Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1921-03-29
STEVENS HEARING AT BOLIVAR
LAST FRIDAY.


Justice Nichols Sends Him On To
Grand Jury Under Charge Of
Murder.
James Stevens charged with shoot
| ing Katherine Littleton at her home
| in Bolivar sometime during tie
night of March 20, was given hear
! ing before Justice D. H. Nichols OF
Harper's Ferry District last Friday
afternoon. The hearing was held in
the Hall of the Patriotic Order Sons
of America, and although there was a
large crowd inside the building, there
were many who could not gain
entrance.
The case for the State was con-
Quoted by Prosecuting Attorney John
T. Porterfed, and the prisoner was
defended by Col. Forrest w. Brown.
All the witnesses examined were
for the State, the defense not putting
any witnesses on the stand.
Miss Beatrice Miskimmon was the
first witness, and testified as to hav-
ing seen young man jump off car
the evening of the tragedy.
Miss Eleanor Mccormick testified
that she and several other young
girls and three or four young men
went up to the Scottish Castle on
Bolivar Heights on Sunday evening,
including Katherine Littleton, and
that they were getting supper when
Stevens joined them about o'clock.
That after having supper, and sing
ing, &c, they left the Castle in
couples about 1915 o'clock. She
said that in getting some dishes out
of a cupboard or press she came
across a "gun" and took it out and
the company examined it, together
with a pistol which Stevens had on
his person. That on the way down
from the castle home Stevens fired
his revolver off. She said that
Stevens had been going with her sis
ter short while. That she looked
at her watch when they got back to
Bolivar, and that it was 1856
o'clock.
Miss Nellie Mccormick was then
placed on the stand, and said that she
was with the party at the Castle, and
let Stevens in when he came. That
they left the castle shortly after 10
o'clock. That she heard gun fired on
way down from the Castle. Saw
Stevens and Katherine Littleton go
into the house about IL o'clock.
Were just going in the door as she
came along. She said, in answer to
questions of the Prosecuting At
torney. that young Stevens had been
going with her about two months,
and had always acted a perfect
gentleman.
Miss Florence Mccormick was
then put on the stand and testified
that she had the "gun" that belonged
to Stevens in her hand at the Castle.
On the way back from the Castle, she
heard Stevens say Watch them
jump" and heard the gun fired.
She went as far as home with Kathe-
rine, and saw her and Stevens go into
the house.
Miss Vivian Sponsler said she saw
Stevens and Katherine going into the
door about II O'Clock, and heard gun
fired on way down from castle.
Mrs. Grace Ramsdell, mother of
the dead girl, was then placed on the
witness stand, and testified that on
Sunday afternoon Katherine said
that she was going with the girls up
to the Castle and that if anyone cali
ed, for her to send them on I'D there.
That towards night Stevens called,
and went on up to the Castle on her
telling him that Katherine was up
there. She said that she and her
husband and two boys went to bed
about 10 O'Clock, and that they did
not hear any noise during the night.
That Mr.. Ramsdell had severe head
ache, and that when the alarm went
off before six o'clock she went down
stairs to get something for him.
That she on her way down stairs
went into Katherine's room and saw
that she had not been in bed, but
supposed that she had spent the night
with one of the other girls. That
when she went down stairs the front
door was standing open. That on
her way back upstairs something
prompted her to look into the parlor
and saw Katherine reclining on the
sofa with her head leaning over to
the right. That she had her hands in
her lap, and that she had a piece of
chewing gum in her right hand be-
tween her finger and thumb, and that
her left hand was closed. That she
put her hand on her and found her
cold, and that she finally got out of
the room and screamed for help.
Mr.. John Ramsdell, step-father of
the dead girl, testified to hearing his
wife scream and Immediately ran
down stairs and saw Katherine re-
Ginning on couch. Saw three or four
hairpins on the floor around the
couch. Made search for pistol or
shell elected from pistol, but could
not find any. Noticed blood stains
on door knob of back door.
Mr.. j. l.. Echols, the undertaken
was then placed on the stand. and
said that he was called early Monday
morning and went to Halltown after
Or. Perry about $50 o'clock. Mrs
Ramsdell being in a very nervous
state. He testified to seeing Katie.
~ h'eASeoi SittiilS on the SOFA with
her head over to the right. That he
looked for the bullet and saw that it
was lodged in the wall slantinp
shghtiy upward. Noticed hairpins
on the floor, and that the bullet had
entered the corner of the right eve
al, come out the back of her head.
mat there was no powder marks
on the face of the dead girl. That
ne afterwards, on the request of the
Prosecuting Attorney, examined her
mouth and found a piece of chewing
gum therein.
Mrs. Lucy Sponsler, grandmother
OF the dead girl, was then placed on
the stand, and testified to finding dry
blood stains on the door knob of the
back door, and corroborated the
other witnesses as to the position
IN which the girl was found.
DIR. w. E. Perry then took the
stand, and said that Mr.. Echols came
after him o.