The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-09-09
Ed. Stephens, Former Well Known
Miuco Farmer, is in County Jail
While Search Goes on
for Victims Body
MAN DISAPPEARED
FOUR YEARS AGO
Suspicion Of Neighbors and Brood
ing Over Crime Drives His Slay-
er First to Insanity Then to
Admission Of Deed

Killed by an irate father whose
child il is declared he attempted tc
ravish, buried in the corner Of corr
field. the soil covering his mortal re
mains being cultivated year after year
by the man who took his life. forgotten
by his friends and associates. Such
is probably the sordid closing chapter
OF the story OF the disappearance Of
Oscar Stephens. who disappeared from
his usual haunts near Minco four
years ago
Ed Stephens, cousin of the dead
man, for years a well known farmer Of
Minco, confessed TO Grady county Off
GERS yesterday of having done the
deed. He now lies In the Grady coun-
ty Jail awaiting the finding OF the
skeleton of his victim. He himself took
spade yesterday and aided in the
search for the mans bones.
Briefly stated, the facts in the case
are as follows:
About four years ago Oscar Steph-
ems. young man of nineteen years.
disappeared from the home OF his
cousin, Ed stephens. eleven miles
west of Minco
Nothing was thought 4 the disap.
pearance at the time. Those who gave
the matter even passing notice COM
mented that Oscar had probably en-.
listed in the regular army, as he had
been talking OF doing this for a mum
ber of months.
Later neighbors whispered that there
might have been something strange
about this disappearance. The fact
that none of his former associates
ever heard from him took color from
the theory that Oscar had become a
soldier OF the United States, while
strange remarks made by Ed lent color
TO the idea. which was fast becoming
well.settled suspicion, that ed might
know some gruesome story OF his
cousins disappearance.
These suspicious became well-found-
ed when Ed went suddenly and yio-
lently insane about three months ago.
II was then that he dropped remarks
about the disappearance Of Oscar
which finally led up to the investiga-
tion which resulted in his arrest upoa
suspicion of murder after his dis
charge from the state hospital for the
insane
While in the county Jail. before his
removal to the asylum. Eld told one. OF
the prisoners that he was here for
killing his cousin" After Stephens
had been removed TO Norman, the
prisoner related the details of the con-
versation he had had with him. He
stated that he feared to say anything
about it while Ed was in Jail. fearing
bodily harm from the demented man.
While in the asylum stephens fam
lily moved from the farm near Min
co to Union city. across the line in
Canadian county. When stephens
was discharged from the asylum at
Norman he joined his family and was
with them day before yesterday when
arrested. He confessed Immediately
to the crime and Deputy Castleman
was sent after the prisoner.
When turned over to Sheriff Bailey
stephens said he knew what he was
wanted for. that he had killed his
cousin, Oscar that he killed him be-
cause he Oscar had attempted to
ravish Eds six year old daughter. He
declared he was sorry he had commit
ted the deed became the face of the
dead man. wreathed in the horrible
grin OF death. as he had last seen 1t
when he buried him in the shallow
grave in the lonely bottom field and
stamped the earth down upon the
body. haunted him by day and leered
at him from the dusky corners in the
darkening shadows of the night.
Asked to accompany the officers to
the scene of the killing. Stephens
gladly consented. "Wednesday after
noon in an auto Sheriff Bailey and
County Attorney venable, together
with 10 witte. brother-in-law of