Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-11-15
Sc E SHAkEuP IN ROAD SUIT
Stephenson GiUen Life
Term For Staying Girl
Mates Of Former Klan
Dragon Cleared in
Oberholtzer Case
aRr the Assoc ated Press.l

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. Nov. Ia Life
Imprisonment in the Indiana state pris-
on at Michigan City is the price which
a jury determined today that d. q.
Stenkenson, former grand DRAGON Of the
Indiana Kn Klux Kla1. shall pay for the
death Of Madge Oberholtzer.
1t took panel composed of ten farm
ers, one business m9n and a tfuck
driver less than six hours TO reach the
verdict. Earl Klenck and Earl Gentry,
bodyouard Of Stephenson and charged
jontlv with the abduction and attack
on the girl last March Is, were acquit
ted.
Miss Oberholtzer took poison in
Hommond, Ind, hotel after the alleged
mistreatment and died at her Indian
apois home 90 days later. The men
were charged with responsibility for her
act.
Murder in the second degree was the
finding of the Jury. 1t calls automatic
ally for twenty years servitude. which
the Indiana law designates as life i'm
prisonment. Good behavior can reduce
the term by several wears. Stephenson
short laugh and shake of the head
were his only manifestations.
Fight To Continue
Surrender. HE'LL" he said as he lay
on his bunk a few minutes later in the
cell that has been his home for seven
months.
II am just beginning to fight. The
last chapter has not been written"
Floyd Christian. of defense counsel.
notified Judge Will NJ. Sparks that
motion of appeal would be filed. The
judge left the court immediately after
the verdict without indicating when the
sentence will be pronounced. Stephen
son will be removed to the state prison
pending appeal.
Less than year ago, domineering
figure in Hoosier politics, Stephenson's
fall was as sudden as his rise to promi-
nence. Four years ago he entered the
state unknown without friends or
money. dynamic speaker, with a per-
sonality which was felt even in : the
court room during his trial he ascended
in the Ku Klux Klm to be its grand
dragon, one Of the most powerful po-
sitions in the order.
State legislators and other politicians
flocked to his office inA indianapolis,
it was shown by testimony at his trial
He was in constant communication, the
state charged, with large group of
state senators and representatives sit
ting in the legislature last January and
February
Former Political Leader
II am the law in Indiana was the
statement attributed~to him by the state
"a statement ascribed to him by Madge
Oberholtzer in her dying declaration
which played so big a part in his con-
viction, a statement which the prosecu-
tion rung in his ears again and again
as it pleaded with the jury to sentence
him to death.
Gentry was most affected of all the
defendants when they were summoned
their fate. Pasty-faced and nervous, he
waited with apparent dread the reading
of the verdict that made him free.
When his friends crowded around a
minute later he could only shake hands
his voice was gone.
klenck called by the prosecution, the
gorilla" and man of granite" lived his
reputed role until the farmer foreman
had spoken in the dingy, high walled
court room the last syllable of the jury's
verdict. Not muscle flickered in his
massive face. Then after the perfume
tory ,handshaking, both Klenek and
Gentry followed their leader back to
his cell.
hU md ~
Gentry demanded Indignantly of the Co
terie which accompanied Stephenson
back to the Jail.
Ridiculous Verdict
1T is the most ridiculous verdict
ever heard of" Klenck spoke up. 1T
should be notice to the public that it
is not a vindication of any law. but
persecution of the best man that ever
lived. He has been the best friend
thousands of Indiana people ever had
1t was a lost leader who finally sent
the faithful pair from his side.
Let me stay in Jail with you to-
night" Klenck urged, but Stephenson
laughed and urged them to -get out and
get some fresh air."
Then Stephenson made statement
Every one knows he said "that under
the circumstances and in the atmo-
sphere which surrounded the jury dur
ing the entire trial, and under the un-
usual procedure before the court, the
jury expressed noble courage in ac-
quitting Gentry and Klenck, against
whom, / doubt if the pernicious hate
which manifested itself was at any time
directed
This has not been a law suit. 1t
Continued on Page Two.)