Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-06-24
Smooth Sentenced to Death.
JUDGE FAULKNER ORDERS HIM TO BIZ
BANGED OCT. FOR KILLING MISS


JUDGE FAULKNER ORDERS HIM TO BE
HANGED OCT. Z FOR KILLING MISS
TERRELL.
CHARLES Town, W. VA, June 16.-1he
motion entered by counsel for a new trial
tor Harry T. Smooth, convicted of the
murder of Miss Susie c. Terrell. was heard
today by Judge L. Boyd Faulkner IN the
Circuit Court of Jefferson County, W.
submitted without argument.
The prisoner was brought into c0nrt,
every effort having been made TO keep the
proceedings quiet, hut in n few minutes
the news spread, and the courtroom
was we'll filled when the prisoner was
told by the clerk to stand up. In re-
Spouse TO the question Of the clerk,
whether he bad anything to say why the
court should not now pronounce Judgment
against him, the prisoner replied in an
audible voice Nothing at all, sir"
Judge Faulkner then began his remarks
to the prisoner, preparatory TO sentencing
him. The Judge spoke of the crime, the
defense of insanity interpOsed, TIE care
full and conscientious manner in which
the jury had weighed the evidence, aud
the unbroken attention given by them all
through the trial; the skill and ability
displayed by his counsel IN making out
the defense and conducting tho trial. But
it now became the duty of the court to
pronounce sentence, as the law directs. In
doing so the judge alluded to the fact that
the execution of the sentence would not
bring back the life of the innocent girl,
an only daughter and the idol of her par
erts, nor would 1t relieve the sorTowing
hearts OF her aged grandparents. So
ciety, Justice and law demanded a life IN
sucl cases. and when the prisoner fired
the fatal shot on that winter evening,
whether from hatred, passion, jealousy or
other cause, when his helpless victim was
surrounded by meTriment and joy, he
forfeited all clam to freedom ard life
The devotion of the brothers and sisters
of the prisoner was spoken of by the
iudge. and the sympathy OF the commun-
ity for them. he admonished the prisoner
of his time yet to humble himself before
that great Judge who rules with love and
mercy, and that by the honest, earnest
and sincere appeals alone of the prisoner
could he be heard in that court, and itI
was the hope of the judge that he might
folly realize bis condition aud prepare to
meet his God.
The Judge then sentenced the prisoner
to be hanged on Friday, October next,
between the honrs Of 10 and Pm the jail
yard at Charles Town aud the sheriff was
directed to execute the sentence. While
sentence was being pronounced the pris-
oner stood in a motiOnless manner and re.
ceived the judgment OF the coart without
the slightest failure of nerve.
His counsel served six bills of excep-
tions during the trial and an application
will be made to the Cont of Appeals for
4 writ of error to the Judgment OF this
court. -Four bills of exceptions 90 to the
serving as jurors on the case of Robert II.
Phillips. L. +. Cleyenger j. d. Clapp and
Frank n, Moler. The other two are to
the language used by the prosecuting at.
torney in his closing speech, the offence
given by the crowd at suoh remarks. and
the language heard by the Juror Robert
r. Smith on his way to the court house
from the hotel, after the case had been
closed ana argued, when be heard some
one say III You can't. We can" The
inror st lted that this language made no
impression upon him. The case has been
remarkable one i'm many respects
Twcpty-one witnesses were examined the
first day, AMI the whole trial occupied
five days, dung which sixty-;hree wit
nesses were examined.