Newspaper Page Text
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STEVENS YDUTH
I
w
ADE STEVENS, youth who was arrested following the dis
covery of the bodies of his mother and sister in the fire
ruins of the family home on the McDonough Road. No suspi
cion is now attached to the boy, who is aiding to clear the mys
tery in every way.
Will Bible Solve Stevens Slaying?
*r • •*'• *■»*•*!- *!•••»* r*T
Clews in Holy Book Negro Read
+ • +
+ • +
Son Is Freed of All Suspicion.
Men Sought Were Feared by
Slain Women.
A.« a result of his straightforward
glory and the proof he has brought
forward to sustain it. the police vir
tually have eliminated Wade Stevens
as a suspect in the murder of his
mother. Mrs. Sarah <\ Stevens, and
his sister. Miss Nellie Stevens, and
the burning «»f their home on the
McDonough road.
The activities of the police ana
Sheriff McCurdy are now being rii
rooted toward Walter Wilkes, and
Ernest Maynard, former employees
of Mrs. Stevens. A country-wide
search hafi been instituted for them.
Descriptions of the negro and the
half-breed have been s*nt out t<> all
parts of the South by telegraph, and
the officers are confident that it is
only a matter of hours before they are
arrested.
The theory that Wilkes and May
nard committed the crime, formulated
by statements made by neighbors of
the Stevens family, ami statements
made by William Stevens, has been
strengthened, the police say. by the
statements of Wade Stevens.
3iw Wilkes Near Home.
Young Stevens, brought to Atlanta
from Chattanooga by Detective John
Hka« k at 2 o'clock Friday morning,
told the police that twice within the
past week he has seen Wilkes, the
last time being only a few hours be
fore the murder.
I met Wilkes in town Tuesday
night shortly before 8 o’clock," said
young Stevens. "Hg slopped me aiul
asked me where I was going I told
him that I was going to Chattanooga.
He asked me if father had not already
gone, and I told him yes. Then he
remarked that he supposed mother
and sister would be alone at the house
during the night, and f told him I
supposed so. Then he asked me if
we needed a hired man, and said
he guessed lie would go out and ask
mother if he could get another job. "
Young Stevens said he also saw
Wilkes within a mile of his home
last Sunday morning.
"I was driving to town,' the boy
declared. "And 1 met Wilkes just
beyond the bridge over thf* South
ern railroad. He asked me where 1
was going, and I told him to town.
Then Ue wanted to know if mother
wanted any work done, and 1 told
him I didn't know, lit then asked
me If father was at home, and when
J told him he was. he asked if he
could go back to town with me. He
got in the buggy then and we Canu
te towm. He said he was going down
on Decatur Street, and that was Hu-
last tfl-ne 1 saw him until Tuesday
night, just before 1 left 1^1 Chatta
nooga*.*
JB«>th Insulted the Women.
Youtfiu Stevens is positive that
Wilkes, and Maynard committed the
crime, kind dot lares that both tin
men h.M e several times Insulted his
mother aind sister and tried to get
them to |'ive them money.
"The negroes thought mamma kept
a large so m of money in the house,"
said the Stevens boy, "and they were
always ad king her for a quarter or
t a> dollar, and.getting mad when she
wouldn’t g ive it to them. Mamma
and sister often talked of the ne
groes. and said they were afraid of
them. Thtree times that I can re
member, vi hile Wilkes was working
for us. he tried to insult sister, and
that is wliy we discharged him.
Twice sistei r saw him peeking in the
window when she was dressing or
bathing, anil both times he grinned
and cursed and ran.
"Mamma and sister w«re just as
much afraid of Maynard as they
were of Wilkes. H»- tried to insult
Nellie one <iay and mamma drove
Verses About Murder Marked
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hi hi away with a gun He had
threatened the whole family several
times, and we were all afraid of
him. Maynard was a half-breed In
dian and negro, and was always in a
had humor and talking about money/’
Young Stevens also threw' light on
a phase of Wilkes’ character that up
holds th< theory that Mrs. Stevens’
Bible, found in Wilkes’ cabin, may
prove valuable evidence.
