By Sydney Byerly
The Indiana Citizen
November 11, 2025
Nearly a century after the D.C. Stephenson trial exposed the violent corruption of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana, communities across central Indiana are reflecting on its legacy through art, history, and public dialogue.
The 1925 trial of D.C. Stephenson, the powerful Grand Dragon of the Indiana Klan, followed the abduction and assault of Madge Oberholtzer, a 28-year-old state education official. Oberholtzer’s dying statement, taken days after she was attacked, led to Stephenson’s conviction for second-degree murder on November 14, 1925. Once seen as untouchable, Stephenson’s downfall sent shockwaves through state government, revealing how deeply the Klan’s influence had reached.
Oberholtzer became a tragic symbol of resistance to that power. Her courage in documenting her ordeal helped unravel the Klan’s control of Indiana politics, where at its height, an estimated one-third of white native-born men in the state were members. Stephenson was sentenced to life in prison but was released on parole in 1950. He later violated his parole and returned to prison before dying in 1966.
To mark 100 years since the trial, Noblesville Creates, a nonprofit that supports local artists and coordinates community arts programs in Hamilton County, is staging an original one-act play in the very courtroom where the case unfolded — a space that still closely resembles how it looked a century ago.
Performances will be held at the Hamilton County Historic Courthouse (33 N. 9th St., Noblesville) on Nov. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 each.
Written by local playwright Ian Hauer, the play retells the story through the eyes of jurors and court staff, exploring the moral pressures they faced as they considered the verdict that ultimately helped unravel the Klan’s power in Indiana.
The production, developed with support from Hamilton County Historian David Heighway, includes interactive exhibit elements throughout the courthouse — historic photos, local artwork, and materials inviting audiences to reflect on the events while walking through the site of the original trial. Attendees can also tour the sheriff’s residence and jail before the show and join a post-performance discussion about the case’s legacy.
Ailithir McGill, executive director of Noblesville Creates, said the project grew from a desire to re-examine a defining moment in local and national history.
“This is one of the few times Noblesville truly stood at the center of national events,” McGill said. “The decisions made in that courtroom changed the course of history.”
She added that the combination of art, history, and place gives the production an emotional resonance that traditional lectures can’t match.
“It’s rare that a space like this still exists and is open to the public,” she said. “We felt an obligation to use it — to honor the past and invite reflection on how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.”
The play is the result of more than a year of collaboration among artists, historians, and local writers. Heighway provided access to archives and photos, while partners such as Leah Leach, executive director of The Gals Guide women’s history library, and author Charlotte Ottinger, who wrote a detailed biography of Madge Oberholtzer, offered historical and interpretive feedback on the script.
“We knew this was a difficult story to tell,” McGill said. “But our community has shown a real appetite for learning and confronting history through art.”
The Irvington Historical Society is hosting a year-long exhibit at the Bona Thompson Center that focuses on Dr. John Kaylor Kingsbury, a key figure in Madge Oberholtzer’s story and D.C. Stephenson’s conviction, highlighting his medical career, business ventures, and role in the case. According to the Indianapolis Public Library’s commemorative program page, the exhibit runs through February 1, 2026, at the Bona Thompson Center, 5350 University Ave. in Indianapolis.
The exhibit opened earlier this year alongside the unveiling of a new mural honoring Madge Oberholtzer. Both are housed in the only remaining building from Butler University’s former Irvington campus. Admission is free.
Programs continue through the end of November at Central Library, the Irvington Branch, and partner venues. More resources on the Stephenson trial and its impact are available through the Indianapolis Public Library’s McFadden Lecture Series online archive.
Sydney Byerly is a political reporter who grew up in New Albany, Indiana. Before joining The Citizen, Sydney reported news for TheStatehouseFile.com and most recently managed and edited The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News in southern Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism (‘Sco Griz!).
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.
