publicly a prohibitionist and a defender of "protestant womanhood," stephenson was tried in 1925 for the rape and murder of madge oberholtzer, a young state employee who ran a state program to combat adult illiteracy. during the trial, the klan's image as upholders of law and morality were gravely weakened as it was proven that stephenson and many of his associates were in private womanizers and alcoholics. the scandal of the charges and trial led to the rapid decline in the "second wave" of klan activity. stephenson was convicted of the abduction, forced intoxication, and rape of oberholtzer. his abuse led to her suicide attempt while she was still in his captivity. because the suicide attempt eventually caused oberholtzer's death, stephenson was also charged with murder.