENS FOR KILL.
ING HIS EROTHER-lN-LAW.


1he Coneton Jury Found him Not Guilty
by Reason OF Insanity aud he is Sent to
tne AsyIum-EHtraor Career CT r
Man Who Was Crszed by Drink.
The case aeaint g. C. Stephens. n,
5icted for the murder, was ended IN
the Court OF General Session at Wal
tArboro IN Monday, Sept. q, when
Judge Townsend signed an order in
structing the sheriff to convey him to
the State Hospital for the Insane, at
Columbia TIE trial Of the case was
begun Friday morning. and lasted uu-
til 30 o'clock Saturday evening, the
verdict OF the jury being that the de-
fendant was mot guilty." as charged,
"by reason of insanity" The case
was, in some respects, the most re-
markable perhaps ever tried IN the
county. 1t drew large crowd that
manifested much curiosity, if not in.
terest, in the trial. The populace could
not agree, as is usually the case, upon
a verdict, and was puzzled as to what
disoosition should be made of the man.
The jury even went so far as to in
quire of the Judge upon retiring what
disposition would he made of the de-
fen6ant in the event they found him
not gully by reason OF lnsarlty.
Stephens had been of for some
time prior to the day upon which he
committed the crime for which he was
tried Although he had really harmed
no one, he was considered dangerous
by the people OF at least three town
ships, and the prevailing sentiment
and conclusion Of these awe-struck cltl-
zens was that in no event should he
be turned loose and allowed to ire-
quent their communities.
The Don Qlixotic exploits OF Ste
phens for the last twenty years were
related by numbers of witnesses, and
the defendant himself entertained the
Court and the assembled spectators
Saturday, barring an intermission OF
two hours for dinner. from II o'clock
noon till s o'clock in the evening with
the recital of his career, beginning
with his servic3 in the late war and
eliminating in his imprisonment for
the murder for which he was being
tried. While he talked intelIlgently
enough, his eccentricty or insanity
was shown by the particular attention
he gave the most trivial events and
Circumstance Occurring in his career:
The simple killing of rabbit was OF
sufficient note with him to be recorded
in his diary, which hs said ne had
kept from the time he was Is years OF
age. Stephens belongs to one OF the
best families of the State, and his pecu-
liar mental condition WAS brought
about by drink. He received a
thorough education, audin some re.
spects may be even now considered
brilliant. According to his own story,
which is substantially, il not accurate
", correct, hejo!ned HArt's Battery
the 17ih CT August, 1864. bat left the
army to attend the South Carolina
Military Academy, to which he re-
celveG an appointment,
After his graduation there he re,
turned home, where he remained till
M2rcn l 1872, when he to Green
vile. studiej law, vas admitted TO tne
Bar. aad agaia came nome, sestllng
subsequently at Midwas, where ne
orac-lced his profession aoou: one year
ou!tiog IL there ao5 ming 70 Wal.
Irrboro ia March, 1877. II May, OF
the same year. Dc woat to s.. George,
and was local &ttornev for the South
Carolina Railroad During all these
years he SAYS he drank freely, and
! was not without company. In 1875
ne began teaching scaool, which he
has followed ever since almost conilnu'
ously.
Stephens rot only, as he says, drank
a great deal OF liquor after acquiring
the habit in Gceelville, but various
substitutes, such SIS cologne, essence
OF lemon and the like. developing into
a dipsomaniac. About two weeks
prior to the murder Stephens was re-
leased from Jail upon examination,
having been incarcreated on a writ OF
insanity. He went Immediately to the
home of his brotheri in law, Mr.. James
S. Bell, aretired merchant and farmer.
and remained there until he killed
him on the 16.h OF January OF the
present year.
He was ably represented in his trial
by the Hon William J. Fishburne and
Mr.. J. Graham PAdgett, whose plea
OF defence was that he was not guilty
by reason of insanity. The defendant,
himself, however, demurred to such a
plea and claimed the killing was acel-
dental.
| W. D. Bennett, c. J. D. Marsh,
John Herrdon and q. NJ. Padgett,
merchants, testified that Stephens mad
purchased cologne and essences IRON
them before and during tbs week in
which the killing occurred, and all
had noticed that the defendant was
very queer" in his actions.
Mr.. Tnomas Bcoxton, au old friend
OF the family, had perceived that the
defendant upon his return from Green
viiille vTiiiille slowed deficiency of nervous
temperament and was unconIrolla'
| BILE when deer hunting, Of which ht
seemed very fond.
A week or ten days before the kill
ing the defendant came to his house,
| bringing two guns, two dogs and two
sticks, and talked necessarily. He
dined with him but would eat very
little.
Sheriff Ovens and Deputy Sheriff
Arnett testified that Stephens was very
| oostreperous when first put in jail,
and very pcofane and abusive. 1t was
his desire 10 have lighta night in his
apartments, and was quite fond OF the
pursuit OF catching cockroacheS Ia bis
cell. He gave away almost all his
clothing, and cut up and burned his
mattress and bedding. He paced the
floor Of his prison Tasso like, and
would not sleep at night. Il was HI:
diversion IN the dark hours to sing and
recite poetry.
Capt. c. G. Tracy ard Mr.. &. \.