Murder Part IISo when we last left our murder mystery story, young Alvin Heaton Jr. had just heard the guilty verdict and was led “impassively” from the courtroom to begin his sentence at the Utah State Prison. The jaws of the penitentiary yawned wide and now they were about to slam shut on Alvins' future. The jury had heard the tale of how young Mary Stevens was waiting for her boyfriend Alvin to arrive, hopeful that he would do the honorable thing and marry her. But rather than a proposal, she got three slugs in the back and then a fourth to make sure she was indeed dead. It was without a doubt, premeditated, cold blooded murder. But as heinous as the crime was, a life sentence in the “big house” for a young teenage boy is a gut wrenching picture.
More BackgroundAs you recall the jury wanted to impose life imprisonment with a recommendation to mercy. The judge mentioned that no such thing existed and sent them back to reconsider. When they eventually returned the verdict was announced as life imprisonment with hard labor. Alvin was unmoved at hearing the verdict and the next morning he was brought before the court and asked if he anything to say before the penalty was imposed. The newspaper reporter stated that young Heaton “evidenced no sign of emotion” and that although a “
scene of drawn out emotion was expected between the parents and the boy, nothing of the kind happened”. All seemed matter-of-fact and stoic.
It was the morning of January 30th 1909, a Saturday, when Alvin Heaton Jr. left town by train. He was in chains, accompanied by guards, and bound for the Utah State Penitentiary to begin his life-long confinement.
Actually there may have been good reason why no one seemed overly concerned, but before we get into that story we should learn more of the supporting cast.
Alvin Heaton Sr.From Utah State death records we learn that Alvin’s father died of cancer only a few months later on Aug 10, 1910. According to probate records his estate was valued at $30,000, which would be equivalent to about just under $800,000 in today’s dollars. His son Jonathon was appointed as administrator of the estate.
See report.Ezra StephensWe know little about Ezra Stevens, father of the victim Mary Stevens. But some reports show that he may have been a bit “difficult”. Whether his disposition changed to mean and bitter after his daughters death, or was always that way, is a matter we can only guess. He ran afoul of the law and was later convicted of
murder (his own brother in law!) His prison term began on or about Sept 7, 1922. It is interesting to note that while being escorted to the Penitentiary he and the sheriff, while traveling north to the state penitentiary, stopped in Richfield for a bit of social chatting and a brief news conference. Check out the report
HERE.
Mary SteavensMarys last name is variously spelled either "Steavens" or "Stevens" and I am unable to determine which is correct. Some insights into her nature and character are found in the the journal of David Rust, who was a teacher at Orderville during the tragic events. See journal excert
Here. According to Rust, Mary was the best of the class academically. Sometime after the murder he asked the Board to send to Mr. and Mrs. Steavens Mary's grades which reflected that she was the top student in
all subjects.
See request.A class paper written by Mary shortly before her untimely death was published in the newspaper. It offers glimpses into the thoughts of this young girl and how she viewed life and those around her. See
Mary Steavens Class Paper.
Back to Alvin Jr…..Seven years elapsed before Heaton made his first appeal for a pardon in 1916. Here is his 1916
1916 application. And what would a good appeal be if there weren’t a supporting cast of other documents? When the appeal didn’t fly, the next round was fired, I mean filed, in 1917.
Addl documentsmore addl documentsJust to complete some thorough research, see Ezra’s
opinion of the whole deal.
The second appeal was apparently successful, although the written pardon document seems to have been misplaced for no record of it can be found. Alvin Heaton walked quietly out of the “jaws of the penitentiary” into mainstream life sometime in 1917. He had served nine years total for a brutal murder. No newspaper can be found that even makes a slight mention of the pardon.
Life on the OutsideAs required of all men of appropriate age, Alvin registered for the draft on May 17, 1917, and listed his mother as a dependent, his occupation as farmer, and his address in Provo Utah.
Alvin jumped back into life with his new freedom. He married Berniece Hindmarsh on October 5, 1917 in Salt Lake City. She had just turned 18 one week previously. They had a son born on 19 Dec 1918, but he died the same day. The
US Census of 1920 showed them living next to (or with) her parents in Provo, Utah. His occupation had now been updated to waiter. He was 29 and Bernice was 21. A second son was born to them in February 1921 and named Gerald.
The written records were silent from that time until July 2, 1924. On that day Alvin Heaton Jr. died in an odd car accident just north of Orderville. He was traveling back to town along with a brother and two friends, when the car ran off the road on the steep switchback north of town. According to the newspaper he was accompanied by his brother and his two friends Joseph and Howard Chamberlain. These three companions walked away unscathed.
STORY of ACCIDENT. The switchbacks north of Orderville on highway 89 were narrow and treacherous.
Addl Article No death certificate was found for Alvin.
Here is some bonus information to help you appear erudite when dicussing the story:
Pictured above is a 1917 Model T Ford. It could easily have been the same model of car that the four men were riding in when the accident happened. In the year of the accident, 1924, nearly 9 out of 10 cars on the road were Fords. The Model T had a top speed of 45 miles an hour under ideal conditions. It was built with a crude suspension system, wooden spoke wheels, and mounted with the simplest of tires. Going downhill on a switchback road at night would have tested the driver and car severely.
AFTERMATHThe brutal death of Mary Steavens remained an issue with many of the folks of southern Utah for quite some time. Read this haunting ballad that is part of the local forklore, written by an unknown author.
POEM Also note that some facts are sacrificed in favor of a better rhyme.
More than a few folks felt that justice was not done right by the legal system, and it was because Alvin came from a prominent family and Mary did not. They argue a classic case of favoritism towards a privileged class. I suppose one would have to know more about the social structure of the town to pass judgement on that theory. Then there are others that propose that true justice was simply delayed and had to wait for divine intervention in the form of an auto accident. The odd circumstances of the accident and that three companions walked away, might cause one to believe that God had some earthly help. That is a possibility that haunts me.
CLOSING REMARKSThis has been an interesting bit of research and I have enjoyed it all. But I also grieve for two young people and the tragic decision to cover up a mistake by taking a life. I think also of the untold lives that have been hurt and severely damaged by that action. There is probably no end to the sorrow that that spilled forth from Orderville in that fateful month of May 1908. We should remember and learn, for those that forget history are doomed to repeat it.
But this is where I leave off and assign any additional research to the reader. Please post your theories, thoughts, and ideas in the comments section. Good luck!
An Open Letter to all Gophers in my Backyard
