Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-06-15

Miss Myra Show had observed change In
prisoners appearance and conduct and
thought be was losing his mind. Miss Bes-
sic Albin had also noticed the change
Jno B. Miller, who had been intimate with
him, had seen change in appearance, man
ner, conduct and conversation, and pecu-
liarity in the eyes.
A. S. cambridge testified that Smootz
came to his home in September and said he
would be dead by seven that evening; show
ed him the letter he had sent to Mr.. Fer
rell, and told him that Ferrell had said he
would kill him unless he retracted state
ments in it; that he (Dandridge) had gone
to Terrell who denied having threatened to
kill the prisoner but had said he would
have to take the consequences if he didn't
retract Witness urged Ferrell not to at
tack SmOotz-that he and others believed
he had gone crazy on that one subject
Witness believed the statements made in
the letter to be false. Cross. examined:
Witness had had no suspicious as to his
sanity; doubted whether any man who COM
mitted such crime with certainty Of pun
ishment was sane.
Chas. T. Smooth, brother Of the prisoner,
detailed the actions of the accused subse-
quent to the killing and testified to his calm
ness. Said he had noticed the change in
his disposition, prior to the tragedy, from
genial and communicative to moody and
morose, and that it had been subject Of
comment in the family.
Jos. E. and Misses Emma and Alice
Smooth, brother and sisters of the prisoner,
all living together, testified to the change
in his conduct since last summer or fall
before which he had been bright and cheer
full.
Mrs. Vim. Grant, sister of the prisoner,
had observed the difference in the appear
ance and spirits of the prisoner when he
came to her house in HagerstOwn. She had
received letter concerning Ferrell's alleg-
ed threats; saying that he would be dead
by the time the letter was received, that
Terrell wouldn't let him prove the state
ments he had made and that he couldn't
take them back, and invoking curses on
witness aud her family and on Shows fam
lily. On cross examination she admitted
having written to the accused the following
letter
September Harry have heard of your
nice behavior and | am ashamed of you, and
don't believe one word you say about Susie
| did not think you would stoop to lie on any
oae. and if was Susie's father or brother
would thrash YOU until you would be glad to
keep your mouth shut; and If you come over
| here talking about shooting anyone | will have
YOU arrested myself Now about your coming
over here tonight. You stay at home and let
all hands have a rest: Now you cannot come
| to my house. Now mean what l say. What
would mother say to know you would ruin a
nice girl like Susie? You arc no gentleman
and am done with you.
Yours, JULIA"
Witness had never heard of threats to
shoot Susie but Mrs Show had told her that
Susie was afraid he might, and that he had
talked about her. Accused had denied it
all and asked her to intercede with Miss
Ferrelrs mother that he might marry her,
but Mrs. Terrell wouldn't consent and said,
"My daughter is not as crazy as Harry"
The defense introduced, as evidence Of
the insanity of the accused, several letters /;
the first being the letter from Smooth to
Charles Ferrell, which is unfit for publica-
ton. The second is from Miss Ferrell to
Smooth, "a follows;
HAGERsTowN, MD,
Monday, July ~, 1891.
Hurry l am not going to write a letter !
| feel in no condition since have received yours
/ TO write or do anything else. 1t is impossible
| for me to come home this week and prom
sed Mrs. Net to make something for her.
/ Even if l had not l could not come because
| they arenOt thinking of my coming home.
have no excuse and do not want any. l do
not want TO come home. | do want TO see my
dear, loving, trusting mamma. Ada b. can
sympathize with you because she only saw how
! treated you, but never how you acted with
me. She is the one to give you advice. Look
| how she treated and talked about Mr.. Eichel-
/ berger. | never will curse God and die, no
matter what YOU do; never He is my Maker,
my Saviour, and have found out that peo-
pie cannot die when they want There are
] things q thousand times worse than death
| Carrie did not tell you Sam King was coming,
| because he is not. She does not know when
he is coming not for a long time. Please ex-
cuSe writing. am so extremely nervous and
can scarcely see for crying. Carrie has gone
out l could not gold not feel able.
SUSIE"
Another was addressed to Charles Terrell
by Smooth;
" Chqs Ferell, Esq.
Sri have sent three copies of this letter
TO Hagerstown TO three different parties and
distributed five copies in Shepherdstown. You
should have gone little more mild for what
this letter tells you is so. II. f, SMOOTH"
In this was enclosed a copy of the letter
unfit for publication, copies of which were
also enclosed in each of the following let
tiers.
Letter to Frank Mcdaniel, Shepherds
town:
80, Former Friend;
when you read the enclosed letter which
is q copy Of one sent Mr.. Chas. Terrell you
Will perhaps say il is lie, but as coming from
that I have written and have sworn before
God and man that the letter is true. offered
10 marry Susie which was the only thing |
could do 10 right the wrong had done her,
but they would not listen TO me, and have
driven me TO my death and forced me to do
what l have done. Pray for me, and may God
prosper you in every way.
H. f. SMoorz"
"W erpsTowN Nm