See: DETECTIVE DRAGNET, Dec., 1985, page 37.
When they reached the Effler house, Mrs. Effler was dead and the ©
neighbors noticed marks around her throat and bruises on her body.
Effler said that she was asthmetic and had injured herself falling.
One neighbor did not believe him and went, to Marion and notified the
Sheriff. When the officers arrived, the Efflers were already taking
Mrs. Effler across a mountain tied to a pole to return her to Yancey
County for burial with her relatives. They were intercepted at the
Yancey County line and an inquest was held that showed that Mrs. Eff-
ler bhd been strangled to death. Effler was tried, convicted and sen-~
tenced to hange He acted insane up until a week before his execution
when he evidently redlized that there was no hope and he then confessed
that he had strangled his wife with a strip of rawhide after the stran
ger had left and that her neck had been broken when she fell out of
bed while fighting for her life. His confession was sold on the
streets of Marion for the benefit of his child. It was believed in
the area that his wife knew of an incident where he and his grandfathe
had killed a pedillar in the area and that Effler feared that she would
go to the authorities with that information if she left him. He was
REstieck was ‘broken bythe fall’and he was killed snstantife © POTeMS
RALEIGHNEWS AND OBSERBER, Raleigh, Ne Coy 5=20-1882. Page twoe
* NPG 10-29-1881 (13-2) & Woodcut likeness
See: DETECTIVE DRAGNET, Dec,, 1985, page 37.
When they reached the Effler house, Mrs. Effler was dead and the
neighbors noticed marks around her throat and bruises on her body.
Effler said that she was asthmetic and had injured herself falling.
One neighbor did not believe him and went, to Marion and notified the
Sheriff. When the officers arrived, the ifflers were already taking
Mrs. Effler across a mountain tied to a pole to return her to Yancey
County for burial with her relatives. They were intercepted at the
Yancey County line and an inquest was held that showed that Mrs. Eff-
ler bhd been strangled to death. Effler was tried, convicted and sen=
tenced to hange He acted insane up until a week before his execution
when he evidently realized that there was no hope and he then confessed
that he had strangled his wife with a strip of rawhide after the stran-
ger had left and that her neck had been broken when she fell out of
bed while fighting for her life. His confession was sold on the
streets of Marion for the benefit of his child. It was believed in
the area that his wife knew of an incident where he and his grandfather
had killed a pediilar in the area and that Effler feared that she would
go to the authorities with that information if she left him. He was
a
RESFieck' was broken by’ che Pali and he wes kiied instantife POT"
RALEIGHNEWS AND OBSERWER, Raleigh, Ne Ce, 5-20=1882. Page twos
» NPG 10-29-1881 (13-2) & Woodcut likeness
See: DETECTIVE DRAGNET, Dec,, 1985, page 37.
When they reached the Effler house, Mrs. Effler was dead and the
neighbors noticed marks around her throat and bruises on her body,
Effler said that she was asthmetic and had injured herself falling.
