The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-18
Will Be Hanged on
 October P, WIFE SLAYER HEARS
 VERDICT OF THE JURY Iudge ]. (. Richardson Passes Sen
 tence on Him. neung Man Declares 1t Was Net His Yntention to XIII Miss Gertrude vans--witnesses Ten
 of the Tragedy.

Luverne, Sept. 17.--{Speciai.) )-For shooting and killing his wife. Mrs. Emma stevenson, and her daughter. Miss Gertrude vann, at Grady. on the morning of Sept. 3, Will Stevenson, member of one of the prominent fami- sies of Calhoun County. will die on the gallows ct Luvepne. oct. 22.
 This was the verdict of twelve men who sat in the jury box of the Circuit Court throughout this afternoon and listened to the narrowing details of the terrible tragedy at farm house near the Montgomery County line. on 2 September morning, g tragedy that stirred the neighborhood for miles around and aroused the people to ffen- zy. It was said that if Stevens had been captured early after the killing be would have been lynched. The jury returned its verdict at s:2o o'clock tonight. and its reading fell upon the stiffness of 8 court room that was filled with eagerly interested spectators.
 when Judge T. c. Richardson. who presidss over tAs courts of this circuit, prepared to sente--> the young defend ant, and In response to the usual ques- fion, Stevenson arose and declared he had not had a fair trial inasmuch as he was not permitted to testify that 1t was not his intention to Kill Miss Ivsnn.
 Sentenced to Death.
 To this. Judge Richardson responded Shat the trial had been fair; that if he killed Miss vann while intending to kill only her mother. then he was guilty of murder In the first degree. Then Judge Richardson passed the sem &ence, fixing Oct. 22 as the date for its execution. and Stevenson. still wear Eng a debonnaire demeanor. was taken away to the cell which he has occu- Ipisd since he was captured near Troy land brought to Luverne on the morn Ang of Sept. {.
 WfiI stevenson has led an adventur- ous career. Born of prominent parents in Calhoun County. twenty.six years ago, he showed traces of wickedness in early life. He was known as bad boy and as g youth he developed 1he habit of drinking to excess. Be" fore he was twentysyears old. he had sh ot a man and shot to kill. This man was his kinsman. He served term in the penitentiary.
 when he was released from prison he did not return to Calhoun County. He appeared in Crenshaw County and there he met Mrs. Emma Vann. widow, 25 years older than he was. and 8 daughter of J. R. McLendon, one of the most successful and respected farmers of Montgomery County.
 Married a Widow.
 Mrs. vann owned a farm three miles from Grady and was esteemed highly by her neighbors. She had seven chill dren, three of whom, Grover Vann, Is years old: Mis- Gertrude Vann and Miss Myrtle Yam, younger than their broth- fer, lived with their mother ssS Stevenson married Mrs. Vann and lived on the Harm near Grady several months. Then there was a separation. Where Stew lenson had been, no one seems to know. Early in the morning of Sept. he returned to the farmhouse while young Grover Vann was fin the fields, and, using a shot gun, shot and instantly killed Miss Vann. Mrs. Stevenson was fatally wounded and died the follow ling day.
 Stevenson was pursued by blood hounds and was captured near Troy. He did not express regret for the ter ,rible deed. only disclaiming intention lto kill Miss Vann.
 when stevenson was arraigned in court early in the week. he entered plea of guilty to the indictment &C., cusing him of murder, and Judge Rich tardson appointed w. H. Stoddard, sI.uyerne lawyer, to defend him. The State was represented by Solicitor Bricken.
 When the trial began today the fol- flowing members and friends of the Me- Tendon family were present: J. R, McI.endon, Jasper McLendon. H. A. tMcLendon, Mrs Lillie Naftel, pr. s. J. TIaftel, J. D. Vann, Curtis Vann, Grover Vann, Henderson HIllman. AL Sord Norman, J. D. McLendon and Miss Kate McLendon. Old friends of the family, W. R. waller, N. N. Waller. NV. v. Bell and sherinf Prestwood of Andalusia.
 MT. McLendon, father of Mrs. Stew anson. is S2 years old. He has been tcalied "the banner farmer of Ala tbama."
 , custody of the sheriff.
 .sSsThe following men composed the SySs: R. A. Dunell, J. R. Davis. tE. l.. Fails. J. R. Ball. c. V. flaw sTine !. T. Bozeman. J. A. Hookss Fl A. Retrey. D. Y. Mccormack and Tom Summerlin.
 The first witness examined by the State in the Stevenson case was 0rov' Ter Vann, who testified that Gertrude LVann was his sister. She was Killed with a double -barrelled gun. He heard the report of the gun that Killed her He wae down in the corn field about a .oisarter of a mile from the house with Sandy rucker and heard somebody IsersAmin9.
 ROy Tells of tragedy.
 Mrs. Stevenson was his mother and Stevenson married his mother. They had been married @ little over year, After he heard the screaming he ran te f4he house as hard as he could So sno twfSa he goG to the house he saw tuothIng but blood and big mothers heEt arm Giaot oR. Tn oertFude'S side ithere was . bag load of shot, the hole betng about two ana one-haaf inches n jdiameter.
 When he reached theye they were on ahe floor. leaning against the wan with Itheir heads together aad the foog oov- be~aA wsth blood. asrtRude was em- ess