"Wilkes always was saying he
wanted to be a preacher, and in
March he borrowed mamma's Bible.
He drank lots of whisky, and would
sit with the Bible in one hand and a
glass of whisky In the other, laughing
at the Bible. He used to point out
places in the Rlble where it said not
to kill anybody, and then he’d say it
was all bosh and make fun of it. He
would say that he’d bet he could do
all those things and not got punished.
He and Maynard were together when
ever they got a chance, and they
drank a lot of whisky.”
In young Stevens’ story of how he
spent the day on Tuesday, he de
clared that he knows nothing of his
sister taking his clothing to a neigh
bor's. and says he was not at home
all day. His statement, in which he
is corroborated by "Red" Merchant,
arrested with him in < ’hattanooga.
follows:
"1 left home at 8 o’clock Tuesday
morning, after a quarrel with mamma.
I had cut the oats on Monday and
on Tuesday she wanted me to put
them in the burn. It had rained dur
ing the night and 1 told her it was
too wet. She was mad and said if I
didn't put the oats in the barn 1
could leave. I told her 1 would if she
would give me my clothes, and she
wouldn't do it
"So 1 came to town in the overalls
that T have on now T met ‘Red’
Merchant on Pryor Street near the
Union Depot, and we were together
about town until about I o’clock, when
‘Red’ wont home, to East Atlanta, i
hung around town until 3 o'clock and
met ‘Red’ again. Wc stayed down
town and about 5 o'clock we met four
hoys, one of them the McWilliams
boy, and stayed with them until
about time tor the train to leave.
We caught the 8:55 W. and A. train
and got into ('hattanooga about 1:08
o'Mock. At J: 30 we saw a man
named Parker who runs a newsstand
near the ('hattanooga depot, and
talked with him for some lime. Then
we hung around town> 1 wasn’t ar
rested by the (’hattanooga police.
When 1 read in the paper Wednes
day morning that mother and sister
had been murdered and that 1 was
wanted, I went to* the chief of detec
tives and gave myself up."
Young Stevens and young Merchant
were taken to the Decatur County
jail by Sheriff McCurdy Friday. They
probably will be held a few days un
til the Chattanooga end of their story
is proved. Young Stevens says the
man Parker, owner of the newsstand,
will come to Atlanta if necessary and
prove that he was there about the
time the murder is supposed to have
been committed.
FREE, NEXT SUNDAY.
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GIVEN FREE with every
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American,
Testament Given by Slain Wom
an to Suspected Hand Found
in His Cabin.
Is the Holy Bible to play a part In
solving the mystery of the murder of
Mrs. Sarah C. Stevens and her daugh
ter and the burning of their lonely
farm house?
Was the murderer a type of hu
manity who combined a passion. oi‘
a contempt, for the Bible with an in-
^ liable craving to kill, rob and de-
st roy ?
Was this fanatic Walter Wilkes, a
negro, who qp to three weeks ago
irked for Mrs Stevens—known to
a close student of the Bible?
Was he aided in his fiendish work
Krnest Maynard (or Mannard), a
half-breed Mexican, who worked at
the Stevens farm before Wilkes came
known to be a friend and follower
f Wilkes, and as deceitful and as
treacherous?
The finding of Mrs. Stevens' Bible
on a shelf In a log cabin formerly oc-
upied by the negro and the Mexi
can. with many passages having ref-
pnee to violent deaths and actions
marked with a cross in lead pencil,
has brought these questions strongly
to the fore, and has caused the in
vestigations of Sheriff McCurdy and
Detective Rosser to point toward the
negro and the half-breed as possible
perpetrators of the crime.
