Madison County MO Archives News.....John Duncan Confession June 4, 1821
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kimberly Morgan http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008471 August 26, 2025, 2:38 am

Newspapers.com Online June 4, 1821
John Duncan was the 2nd person that received a death sentence for the brutal 
killing of Jacky B. Stephens, his wife, and two sons.  This article is in the 
public domain, it is 204 years old.

Trigger warning:  involves graphic testimony relating to the manner of death 
involving children.  No corrections to grammer or sentence structure

From the St. Genevieve Correspondent
CONFESSION

Of John Duncan (4 Jan 1800-5 Apr 1821), who was executed on 5 Apr 1821 at St. 
Michael’s, Madison County, for the murder of J. B. Stevens, his wife and two 
children on 13 Dec 1820.

I, John Duncan, now confined in Madison County Jail, and condemned to be hanged 
on the 5th day of the present month of April, for the murder of Jacky B. 
Stephens, his wife, and two sons, do give freely to the world all the 
circumstances relative to the murder of the aforesaid Stephens and family, to 
wit:

I arrived at Fredericktown on or about the 29th Sep 1820, and made Samuel 
Anthony’s house my home.  About two weeks from thence, I went to David L. 
Carruthers, and remained at said Carruthers about five weeks, at which place I 
had my washing done, until I started to leave the country.   From thence I went 
to William Anthony’s, and remained there and at David L. Carruthers’s and Samuel 
Anthony’s, and remained there and alternately, until 13 Dec 1820, it being the 
day that Stephens and family were murdered.  About one week after my arrival at 
Samuel Anthony’s, said Anthony mentioned to me, that John Bowman “Jacky” 
Stephens (16 Apr 1787-13 Dec 1820, age 33) was suspected of having stolen a sum 
of money from David L. Carruthers, and that he (Anthony) Carruthers, and others, 
had, on suspicion, taken said Stephens and whipped him for the purpose of making 
him confess the theft but have been unable to make him do so; although they had 
given him about three hundred lashes!  I (Duncan) replied to said Anthony, that 
I thought they were wrong in whipping him so much; that after a certain number 
of lashes, the flesh would become numb, and could not be felt.  Anthony then 
enquired of me what plan I would adopt to make him confess?  I replied, that I 
would have built a fire, and placed the bottoms of his feet so near it as to 
burn then; or I would dig a grave, and take him to it under the pretense of 
burying him alive.  To which Anthony observed, that the plan was a good one.  I 
further observed, that if Anthony and others would take Stephens into the woods, 
I would yet make Stephens confess.  Some few days after this conversation, said 
Anthony told me that he had spoken to George Nifong, and that if I would go to 
Nifong, he (Nifong) would assist me to get Stephens out, for the purpose of 
making him confess.  I went accordingly to Mr. Nifong’s, and mentioned to him my 
business, and that Anthony had sent me.  Nifong answered, that not much ought to 
be said about it, that it should be kept a secret.  I replied to Nifong, that I 
was going to David L. Carruthers, and would be there in the evening, when and 
where if he would attend, we could converse on the subject.  He promised that he 
would meet at said Carruthers; and did accordingly meet me there the evening of 
the said day.  Previous to Nifong’s arrival at Carruthers, said Carruthers came 
home, and brought with him a spade.  On my asking him what he was going to do 
with the spade, he  said, to dig a grave.  I also asked him, if he had heard of 
the arrangement made by Anthony Nifong and myself, to get Stephens out for the 
purpose of making him confess to the taking his (Carruthers’s) money, to which 
he made no reply.  After Nifong came he sat sometime in the house and started 
home.  When David L. Carruthers and I followed him to Carruthers’s draw bars, I 
named the subject of taking Stephens out; Nifong replied, that he had got into 
one difficulty and did not wish to get into another, and that if he did 
undertake it, it must be done so quick as not to be discovered; and then Nifong 
left Carruthers and myself alone; we remained a short time.  As we started to 
return to the house, I observed to Carruthers, that if he (Carruthers) would 
give me something handsome, I would put him (Stephens) out of the way; to which 
he answered, that it was more than he dared to do, to hire me or any other man 
to kill him but said, that if I or another person would put him out of the way, 
so that he could not remain longer in the country, that all the regulators would 
for such a person, make up a handsome sum.  Said Carruthers further stated, that 
if he (Carruthers) had no family, and were he in my situation, he would himself 
put Stephens out of the way, and slip off—that no person would follow him and 
