Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-01-26
Awful Tragedy in ShePheIdstovnI
SUSIE TERRELL,
A Bright Pretty and Popular Young Lady,
Shot Dead on the Street!
HARRY M. SNOOTZ
The Author Of The Terrible Deed!

SnOckeu l3SG thursday evening by
the intelligence, flashed over the
wires, that Miss Susie Terrell, a
bright, pretty and popular young lady
of Shephsrdstown, had been shot,
dead on the street in that place by
Harry NJ. Smooth, a young man of the
same town; that Smooth had been ar
rested, and that Deputy Sheriff Nor
gan and posse were on their way to
Charles Town with the prisoner.
The facts of the case, as near as we
can get at them, seems to be that
Smooth, who is twenty-eight years of
age, was very much enamored with
Miss Terrell, an especially attractive
young lady of twenty-three years, and
desired her to marry him. This she
declined to do some time ago, but he
still persisted in efforts to attain his
object, and she as a consequence
tried to avoid him.
On Thursday afternoon Miss Fer
rclI, in company with an intimate
friend Miss Lucy Schoppert, was
coasting down German street for u
short while, and a young boy named
Myers then with them promised to
have his sled out there again after
supper and allow them to use it.
Shortly before seven O'Clock the two
young ladies walked over to German
street, but block away from Miss
Ferrel's home and proceeded towards
the top of the hill. They had not
gone far when they espied yonng
Smooth down at the crossing in
their rear, and concluding he was
following them, retraced their steps
and started diagonally across the
street to, avoid him. He, however,
came across from the other direction
and met them near the corner. He
took hold of Miss Terrell, and told
her to come to him, about the same
time drawing pistol. She appealed
to Miss Schoppert TO run for help,
and the latter ran down toward Main
street calling for aid, meeting Mr.. j.
w. Kearney near the end of the
square. In the meantime, there be-
ing no one present but some boys,
Smooth threw his left arm around Miss
Ferrell's neck and drawing her head
down, before aid could reach her fired
shot into her brain, death ensuing
Immediately. He then ran away and
went couple of blocks to the EntIe1
Hotel, where he met brother. To
the latter he said that he had shot
Miss Terrell, and asked him what he
J should do; should he shoot himself
The brother told him he was incapa-
BILE of advising him. Smooth then
went across to DIR. Stotler's office,
where the pistol Ga 38-calibre) was
gotten away from him and he was ar
rested by Constable Maddox. He
was taken TO Mayor Lemen's and Col.
w. A. Morgan, deputy sheriff, sent
for. A crowd of several hundred
persons soon assembled, and feeling
ran high. Col. Morgan, however,
addressed the throng, and by cool
Il determination and judicious manage
ment succeeded, with the assistance
OF Messrs. Maddox, Keys and others,
in bringing the prisoner safely to the
Jail in this place. D.. ~.
u a CoRoNER's INQUEST,
which was attended by States Attor-
ney F. w. Brown of this place, was
held on Friday, at which verdict
was rendered in accordance with the
above facts.
MIDDLEwAY GUARDS CALLED OUT.
As a precautionary measure, and
at the instance of the civil autbori-
ties, the Middleway Guards were sent
here by the Governor on Saturday
evening. There was, however, no
attempt at lynching, notwithstanding
false rumors current abroad.
THE PRISONER REMOVED.
The prisoner was on Saturday night
(having waived preliminary hear
ing) quietly taken from Jail here, con-
veycd in private vehicle to Berry
vile, and taken thence by the N. & w.
and c. & 0. railroads to Charleston.
THE FUNERAL OF MISS FERRELL on
4.- SUNDAY.
The funeral of Miss Susie Terrell,
at Shepherdstown on Sunday, was
probably the saddest and most i'm
pressive scene ever witnessed in this
county, and was attended by several
thousand people. The funeral SER
vices were appointed to be held in
the NJ. E. Church South at 2 o'clock.
Before one o'clock the crowd began
to assemble, and long before the fu-
neral cortege arrived the building was
packed from gallery to basement,
and hundreds stood on the streets