Officers consider the Bible, w’ith its
marked passages, one of the most re-
parkable and important bits of evi-
lence unearthed since the investiga
tion of the murder began.
The Bible has been positively iden
tified by Mr. Stevens and two of Mrs.
Stevens’ brothers as the property of
Mrs. Stevens. The inscription on the
fly-leaf "Mrs. Stevens’ Book”—has
>en identified as her handwriting.
Mr. Stevens made the further im
portant statement that the Bible has
been in Wilkes’ possession since the
last of March, when Mrs. Stevens
loaned him the book at his request.
The negro had told her that he was
studying for the ministry and did not
have a Bible of his own.
Striking Passages Marked.
Practically every passage that is
marked with the crude cross has ref
erence to some form of violent sin
that is punishable by eternal damna
tion The passages refer to killing
destroying, lust and adultery, the
greatest crimes in the spiritual and
temporal calendar. These questions
are being raised:
Why did Wilkes mark only passages
dealing with violent sin and its pun
ishment?
Did the marking of the Bible (vithin
a month of the murder have any
bearing on the crime?
Does it show that Wilkes’ mind was
constantly filled with thoughts of
murder and robbing?
Did the marking of Kxodus xix:13
"And it came to pass that on the
third day in the morning that there
were thunders and lightning, and a
thick aloud upon the mount.” have
any bearing on the burning of the
house, the crackle and roar of the
flames .and the thick clouds of smoke?
Did the marking of James i:14,
"But every man is tempted, when he
is drawn away of his own lust and
enticed," have any reference to his
desire and efforts—alleged by the
girl’s relatives to have occurred—to
attack little Nellie Stevens?
Did the marking of James ii: 10,
"For whosoever shall keep the whole
law, and yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all,” mean that he would
be equally guilty whether he commit
ted assault, murder, robbery, arson,
or all?
The portions of the Bible that w’ere
marked, presumably by Wilkes are
as follows:
Exodus xix: 13—There shall not an
l and touch it, but he shall surely be
stoned or shot through; whether it
be beast or man. it shall not live;
when the trumpet soundeth long, they
shall come up to the mount.
Violent Passages Indicated.
Exodus xlx;16—And it came to
pass on the third day in the morning,
that there were thunders and light
nings, and a thick cloud upon the
mount, and the voice of the trumpet
exceeding loud; so that all the people
that was In the camp trembled
Exodus xx:13—Thou shalt not kill.
Exodus xx:14—Thou shalt not com
mit adultery.
Exodus xx: 17—Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man
servant, nor his maidservant, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is
thy neighbors.
Exodus xxi:15—And he that smiteth
his father, or his mother, shall be
surely put to death.
Exodus xxi:17—And he that curseth
his father, or his mother, shall be
surely put to death.
Exodus xxi:19—If he rise again
and walk abroad upon his staff, then
shall be that smote him be quit; only
he shall pay for the loss of his time
and sh&ll excuse him to be thorough
ly healed.
Exodus xxi:22—If men strive and
hurt a woman with child, so that het
fruit departeth from her, and yet no
mischief follow; he shall be surely
punished, according as the woman’s
husband lay upon him; and he shah
pay as the judges determine.
Exodus xxi:23—And if any mischief
follow, then thou shalt give life for
life.
Exodus xxi:16—And he that steal-
eth a man and selleth him, or if he
be found in his hand, he shall be
surely put to death.
Exodus xxii:16—And if a man en
tice a maid that is not betrothed
* * * he shall surely endow her to
be his wife.
Matthew v:36—XeHhejr shalt thou
swear by thy head, because thou
canst not make one hair white or
black.
Matthew vii: 23-— But if thine eye
be evil, thy whole body shall be
full of darkness. If, therefore, the
light that is in thee is darkness, how
great is that darkness.
Hebrews xiii: 17—Obey them that
have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves; for they watch for your
souls, as they that must give ac
count. that they may do it with joy,
and not with grief; for that is un
profitable for you.
