Friday, August 12, 2022

 ... that time Uncle "Steve", (Sheriff) Roland Stevens, Sr., played homicide detective...


UNUSUAL MURDER CASE IS DETAILED

Details of one of the most unusual murder cases in Mississippi were revealed Saturday by J.D. Pittman, of the Crawford Secret Service in Jackson.  A 32-year-old Jackson Negro and his 16-year-old sister-in-law are dead and the dead man's brother is in jail on a charge of murder as a result.  

In Copiah County jail is Robert Summers, 40, and the two dead are Nathan Summers and Louise Jackson.  The weird story began last Monday in Jackson, when Nathan took his 16-year-old sister-in-law out.  Nathan died of a heart attack while with the girl.  

On Tuesday, Robert took the girl to his father's home at Crystal Springs.  Robert said he and Louise wrestled over the gun, and as a result she was shot through the chest and killed.  Robert tried out the gun first, firing it once in the backyard.  The Negro's family contended that her death was suicide, but Sheriff Roland Stevens believed otherwise, since the body was found on a bed and there was no bullet hole in the sheet.  Not until Robert was placed in jail Thursday did they change their story.  

He was arrested when he came to Jackson Police headquarters to try to get his dead brother's car which had been impounded since Monday.  Robert made his confession Friday night in the presence of Sheriff Stevens, Pittman, P.R. Burney, Crystal Springs constable, Deputy Sheriff W.L. Beasley and Jailer Tom Bufkin.  He said his family wanted to "get rid" of Louise, and that they had an argument.

Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, 10 October 1954