Simon Stein was a beloved businessman and valued member of the community. Those who knew him casually remembered him to be a jovial, good humored fellow who was the life of the party. Those closest to him, however, saw a side that he reserved only for them…until the morning of his death at the age of 53 in Monroe, Louisiana.

Simon had started out his life in Germany and had spent his adulthood in Farmerville, Louisiana, making his fortune. He had married well to a Miss Pauline Blum and they had lovely children. He got on well with his brother-in-law Samuel and considered him a close friend. When Simon moved his family to Monroe to open and operate a hotel, Sam came along with them and settled there as well, working for a local business as a cotton seed buyer. In fact, Simon would routinely ask Sam to keep an eye on the family while he was out of town on business trips. Pauline enjoyed the company of her brother and, to outward appearances, everyone seemed happy.

But Simon was a drinker and probably suffered from a mental illness such as manic depression. He would have wild mood swings while drinking and take his anger out on Pauline. Sam would intervene and eventually came to be living with them as Simon had been known to threaten Pauline’s life. Pauline was not as concerned as she felt they were empty threats.

On the morning of June 22, 1895, Simon was on a hell of a bender. He had not slept in a couple days and was already drinking again early that morning. According to one witness, he had been drinking steadily over night. He was ranting to anyone who would listen that he was going to kill Pauline. Sam became very concerned and hid all weapons from Simon.

Enraged, Simon went to a local store and bellowed at the store clerk that he wanted to buy a gun. Things were a bit different back then and the store clerk being busy at the time told Simon to go behind the counter and pick out the one he wanted. Simon did as he was instructed but the store clerk asked him what he needed the revolver for. Simon Stein told the young man that he intended to kill Pauline and then go to Farmerville. But he could not leave for Farmerville until he was sure that Pauline was dead. Sensing that all was not right with Simon, the clerk took the gun away from Simon and told him to go back to the hotel and sober up.

Simon returned, still furious that he had not been allowed to kill his wife (for unknown reasons I might add). He attacked Sam Blum with a walking stick and Sam had had enough. He pulled out his own revolver and shot Simon three times. Any of the shots would have been fatal. Simon Stein lay bleeding on his dining room rug in front of horrified hotel guests.

The local doctor came out and pronounced Simon dead. Then for some peculiar reason, he cut the bullets out of Stein’s body. Blum was arrested but the first judge to look at the inquest felt that it was justifiable homicide as the victim was about to kill the slayer’s sister. The next inquest decided to indict Sam Blum for the murder. He was tried and convicted of manslaughter. But then in another turn of events, he was granted a new trial after his verdict was thrown out due to the jury separating during deliberations! He was not convicted at his second trial and was a free man.

Sam Blum later settled in Kenner, Louisiana and lived until the age of 41. He is buried in the Dispersed of Judah Cemetery in New Orleans.

Pauline Blum Stein moved to Galveston with her children and is buried in the Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery there. She died in 1932 at the age of 68.

Simon Stein is buried in Farmerville Louisiana in the Farmerville City Cemetery. His grave sort of aloof in the old Jewish section. I hope they have all found peace.