Stephens, Harve

The body of an unidentified man was discovered Monday morning in a shaft at the Silver Fox Mine, northeast of Picher Oklahoma and just across the Kansas line, according to reports received here. G. L. Childress, manager of the mine, said that the body was discovered by workmen who went down to "drive a drift." Porter Clark, Cherokee county Kansas coroner, was called from Baxter Springs Kansas to hold an inquest. The body was said to have been floating on the top of about 25 feet of water in the shaft. The mine had been closed since last July.

The body of the man found yesterday morning in a shaft of the abandoned Silver Fox Mine, a mile and one-half northwest of Treece, was positively identified today as that of Harve Stephens of Oronogo Missouri, by his wife, who arrived here this morning. Stephens, an ore hauler, has been missing since March 16, his wife, said. An inquest has been set for 8 tonight at the Porter Clark undertaking parlors, where the body is, but Porter Clark, coroner, said today the holding of the inquest may be postponed. "We want to get all evidence possible at the inquest," he said, "and it is doubtful whether we will be ready to conduct the inquest tonight." Authorities are working on a murder theory. A hole, believed to have been caused by a bullet, is in the left side of Stephen's back, under the shoulder. Stephens has a brother, Frank Stephens, at Afton Oklahoma and another description given by an Oronogo garage man led authorities to believe the man was Stephens. A clipping from an Afton newspaper and a receipt bearing the name of "H. Stephens," both found in the man's clothing, strengthened the identification. Positive identification was not furnished, however, until the arrival of Mrs. Stephens today. After examining the body she said positively that it was that of her husband. The body was found floating in about 25 feet of water, face downward. It was badly decomposed. Coroner Clark estimated the body had been in the water at least three weeks, and possible more than two months. The mine had been abandoned since last July and the mouth of the shaft, which is about 300 feet deep, had been covered with boards. The planks had been torn loose since the mine was closed. The body was discovered by G. L. Childress, manager of the mine, and Squibbs Qualls of Galena Kansas, when they went to the mine to investigate reopening it. Vivian Hiatt and Harold Miles went down the shaft and placed the body in a tub. John Wood, hoisterman, drew it to the top of the shaft, where it was taken in charge by the coroner. Stephens left Oronogo March 16th, for Afton, his wife, said, and had not been heard from since. The paper in the pocket was a scale receipt given by the "E.P.L. company" to "H. Stephens" for a load of ore. The "E.P.L. company" is presumed to be the Eagle-Picher Lead Company. The body was dressed in a blue, striped suit and blue shirt. The underclothes were winter garments. In the pockets were an Elgin watch and $7.08 in money. There also was a pocketbook and pocket knife. Authorities said today they had not found any clues which would help them in their investigation. Bob Mason, county attorney, Sheriff Dick Helman, Deputy Sheriff W. T. Hendren and Constable W. T. Bridges left here early today for Oronogo to seek possible clues there.

After working day and night for a week in attempting to solve the mystery surrounding the finding of the body of Harve Stephens, former Oronogo, ore hauler in a shaft at the Silver Fox Mine, near Treece Kansas, last Monday, county Attorney Bob Mason said here tonight that he was firmly convinced Stephens was murdered over domestic troubles. This theory, he told a representative of the News Record, Miami Oklahoma, is based upon information he has obtained from Mrs. Lizzie Stephens, the dead man's widow, who is being held in the city jail here as a material witness for an inquest, the date for which has not been set. The prosecutor said tonight that the trunk, which was found in the mine shaft yesterday, strengthened his murder theory substantially. The trunk was stolen March 21 from A. B. Siler at the Model rooms, 300 Picher Street. Mason said he had learned. The theft occurred just five days after Stephens had left the home of his brother, Price Stephens, at Afton Oklahoma, intending to go to Commerce Oklahoma. The trunk had holes cut in the ends, apparently for the arms and legs of the dead man to protrude, and the county attorney said he was convinced that Stephens was placed in the trunk after being slain and then thrown into the shaft, which is 300 feet deep. He said he believed the trunk was broken in the fall and the body floated to the top of 25 feet of water in the shaft. The investigation, carried to Kansas City Wednesday afternoon, was one day too late, Mason said. The man authorities are seeking left Kansas City Tuesday, according to Mason, and attempts are being made to trace him. County authorities still are holding Joe Stephens, 16 year old son of the dead man, and J. R. Phillips, a former boarder at the Stephens home at Oronogo, for further investigation. Mason said it was unlikely that either would be charged with murder. Both are being held in jail at Galena Kansas to separate them from Mrs. Stephens. Further arrests are expected within the next two days, according to the prosecutor.

Two men, arrested at Picher Oklahoma, are held in the county jail here under a charge of murder in connection with the death of Harve Stephens. Oronogo, ore hauler, whose body was found May 25 in the abandoned Silver Fox Mine, a mile and one-half northwest of Treece. They are John Yancey, 29 years old, and John Burke, 34. The murder charge was filed yesterday by A. L. Commons, county attorney, following an investigation lasting several days. A woman, booked as Blanche Strong, 20 years old, also is being held. She is said to be a material witness in the investigation which county authorities are conducting into the murder. The arrest of Yancey and Burke was made by Deputy Sheriff M. L. Woolsey of Picher upon information said to have been obtained from the woman, who was brought to the county attorney's office several days ago for questioning. Following a talk with the woman, Commons ordered her held and she was turned over to the custody of the sheriff. The Strong woman, who authorities believe is familiar with the details of Stephens' death, was reluctant to talk, it was said, but sufficient information was obtained from her to implicate Yancey and Burks and lead to their arrest. Details of the theory of the murder held by county authorities were lacking last night although they said they were positive that Yancey and Burke had a hand in the slaying. Robbery was the motive, according to Woolsey. He said Stephens was believed to have been killed when he resisted robbers, two of whom were Yancey and Burke, according to the theory. Woolsey said the investigation had determined that Stephens was robbed of about $75.00. The theory is that the murder occurred at Picher and that the slayers place the body in the trunk, which was found in the shaft, took it to the mine and threw it down the shaft. The trunk was identified as one stolen March 21 from A. B. Siler at the Model rooms, 300 Picher Street, Picher. The theft occurred just five days after Stephens had left the home of his brother, Price Stephens at Afton, for the mining District. The trunk had holes cut in each end, apparently for the arms and legs of the dead man to protrude, and authorities said they were convinced Stephens was placed in the trunk after being murdered and then thrown into the shaft, which is 300 fee deep. The long fall is believed to have broken the trunk and the body floated to the top of 25 feet of water in the shaft. They body was floating on the water when it was discovered by G. L. Childress, manager of the mine, and Squibbs Qualls of Galena when they went to the mine to investigate reopening it. The week following the discovery of the body Cherokee county Kansas authorities worked on the case day and night in the belief that the murder had been committed within Kansas, in the vicinity of the Silver Fox Mine. Several arrest were made in an attempt to solve the murder, but all person arrested were released and no charges were filed.