James i: 14—But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of
his own lust and enticed.
James i: 16—Then when lust hath
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conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and
sin when It is finished, bringeth forth
death.
Janies ii:10—For whosoever shall
keep the whole law, and yet offend In
one point, he is guilty of all.
Colosslans 1 ii: 20—Children, obey
your parents in all things; for this is
well pleasing with the Lord.
Ephesians xxxlv:25 — Wherefore
putting away lying, speak ever>; man
with his neighbor; for w# are meni»
bers one of another.
Ephesians vi: 5—Servants, be obe
dient to those that are your masters,
according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in singleness of your heart,
as unto Christ.
Stevena Aids Officers.
Several points that had puzzled the
officers Investigating the case were
cleared up with the arrival of Mr.
Stevens from Chattanooga and his
visit to his burned home Thursday
afternoon His identification of vari
ous objects and his statements that
none of them were in their usual
places have completed and upheld the
murder theory.
The ax and the hoe found in the
bed room, where the bodies were
found, Mr. Stevens identified as be
longing to the house. The hoe. he
said, is usually kepi on me back
porch, and the ax Is kept at the wood-
pile In the rear of the house. Sheriff
McCurdy and Detective Rosser are
positive that the ax and the hoe were
the weapons used by the murderer;
and they are positive also that there
were at leust two o' the fiends
Though Sheriff McCurdy declared
that young Wade Stevens and "Reu”
Merchant will be held until their ac
tions on th«* night of the murder can
be thoroughly investigated, he inti
mated that all clews now point to the
negro and the Mexican. Walter Wilkes
and Ernest Maynard, or Mannard, and
intimated that a country-wide search
will be in3titued for the two men.
Both Were Discharged.
Maynard, or Mannard, had been
discharged from the employ of Mrs.
Stevens because he had insulted the
young girl and once had attempted to
attack her.
Wilkes was discharged because he
became a "peeping Tom.” and
was surly and threatening on the day
he was ordered off the place.
Wilkes knew' Mr. Stevens would be
away from home on the night of the
murder. When working in the fields
with the negro a month ago Mr. Ste
vens told the negro that he would at
tend the reunion, and remembered the
negro had asked him the date w r hen
he would be away from home.
The investigation conducted Friday
by the officers developed the fact that
Wilkes and Maynard were together
a great deal of the time.
ADDITIONAL TRAIN
SERVICE.
Effective Sunday. June 1st. the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad will
establish double daily service between
Cartersville, Ga„ and Etowah. Tenn.
Train 35 will leave Etowah 6:30 a.
m. arrive Cartersville 9:25 a. m.;
train 36 will leave Cartersville* 10:30
a. m„ arrive Etowah 1:30 p. m.; train
37 will leave Etowah 2:20 p. m., ar
rive Cartersville 5:20 p. m.; train 38
will leave Cartersville 7:12 p. m.,
arrive Etowah 10:10 p. m. adv.
'City of Savannah Is
Overhauled Entirely
Information was received Friday hy |
W. H. Fogg, district passenger agent
of the ('entral of Georgia Railroad,
that the Savanaah Line steamship
City of Savannah left New .York yes
terday for Savannah for the first time
since it was overhauled thoroughly.
improvements consist of seven ad
ditional stateroottvs. private baths in
connection with large bed rooms and
a barber shop similar to those on the
City of St. Louis and the City of
Montgomery. The City of Savannah
is one of the most commodious ship- |
plying between New York and Savan
nah.
GERMAN WARSHIP ASHORE.
BERLIN. May 30.—The German
i cruiser Bleucher went ashore this aft*
j ernoon during a heavy fog. Other
warships are standing by.
Former Columbus Woman Dsad.
COLCMBITS. — Mrs. Franz White, h
former resident of Columbus. dead
at her home in Georgetown. S. C. Her
body will be brought here fpr the fu
neral Saturday.
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