Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-23
SHOT IN COLD BLOOD.
A ShepherdStOWn Lover Murders His
Sweetheart in the Street.
he PROPOSED MARRIAGE TO HER
Bat She Rejected Him and the Murder Was the
Rssglt-Ths Young Nan Comes Of Good Fam
lily and is Well KnOwn-His Victim was
. Prominent Member Of Society.
sBseio, Tslegran to ths R.gi,tsr.

CHARLESTOwN, W. VA, January %
UnreQUited love was the cause Of a terrible
tragedy at ShephardstOwu, ten miles north
OF this place, yesterday evening, by which
the people Of that town were thrown into
fever OF excitement.
Harry NJ. SmOOts, young man about %
years Old, shot and instantly killed Miss
Susie FerrellS, a prominent society young
lady, on the corner Of one Of the public
squares OF the town.
For uore than year SmOOts had been
desperately in love with Miss Ferrells,
who was ABOUT 20 years old, and 10 is said
that last August she discarded him.
Since that time he has haunted her move
ments on several occasions, threatening her
life II she should continue 70 refuse his Of
fer Of marriage. About 8 o'clock yesterday
evening be met her in company with a
friend, a Miss SChOppert, on the corner, and
taking his sweetheart by the hand drew a
revolver. which he pointed az his own
breast, saying to her, "NOw I've got you
where / want yOu.n
Miss FerrellS screamed and told Miss
Schoppert 70 run for help. When Miss
BchOppert started SmCOts turned towards
her and told her if she screamed he would
shoot her too. She then ran for help.
SmoOts then held a minutes converse
ton with Miss Ferrells and putting his left
81
in his right hand placed il 70 the back Cf
her head and fired
She fell unconscious at his feet and never
spoke afterwards She was dead when
picked up.
Shortly after the shooting Smoots ran
down street 20 the hotel and seems 20 have
contemplated suicide He met his brother
al the hotel and told him of the shooting
and asked him what he should do, whether
be should kin himself.
His brother said he could give him no
advice. The murderer then went across
the street 20 the dental OifiCe of Or. StrOt-
Ter and gave him the revolver with which
he had taken his sweCtheart'S life. in this
O,lice he was soon after arrested and taken
before the Mayor of the town. In less
than half an hour about three hundred peO-
pie. among whom were many Of
the best citizens of the town,
had gathered around the building
where the pr sOuyr was temporarily held,
and. having a rope ready, were determined
TO lynch hlm, but Deputy Sheriff Caldwell
A. Morgan appeared and addressed the
crowd, and finally prevailed upon them 70
let the law take It's course.
The prisoner was then removed 20 this
place aud confined in the county jail An
Inquest was held to-day over the body or
the unfortunate young lady, and a verdict
was rendered by the jury in accordance
with the above facts.
Mr.. Charles Ferrells, the father of the
Young LADY, was not at home at the time OF
The shooting, out arrived soon after. II he
had been on the sceuCit is thought it would
have been impossible TO restrain the
crowd from lyuchjug SmOOts.
The Young lady's mother is so distracted
over the crime that 10 is thought she VII.
never recover her reason. The families OF
the two principals 70 this tragedy are nigh
lv respected and well known in this county.
The Young mans father and mother are
dead, but he has several brothers and sis
tiers. Opinion is dividediUpOu the question
of his sanity. He will be given pre!iml-
nary hearing and held for the grand jury TO
answer an indictment for murder. This IS
the first murder that has occurred in this
county for several years.