One neighbor did not believe him and went to Marion and notified the
Sheriff. When the officers arrived, the Efflers were already taking
Mrs. Effler across a mountain tied to a pole to return her to Yancey
County for burial with her relatives. They were intercepted at the
Yancey County line and an inquest was held that showed that Mrs. Eff-
ler bhd been strangled to death. Effler was tried, convicted and sen-
tenced to hang. He acted insane up until a week before his execution
when he evidently realized that there was no hope and he then confessed
that he had strangled his wife with a strip of rawhide after the stren4
ger had left and that her neck had been broken when she fell out of
bed while fighting for her life. His confession was sold on the
streets of Marion for the benefit of his child. It was believed in
the area that his wife knew of an incident where he and his grandfather
had killed a pedd@lar in the area and that Effler feared that she would
fen ee Ve aamhort ves with that information if she left him. He was
steteeas Oy PRADA Sem FT chy Pe
peor AND OBSERVER, Raleigh, Ne Coy Ps Page twos
NPG 10-29-1881 (13-2) & Woodcut likeness
S208. Fag tes
INFO 10-29-1861 (13-2) &odeut Lixeness
ee CL rom
Gre hohe ye ee VPN orTh Gea: ae
AI G0td by Fete20 , M0, Ca, SLPIF2
Effler, a young white native of GMKESKAMG Cherokee Co., Tenne, had
moved to McDowell Coe, Ne Ce, with his grandfather when he was 9-years
olde The elder Effler was not at all popular among his neighbors as
he was considered to have a mean and surly disposition. His grandson
was also heartily disliked because of his propensity for torturing
animals and bullying ajjyone smaller and more helpless than he. He
married a member of the Grindstaff family im from neighboring Yancey
Go. and moved her to a fam farm in a lonely gorge in the Blue Ridge
on the waters of Buck Creek in McDowell Co. The place was so isolated
that it was unapproachable except by foot or horseback. ‘The couple
quarreled frequently but ultimately became the parents of a daughter
who was three months old on the night of Jan. 6, 1881. On that night
a strange® passing through the area had supper at the Efflers and
Stephen and his wife got into a particularly violent argument in which
she threatened to return to her family. Effler told her that she
would never go there nor would she ever see her parents again. After
the stranger finished eating, he left th lers. and later that
night Stephen went to a neighbors an: told em that ie wife was
dying. jie then went to his Grandfather's, three miles away, and
c
P the old man who returned with him and a crowd of neighborse
: C Co Sy Sits
Be ther we {fWorth Qrehx &
Aire Cb, 7eev20 fray 18, 20, la, SLY iG
Effler, a young white native of GUWHEEXHK Cherokee Co., Tenney, had
moved to McDowell Coe, Ne Cey with his grandfather when he was 9-years
old. The elder Effler was not at all popular among his neighbors as
he was considered to have a mean and surly disposition. His grandson
was also heartily disliked because of his propensity for torturing
animals and bullying ajyyone smaller and more helpless than he. He
married a menber of the Grindstaff family im from neighboring Yancey
Go. and moved her to a fam farm in a lonely gorge in the Blue Ridge
on the waters of Buck Creek in McDowell Co. The place was so isolated|
that it was unapproachable except by foot or horseback. ‘The couple
quarreled frequently but ultimately became the parents of a daughter
who was three months old on the night of Jan. 6, 1881. On that night
a stranger passing through the area had supper at the Efflers and
Stephen and his wife got into a particularly violent argument in which
she threatened to return to her family. Effler told her that she
would never go there nor would she ever see her parents again. After
_ the stranger finished eating, he left th r d later that
night Stephen went to a netefbors and teid thee thet te ete ate
dying, fie then went to his Grandfather's, three miles away, and
¢]
aha P the old man who returned with him and a crowd of neighborse
Store wl tm Eleleeaieitatia tea natwes 9-years
The elder Effler was not at all popular among his neighbors as
he was considered to have a mean and surly disposition. His grandson
was also heartily disliked because of his propensity for torturing
animals and bullying ejyone er and more helpless than he. He
aitrisd suaiben of the Craceetate Erm hsa octal te oscring iVancer
Gb. and moved her to a fam farm in a lonely gorge in the Blue Ridge
on the waters of Buck Creek in McDowell Co. The place was so isolated|
that it was unapproachsble except by fobt or horseback. ‘he couple
Quarreled frequently but ultimately became the parents of 2 daughter
who was three months old on the night of Jan. 6, 1861. On that night
a stranger passing through the area had supper at the Efflers and
Stephen and his wife got into a particularly violent argument in which]
she threatened to return to her family, Effler told her that she
would never go, there nor would she ever seo her parents again. After
tr:
Bight Steghen went es Set i Efnots Sn ioathes ghd eee tes
avin, ifie then went. to Sontaprs
PickeSP'p the old man who returned with ane ate aes @ Paes,
The Sp Moth Careline SFE
ee, See iste aie LET
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