Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1898-08-19

sheriff owens j. - lie criisrHtulated
on the nertles, aud rNrrli-ucy that he
performed a disayreeaDie duty. He did
his work coolly and deliberately and
has the satisfaction OF knowing that
everything passed of in the most salts
factory manner. There was no disorder
p sople In town knew that 1t was pro-
crossing.
Gov. Bradley sent a dispatch TO
Sheriff Owens "Wednesday to proceed
with the execution "a he would not
Interfere
There IL one OF two things certain.
Stephenson either did no, realize the
situation or was the most thoroughly
converted and satisfied man that ever
lived. Let Us hope the latter l. true.
IL was originally intended To have
the hanging az IL o'clock. but for some
reason the sheriff changed his plans
and many got here after the job was
over. The town was. however. pretty
well iIled with people, many ARRIVING
here b. daylight.
| Men We're In the tops Of trees aud OF
houses trying 10 get glimpse Of the
awful scene, while hundreds Of ewes
pierced through the cracks Of the plank
walls. About dozen were on the
.caffold and possibly 30 inside the in
closure.
John Nevius and John DeBord were
the death watch and say that Steph-
enson slept like log. His last night
they awakened him about 10 o'clock TO
eat watermelon, when he got up ate
heartily and was soon snoring again.
These are the jurors who indicted
the murderer: DIR. J. *. NanArsdale.
II. j. McRober.s. \. {. Carman. \. c..
Dunn, W. T. Saunders, Thomas Ran
kin, ]. f. Wright. j. W. Hayden,
Weeden I. Smith, Thomas Best, d. g.
Peyton and J. 7. Harris. The trial
jury was a follows G.. T.. Afford, J. G..
Baugh, c. +. Epperson. W. NJ. Beck
]. Il. Ri1e, l.. {. Carpenter. w. G..
Cowan, \. b. Mckinney, W. X. Shu-
CARS, J. \. Glveus, 6. c. Keller, Jr.,
and T. a. Coulter
THE CRIME.
On the afternoon OF the 18th OF July
last, while the town OF Crab Orchard
was iilled with people gathered to at
tend flag raising and hear patriotic
speeches. they were startled by tiva
pistol shots fired In rapid succession. 1t
was soon spread through the crowd
that George Stephenson had killed Joe
Ti.ford, white boy Is. After firing
the shots, five OF which took effect in
the boys body. killing him instantly,
Stephenson fed, but was captured after
a chase by Marshal j. a. Shannon and
others. While he was being taken 10
the little Jail there, friends Of the dead
boy shot at him 10 times and one fellow
drove knife into his right shoulder.
which made a severe wound, not fully
healed at the time of execution. The
officers finally got him in the lock up
and then followed scene hitherto un-
, known even 10 this section.
For hours a bowling mob, with rope
in hand, sought to deal dire vengeance
on the Negro and more than once it
seemed like IA lyuching could not be
prevented. Sheriff Sam NJ. Owens hap
pened to be in town and he went TO the
. - - h.. la1fv,n. ~ ,l. a,
possible. He was almost powerless, for
while many preferred To have the law
take its course, they yet did not desire
to risk their lives TO that end. Mr..
Owens threatened, begged and entreat-
ed, Judges NJ. c. Saufley and J. T. Bal
lev did likewise and IL was through
the herculean efforts of these officers.
Coils. T. Il. Hill. w. G.. Welch aud
others that the lynching was prevent
ed. Judge Sauiley promised an imme-
diate trial, Hill and Welch promised To
prosecute the Negro and he was per-
mitted to be started to Stanford. A
mile or two this side of town they were
met by posse of % heavily armed
men ordered thither by the sheriff, and
the prisoner was safely landed in Jail.
True TO his promise Judge Sauaey
ordered special grand jury next day
and an Indictment being found at once
the trial proceeded as soon as a jury,
which was easily gotten, was obtained.
Coils. Hill and Welch assisted Common
wealth's Attorney Owsley in the prose-
cution, while the court had to appoint
lawyers to defend. He named Messrs.
j. b. Paxton and j. II. Bush and they
made the best OF poor cause.