The daily sentinel., 1908-06-29
STEVE ADAMS COMES
FROM OLD FAMILY

called him Stephen and this boy is
today the central figure in the great
trial now under way in Grand juno
tion.
David Adams, father of Stephen
Adams, as the old timers in Vernon
county. Missouri, will tell you, was
a good man. He was very prominent
in church work and lead an upright
| life. He was a true citizen, genial
neighbor and he and Aunt Mandy"
as his wife was lovingly called by
both relatives and friends in the
later years of her life, were generally
beloved Twenty and more years
| ago Steve Adams came west and be-
came mixed up in the mining troubles
of Colorado and Idaho and to say
the least his career since coming
west has been checkered one.
| There were other children born to
"Uncle David" and Aunt Mandy"
and from all accounts these children
have lead ordinary but straightfor-
ward lives.
Warren Lillard. the brother of the
mother of Steve Adams, who is now
here to give the prisoner what assist
ance he can. is II years of age. He
wears a flowing iron gray beard, he
carries himself erect. is robust, well
| doesn't look to be over 80 years of
age. He talks but little about him
self but there are a few old time
residents of Kentucky in this city
who have known Warren Lillard in
past years and know something of the
prominence of the Lillard family.
Warren Lillard lived at the old home
in Kentucky until he was about 40
years of age and he then moved to
Vernon county. Missouri. At that
time ne had much property. He was
and is a shrewd business man and
today il is said that he is worth over
100000 and he has son worth
half Il million. These are not idle
statements. The directories of II. G.
Dun & Co., or Bradstreet's show the
rating of Warren Lillard & Sons, of
Texas. Lillard took a great interest
in Missouri politics for many years
ANA it is said that he was one of the
most successful champions and one
of the closest friends of United
States Senator William J. Stone. of
Missouri. Lillard won note as an
intrepid political campaigner. Hse
worked like Trojan. sparing neith-
er time nor his own money. to elect
a friend or defeat an enemy. The
Lillards in the old days We're famous
as politicians in Kentucky man
who has known Warren Lillard for
thirty years declares that Lillard has
been known time and again to cham
pion the personal cause of some
ne.ghbor friend or even stranger
if he thought the man was in the
right and was being mistreaed and
would fight the mans battle to the
bitter end Lillard fought through
the civil war in the Confederate
army.
Lillard raised a big family of chill
dren. Soma years ago he and his
sons went to Texas and went In
business. \ few years ago the old
gentleman went to oregon, bought
a 1f0O-acre ranch near Baker City
I and is now residing there, still re-
4 tanning large interests in Texas and
Missouri 1t was on or near his
4 Baker City ranch that Steve Adams
was arrested nearly three years ago.
Warren Lillard attended Adams
trial, at Wallaces Idaho. for the mur-
der of two claim jumpers, a killing
supposed to be detailed in the alleg-
ed confession. The jury disagreed
Lillard has proven true to his kins-
man. He declares that he believes
Steve Adams innocent and says, the
boy is being prosecuted instead OF
prosecuted and | propose to stand
ny hiihs i ne plu Sthtltludh mas
given Adams much financial assist
ance in carrying on his cases and has
been great help in preparing the
ease of the defense. Lillard will re-
main here throughout the trial.
There is another interesting Lii
ard. Ephriam Lillard, widely knowl
in Kentucky political circles as
'Eph" Lillard. For seven years he
was warden of the Kentucky peni-
tentiary at Frankfort. retiring at the
expiration of GOV. Beckham's last
term. He made an excellent record
as warden of the big prison. He has
for years been well known in Ken
| lucky. He TOO is a shrewd politician
yet withal highly respected man.
He served throughout the civil war
and made an extraordinary record
n for acts of bravery as a Confederate
soldier. He lives at HarrodsborouSh.
He is a speaker of considerable abil-
ity. He is a fine type of Kentucky
manhood and IS very popular He is
brother of Warren Lillard and an
uncle of Steve Adams.
Steve Adams states that he has
never sought to interest his uncle
Eph' in his case and has never writ
ten him since getting into trouble.
The prisoner declares that he doesn't
want to drag his family connections
into the case.
There are other kinsmen of Steve
Adams high up in the political and
business world. Truly Adams, the
man charged with many murders
comes from a fine old family and if
it is proven that Adams is guilty OF
the murder of Arthur Collins or
guilty of other dark deeds that char
| acteriZed the mining troubles of
Colorado and Idaho, he will be the
| first to cast a dark shadow over the
i.I,