Weekly journal-miner., 1918-07-17

ness stand yesterday by Harry Earl
 Stephens to the jury and an immense
 crowd of eager listeners to account
 for his killing of Robert Miller in
 the Bruchman clothing store in North
 Cortez street the 2nd of last April.
 Temporary insanity, superinduced by
 the alleged knowledge that the wo-
 man who bore him had transgressed
 the most vital of all commandments the seventh-with Miller, was in
 substance his plea to the twelve men
 sitting in judgment upon him for ex-
 oneration for the taking of human
 life. During the remarkable recital hushed silence fell over the new
 temple of justice, in which for the
 first time, a murder accusation is be- ing heard, and every ear was strain ed to catch each word and syllable as they fell from the lips of the youthful defendant.
 Young Stephens took the stand when the afternoon session was open ed at two o'clock, and remained there until the closing hour of five o'clock
 During the time he was being exam ined by his counsel, P. w. O'Sullivan, he retained his composure to won derful degree, answering all ques- tions put to him in firm tone and telling a story which was calculated to go straight to the hearts of the listening jurymen, but at the close of the session, after he had been under the grilling fire of the cross-examina- ton of Special Prosecutor E. $. Clark, he left the witness box in highly nervous state, and during the last hour of the cross-examination seem cd to have not little difficulty in extricating himself from the verbal pitfalls into which the prosecutor led him. Mir. Clark succeeded in gaining an admission from the boy that the domestic felicity of the Steph- ems home was not the best in the world and that as matter of fact much wrangling had taken place there between Mir and Mrs. Stephens, his parents.
 Regarding the actual killing of Mil Ter, the youth told the jury that he had but faint recollection of the af fair, that he was terribly remorseful for what he had done, but that he be- lieved that the killing of Miller was the only thing which could have been done to prevent a break-up of the home out in Williamson valley.
 Not only did Attorney Clark delve into the domestic affairs of the Val inda rancho, but he also dwelt at con- siderable length upon the efforts which young Stephens was said to have made last fall to prevent being inductcd into the United States army. It had been currently rumored that the boy and his father had signified their intentions of spending much money if the former could be allow ed to keep out Of the army. This the boy denied. The defendant did admit. however, after much question: ing, that he had tried to evade mill tary service and that his father and he had appealed to the district board at Phoenix, supporting their requests with many affidavits. The boy told the court that the local board had not given him a square deal in the matter of his claim for deferred classified ton, and inasmuch as he had believ- cd that he could do more good at home farming and raising cattle he had tried to stay out of military service. The boy was also forced to admit that drunkenness was no uncommon thing at the Stephens ranch.
 Examinations Begin
 Under the questioning of his attor- ncy, Stephens began his story by tel ling of his first acquaintance with Miller, the man for whose killing he is being tried. Harry said that he had hired Miller about two years ago to work as a ranch hand on the home ! ranch. Sometime after the man had been installed on the farm, the wit ness said. it was noticed that he had developed a marked attachment for Mrs. Stephens, his mother, the alleg- i ed love affair later terminating in the discharge of Miller. The man had later been hired over and continued to work at the ranch for several months. Then he had a fuss with Stephens ST. and was again discharg- | cd. Mrs. Stephens had later engaged his services on the ranch and then he | was again discharged because 1t was alleged that he was too familiar with the mother.
 The Stephens family came to Pres colt few days before the killing toop place. Harry said and all regist- cred at the Vcndome hotel. On Sun day. March 30, the lady started back to the ranch in a car with Ernest . Marlowe and Sid Marks. This wor- ricd the defendant and his father, the boy said, and they took their own car and set out for the ranch in hopes of finding the lady The trip to the ranch was made without encounter ing the party, and they started back to Prescott When they were six miles from the home ranch, they overlook the car carrying the lady and her friends, and found that Mill Ter had also joined the party:
 Stephens ST. gc: out of Harrys car. and rushing up to the auto in which his wife was riding demanded to know what she was doing with these "bootlegging s- of b"s, By way of a reply, the witness said,