El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-09-09
TWO MORMON GIRLS TESTIFY As To
THE He MURDER MURDER Of THEIR THEIR FATHER
Sabbath Hearing of Senator Smith on Mexican Condi-
lions Brings Out the Story of Joshua stevens's
Death-President Romney Gives the Story of
the Disarming of the Colonists.

The plain tale of two girls telling
how their father had been killed by
a Mexican rebel, and the clearcut ex-
position OF the Mormon situation in
Mexico, marked the special Sunday
session of the senate investigation of
Mexican affairs by senator William
Alden Smith.
The Sunday session was held in
order to permit Misses Emma and FL
Ia Stevens to tell the story of the
killing Of their father, Joshua Stevens.
by a Mexican who had attempted to
assault Stevens's daughters. The girls
appeared at the hotel, dressed plainly in
home made dresses and with their
hair done simply but in good taste.
Ella Stevens, Visibly affected by the
killing Of her father and by the unusual
experience she was passing through,
told the story in hating sentences
stopping to choke down a sob when
she referred to her fathers tragic
death IN the arms of herself and sister,
whom he had tieGr to save from as
sault- 1t was a remarka BILE story of
the heroism Of two fearless girls who
forgot their fears while trying to aid
their father and who rushed at their
fathers aSSailant struck him in the
face with d club, grabbed the knife
blade with which he was about to stab
their father and succeeded in driving
him away only after he had inflicted
a death wound in their fathers breast.
There were no high lights in the
telling There were none needed for
the story carried. itself with its dra-
matte action Once the girl hesitated
and asked to be permitted TO read
her statement from a paper which she
held in her hand. But she was re-
assured by senator Smith and stake
president Junius Romney and con-
tinued until in a low voice, referring
to her fathers death, she said Haud
nd rH0l
TO full stop With her were her
sister and her older brother, Joshua
William jr., who cOrrOborated their
sisters story from time to time
The story as she told it in her
simple language was: I'VE were pick
ing berries in our orchard when we
looked Up and saw a man standing
near US. My sister, Abbie, and L were
In the orchard together. A Mexican /
was at the foot of the patch and when !
we looked up we saw another. When
the second one came up, the two |
counseled and then went TO the foot |
Of the patch We supposed they had |
gone toward the house. We then I
saw them creeping up to the bushes /
and one said in English come here |
We started for the house in a round 4
about way and they tried to head US
off
Father Notified. !
when we reached the house, mother !
and sister were berry picking in the /
over orchard We heard the dog bark ]
Ind we knew that we were still fol- \
owed. Mother then told father how |
he Mexicans were following US. One
nan had a dagger in his hand. Father
Ook a shotgun and went up the side /
# the lower orchard When we saw !
i'm. he was so yeards up the road. The
Wo Mexicans were ambushed there. !
they came out as he was going be-
ween the rows of trees
"One then turned quickly and !
tabled father We heard him call
nd we hurried up as fast as we could
un- 1 was 100 yeards away from
ather when he was stabbed. A row
f trees hid them and we heard
hots. We ran towards them "a pause
nd a half choked sob.) We then saw
he first one running with his left
and over his right side. At the end
L the row Of trees we saw father
nd the other Mexican, the length of !
rs gun apart They dropped into a
lteh When we came up to them, the
1eAlean was lying in the ditch and.