that if I would do it, or any other person, there would be no danger of me or 
them being pursued; that even Stephens’ own brother would not follow, as 
Stephens was so much disliked generally.  Stephens was a stranger to me, nor 
should I, in all probability, ever have known him, had it not been from the 
persuasions of said Carruthers and Anthony, and their frequently insisting on my 
going to see him, for the purpose of taking Stephens out.  At length I did 
consent and determined to kill Stephens; and went to Stephens’s under the 
pretense of purchasing his land.  When I arrived at Stephen’s and went into the 
house, I determined not to kill him.  After having sat a while, Stephens 
inquired if I had come to look at his land?  I answered yes.  He then took hold 
of my gun, and observed that he would set her in the room until we shall have 
returned.  I told him no, perhaps we might see something to shoot.  We then 
started to view his land, in the direction of Mr. Fulton’s.  Soon after we had 
started, in company with his little son, the dogs tree’ d a rabbit.  Stephens 
cut a hole to twist was in the act of twisting out the rabbit, I concluded to 
kill him, stepped back for that purpose about ten feet, and cocked my gun, but 
my heart failed me, and I concluded not to do it.  Stephens then stopped up the 
rabbit, and the little boy went to the house for an axe.  We then proceeded to 
look at the land.  After walking some distance near together (but I walked 
behind) I presented my gun and shot him.  He fell instantaneously, and cried “O 
Lord!”  I replied to him with an oath, that I had come three hundred miles for 
the express purpose of ending his days.  I then struct Stephens with the barrel 
of my gun, put her down and took Stephens’ gun, and struck him several times 
with his own gun, after which I cut his throat.  I then went to the branch and 
washed off the blood, and loaded my gun.  After having killed Stephens, I 
reflected that Stephens’s wife and children were in the way of my getting 
Stephen’s money, and believing that he had a large sun, as David L. Carruthers 
had frequently told me that Stephens must have fifteen or sixteen hundred 
dollars, I determined first to kill the older boy (Humphry Stephens 1810-1820, 
age 9-10), who was returning with the axe.  I went to him, and then with him to 
the tree where the rabbit was.  After getting to the tree I desired the boy to 
hold his head at the hole at which the rabbit went in.  He did so; when I struck 
him with the axe on the side of the head several times; which killed him.  I 
then went to Stephen’s house, and told Mrs. Stephens (Elizabeth Taylor Stephens 
1790-1820, age 29-30) that Mr. Stephens wanted her to go [sic] the corner of the 
land for the purpose of being a witness.  Mr. Stephens started immediately with 
me, followed by her youngest child, a boy (John Stephens 1812-1820, age 7-8).  
We proceeded on through the woods, some short distance from the plantation, when 
I snapped my gun several times at her.  She at that time, turned about and said, 
“O, Duncan, don’t do that!”  I then knocked her down with my gun, and cut her 
throat.  I then caught the young child, and cut his throat.  I then, as before, 
went to the branch and washed my hands, and started to the house, with the 
determination of killing the two little girls.  On the way I saw Warren 
Stephen’s (Warren Wilcox Stephens (16 Feb 1784-Nov 1854, age 69 is the brother 
of Jacky and WikiTree indicates that Warren had two sons, not sure which one 
this is) son, and paused for some time whether I would kill him or not, and 
concluded that I would not; but would go to the house, take what money I could 
find, and make my escape.  On arriving at the house, I told the little girl that 
her father wanted his money, and sent word to her to send it by me.  The girl 
(Mary E. Stephens Doolin (1811-24 Oct 1850, age 9 when her parents and brothers 
were married) and myself searched a chest, and I found and carried off sixty-
eight dollars; which is to the best of my recollection, all that is material.  
Given under my hand on 4 Apr 1821.  John Duncan

N.B. I was born in Albemarle County, Virginia 4 Jan 1800, and was raised in 
Sumner County, Tennessee, where my father now lives.  J. D.
[As we understand that this is a literal copy of the criminal’s confession, made 
to some of the magistrates of Madison County, we do not think it proper to make 
any corrections, or alterations of the phraseology, but give it as we received 
it]


Transcribed by Kimberly Taylor Morgan, Source: From the St. Genevieve 
Correspondent—John Duncan Confession, Missouri Intelligence, Mon, Jun 4, 1821, 
Pages 1-2, Newspapers.com online, https://www.newspapers.com/image/338260583/?
terms=duncan, accessed 24 Aug 2025

Additional Comments:
Trigger warning:  involves graphic testimony relating to the manner of death 
involving children

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