Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-19
HOMICIDE IN MEcKLENBURG.

The Charlotte Observer or yesterday
contains the following account Of a
murder near Charlotte Sunday night,
the principals to it all being former
York county people:
A young white man by the name of
Stephenson, supposed to be M. j..
Stephenson, formerly Of Fort Mill, 5.
c., was killed near Griffiths, four
miles south Of Charlotte, last night a
few minutes before s o'clock. ]. T. e.
Kimball, an employe of the Queen
City Brick works, Is said to be his
slayer, he having admitted as much
to Mr.. Oscar Hunter, his employer,
and to Sheriff N. w. Wallace, who ar
rested him. While nothing definite Is
known as to the trouble which arose
between the two men, Kimbalps wife
is said to have figured in 1t. When
placed under arrest last night shortly
after the homicide, Kimball refused
to talk, saying that he would keep
his mouth shut until he had consult
ed with his attorneys. About 10
o'clock he was brought into the city
and lodged in the county jail. In the
trial which will follow, the unwritten
law will likely be the plea Of the de-
fense.
The killing occurred in the "big
road" near Griffiths a few minutes be-
fore 8 o'clock. Stephenson had hired
a horse and buggy from Wadsworth's
early in the morning and had driven
down to his old home near Fort Mill,
S. c., to visit relatives. He called at
the stable very early, between and
$50 o'clock Mr.. Sam Ross, who was
in charge, refused to accommodate
him until Mr.. A. N. Deaton came up.
To an Observer reporter last night
Mr.. Ross stated that Stephenson was
talking loud" and seemed to be
slightly under the influence Of liquor.
Mr.. Deaton arrived shortly after, and
knowing him, let him have the horse
and buggy. Stephenson was next
seen by Mr. Will Brissie shortly after
5: 80 near Pinevile. He was then on
his way home.
The killing took place about two
hours later at a point 800 yards on
this side of Kimballs house. AS he
passed, 1t Is not known whether or
not he stopped. 1t is hardly probable
that he did, for there were no tracks
to indicate it, Owing to the fact that
not one Of the principals would talk
last night, very little information of
positive nature could be learned.
One Of the first men to discover the
body of the dead man was Mr.. Brissie,
who was returning to his home In
the city. He Immediately notified Mr..
Oscar Hunter, who lives a few hun
dred yards away. Mr.. Hunter stated
to an Observer reporter last night that
he heard shots and also screams a
few minutes before s o'clock, but that
he did not make an investigation at
once. The dead man, some 80 years
Of age lay on one side Of the road
when Sheriff Wallace and his party
oh o. 81 q
on his back, his head resting in the
deep groove made by the passing wa
gon. His head was in great puddle
of blood.
While there were two shots fired,
neither inflicted any wounds. Death
was caused by a great fracture at
the base of the skull from which
came the blood. From the posture
Of the body. it was evident that
scuffie had taken place either in the
buggy or beside it. Stephenson's tie,
and his collar and clothes badly dis
arranged. Kimball, being a heavier
man. taller and more powerfully
built, probably overcame Stephenson
and then struck him with his double
barrel shotgun. When Kimball was
arrested a dOuble-barrel shotgun, Of
which both barrels had been used,
was found with broken Stock IL
was gathered up and will be pre-
served for the trial.
When the officers arrived deck Of
cards was lying beside the body. They
had evidently fallen out Of the mans
pocket. There was nothing on his per-
son to reveal his identity. In his coat
pocket was government package Of
seeds addressed to Mrs. NJ. ]. Ste
phenson, Route No. 2, Fort Mill, S. G.,
In his trouser pocket was bone
handle knife and a purse containing
s1.64 in cash, brass key, an old Irish
penny and a silver half dime. There
was not a scrap Of paper, card or let
ter anywhere.
A few minutes after the sheriff's par
tv arrived in a Franklin flyer, four
other machines with electric headlights
and putting batteries, stood on one side
of the road. Negroes from the ada
cent cabins formed circle just with
out the lighted area about the dead
man. Their whispered talk sounded
dim in the night air.
Mr.. Hunter who is superintendent
of the Queen City Brick works, was