The Mena weekly star., 1909-12-09
MENA BUSINESS MAN
 HAS MENTAL LAPSE
William Stevens of The Cash Store Be- comes Suddenly Violent and Tries to Kill His Bookkeeper
 en to Relatives in Texas.

There came near being a trag- edy in the Cash Store about l0:30 Saturday, the only thing lack ing being accuracy of aim on the part Of an insane mau with re volver.
 While Lon Graham was busily engaged at his work as book keeper, William Stevens, one of the proprietors of the store, who had been sitting quietly by the stove nearby, jumped suddenly to his feet and started to the desk, reaching for a drawer in which a revolver was left, remarking, "I m going to kill you!"
 Graham said, "Oh, 1 guess you won't do that" when Stevens, reaching the revolver, said:
 ''I will kill you if you don't kill me-"
 As MT. Stevens got the gun, Mir. Graham made all possible haste to get out of the way, run ming to and through the back door. As he passed through this, Stevens fired, the ball striking the door frame about five feet from the floor.
 The crazed man pursued, firing two more shot as Graham dashed into the back door of the JacKson Drug and Furniture store, clos ing the door behind him. When Stevens reached this, he broke out the glass by showing the re. volver and hand through 1t.
 As Graham dashed down the isle he called tor some one to stop his pursuer. and ClaudI Bennett, nephew of Mir. Graham. book kee per for JAckson's, jumped out, caught and threw Mir. Stevens down as he tried to rush by. The revolver was fired again in the scuffle, but the ball only tore a hole in the bottom step of the stairway. Deputy Sheriff John Bratcher arrived on the scene at this moment, and struggled to break the hold of the insane man on the revolver.
 Stevens, as he struggled, asked Bratcher if he would kill him if he let him have the gun, but Bratcher told him he would not, aud finally severed the weapon.
 They were joined by Jailor Am brose Bratcher, and the officers took Stevens to the jail until ar engagements could be made to care for him.
 At the jail a representative of The Star talked with MT. Stevens, who was terribly depressed, say ing 1t was all up with him, his life was of no value to him and he wanted to die and didn't care If they hung him.
 On assuring him he had done no serious harm and asking him for the cause of his act, he ex- pressed the belief that he had been wronged iu business way, in connection with the invoicing of the stock of the Cash Store, which he recently bought, and blamed Graham for having hand in if.
 $. A. Wellborn, partner in the store, says that there is no trouble oi any consequence of this nature spoken of by his partner, but that the whole trouble is result of continued and severe ill health, he having recently been convinced that he had cancer of the stomach. He is said to have had severe nervous attack Friday night, not sleeping at all. He was urged to remain at home next morning, but would not do so. MT. Wellborn says that his part ner has long been worried and that this has undoubtedly resulted iu a mental breakdown.
 In breaking through the glass in the door, Stevens severely lac erated his left hand.
 At ? O lock Saturday afternoon Mir. Stevens was taken to hls home on Fourth street by MT. Wellborn, where he was cared for until his wife and part. ner left with him for Mexla, Tex, whare thev have relatives.