William Stepter, 1847 June 5

NATIONAL POLICE GAZEITE, May 15, 187 (282)
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, June 19, 18,7 (322)

NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, May 15, 18,7 (282)
NATIONAL POLICE GAVEITE, June 19, 187 (322)

E, May 15, 1847 (282)
» June 19, 1847 (322)

NATIONAL POLICE
NATIONAL POLICE

STEPTER, William Henry b-S/S47

Stepter, a l7-year-old white youth, lived with his parents in a rural
area of Greenup Co., Kye He had always been considered an inoffensive
young man though he was ke of low mentality and MXXXXZHAAXXRXWEK
believed to occasionally suffer from spells of insanity. On the
night of tpril 12, 1847, both he and h&s father had been drinking
heavily and Mr, Stepter went to skeep seated in his chair with his
head on a table. During the night, William Henry went to the bed
where his mother was sleeping and placed the mugzle of a loaded
pistol between her eyes and within a few inches of her head and

fired it, killing her instantly. Mr. Stepter was not awakened by

the shot and the boy then went and aroused the neighborhood saying
that some thiefs had enetered the house, killed his mother and

robbed the premises, When the neighbors returned and found Mr. Step-
ter ableep, they arrested him and he was charged with the muUrd EF» A
few days later, William Henry confessed that he alone was guilty and

that his father was innocent, The young man was then arrested and
the father released, ‘Mt his trial, he was convicted, largely on his

confession,and sentenced to dies He was hanged before a crowd of
nearly 5,000 people at Greenupsburg on June 5, 187

STEPTER, William Henry ce S- SG4 V4

Stepter, a l7-year-old white youth, lived with his parents in a rural
area of Greenup Co,, Kye He had always been considered an inoffensive
young man though he was ke of low mentality and KHAXXXHHAXKRXHEK
believed to occasionally suffer from spells of insanity. On the
night of tpril 12, 187, both he and h&s father had been drinking
heavily and Mr. Stepter went to skeep seated in his chair with his
head on a table. During the night, William Henry went to the bed
where his mother was sleeping and placed the muzzle of a loaded
pistol between her eyes and within a few inches of her head and
fired it, killing her instantly. Mr. Stepter was not awakened by
the shot and the boy then went and aroused the neighborhood saying
that some thiefs had enetered the house, killed his mother and
robbed the premises. When the neighbors returned and found Mr, Step-
ter akleep, they arrested him and he was charged with the mrder, A
few days later, William Henry confessed that he alone was guilty and
that his father was innocent, The young man was then arrested and
the father released, ‘‘t his trial, he was convicted, largely on his
confession,and sentenced to dies He was hanged before a crowd of
nearly 5,000 people at Greenupsburg on June 5, 1876

STEPTER, William Henry be S VE (gy Yi

Stepter, a 17-year-old white youth, lived with his parents in a rural
area of Greenup Co,, Ky, He had always been considered an inoffensive|
young man though he was km of low mentality and MXUAXNT¥RAXYGOOEX
believed to occasionally suffer from spells of insanity. On the
night of tpril 12, 1847, both he and h&s father had been drinking
heavily and Mr, Stepter went to skeep seated in his chair with his
head on a table. During the night, William Henry went to the bed
where his mother was sleeping and placed the mzzle of a loaded
pistol between her eyes and within a few inches of her head and

fired it, killing her instantly. Mr, Stepter was not awakened by

the shot and the boy then went and aroused the neighborhood saying
that some thiefs had enetered the house, killed his mother an

robbed the premises, When the neighbors returned and found Mr, Step-
ter ableep, they arrested him and he was charged with the murder. A
few days later, William Henry confessed that he alone was guilty and
that his father was innocent, The young man was then arrested and
the father released, ‘ his trial, he was convicted, largely on his
confession,and sentenced to die. He was hanged before a crowd of
nearly 5,000 people at Greenupsburg on June 5, 18h7.