John W. Stephens Slain by Men of His Own Political Party and Not by Ku Klux

Says J. W. Stephens Not A Carpetbagger: Geo. F. Ivey Says Man Assassinated in Yanceyville Probably Was Slain by Men of His Own Political Party and Not by Ku Klux

(Special to The Charlotte Observer) Hickory, Oct. 12 [1935] -- J. W. Stephens, whose assassination in Yanceyville during the reconstruction days led to a declaration of martial law and indirectly to the impeachment of Governor W. W. Holden, was not a carpetbagger and there is evidence he was slain by men of his own political party instead of Ku Klux Klansmen, according to George F. Ivey, well-known Hickory manufacturer.

Mr. Ivey, a brother of J. B. Ivey of Charlotte, says he has information tending to prove that the "inside story" of the Stephens assassination, reported in a recent press dispatch from Danville, Va., is incorrect. The news story told of a deposition which Capt. John G. Lea of Danville made in 1919 and locked in a vault until it was disclosed after his death.

In his witnessed statement, Captain Lea, who was on organizer for the Invisible Empire in Caswell County in 1870 and who died several days ago at South Boston, Va., names Col. J. T. Mitchell and Thomas Oliver, now both dead, as the actual executioners of Stephens. The Lea statement, witnessed and attested by the late Col. Fred Olds, declares Stephens was condemned to die by the Caswell Klan which accused him of arson. The Klansmen swore never to reveal to others who participated in the enterprise until the last one was dead. Captain Lea was the last, according to the Danville story, succumbing at South Boston, Va., in his 92nd year. He did, however, make the deposition in 1919 at the urgent request of the North Carolina Historical Commission and locked in a vault.

Mr. Ivey, who formerly lived in Caswell County, is familiar with the circumstances of the Stephens death, or at least with the local stories there. The courthouse where the man was killed during a political rally is still standing and visitors are shown the very room in which the body was found. Continuing, Mr. Ivey declared:

No Carpetbagger

"J. W. Stephens was not a carpetbagger. A carpetbagger was a corrupt man from the North who came to the South at the end of the war with all his possessions in a carpet bag -- a valise made of carpet instead of leather. Stephens was a native of Rockingham County and was for many years known as 'Chicken Stephens' by reason of his being convicted of stealing chickens from Thomas Ratliffe of Wentworth. He left his watch and pistol to secure his fine, went to Caswell County and was duly elected a member of the Legislature, which was composed almost entirely of negroes and men of Stephens's stamp.

"It seems that at that time the election in North Carolina was held three months before the general election, and Governor Holden and his crowd were exceedingly anxious for the State to go Republican for its effect on the other Southern States. As the election drew near -- remember, it was in July -- the State seemed to be peaceful and there was no excuse for sending Federal troops to guard the polls. According to the story, believed for many years, Stephens was assassinated by his own party in order to have an excuse for drastic action. It was not intended to kill him, but when he recognized his assailants, his death became necessary.

Holden Told Bailey?

"Several years after this, Rev. C. T. Bailey, a Baptist minister, who was the father of the present North Carolina Senator, Josiah W. Bailey, and at that time editor of The Biblical Recorder, stated that Governor Holden, while in a penitent mood, told him that the Republican party had much to do with the crime and that the prosecution was discontinued because there was evidence which would incriminate influential members of that party. A public statement to this effect was published by Rev. Mr. Bailey early in October, 1876.

"It is said that history is never correctly written until long after the events have taken place, in this case, even after 65 years, it is not at all certain who killed Stephens. The statements of a man in contemplation of death (such as that of Captain Lea) will usually receive much weight, but there was no opprobrium attached to the deed in question and thousands of good men thought his death was well deserved. We must remember that the war had been ended only a few years and thousands of men had been killed legally. Much bragging was done about the exploits during the war, and a little about this matter would not seem out of place."

Major Lee Latta expressed the opinion that the minister referred to was Doctor Skinner, pastor of the Raleigh Baptist church, who reported the confession of Holden and that Doctor Skinner was severely criticised for revealing matters told him in confidence by one of his members. Mr. Ivey said it is, of course, possible that Holden told substantially the same story to both Doctor Skinner and Rev. Mr. Bailey.

The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), 13 October 1935, Sunday, Page 31.