Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-02-03

SUSIE TERRELL, A BRIGHT, PRETTY
AND POPULAR LADY SHOT DEAD ON
THE STREET-HARRY NJ. SMOOTH,
THE AUTHOR OF THE TERRIBLE
DEED.
This community was terribly shock
last Thursday evening by the intelli-
gence, flashed over the wires, that Miss
Susie Terrell, bright, pretty and pop
ular young lady of Shepherstown, had
been shot dead on the street III that
place by Harry NJ. Smooth, young
man of the same town; that Smooth had
been arrested, and that Deputy Sheriff
Morgan 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 eaamored 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 consequence tried
to avoid him.
On Thursday afternoon Miss Terrell,
in company with an intimate friend Miss
Lucy SchOppert, was coasting down
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 a block
away from Miss Ferrell's home, and
proceeded towards the top of the hill.
They had not gone far when they espi-
ed young Smo otz 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 a
cross 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 a
pistol. She appealed to Miss Schoppert
to run for help, aud the latter ran down
toward Main street calling for aid, meet
ing Mr.. J. w. Kearney near the end of
the square. In the meantime, there
being no one present bnt 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 Entler
| Hotel, where he met brother. To the
latter he said that he had shot Miss
Terrell, and asked him what he should
| do; should he shoot himself? The
brother told him he was incapable of
advising him. Smooth then went "a
cross to DR.. Stotler's office, where the
| pistol "a 3S-calibre) was gotten away
| from him and he was arrested by Con-
stable Maddox. He was taken to May
or Lemen's and Col. w. A. Morgan,
deputy sheriff, sent for. A crowd of
several hundred persons soon assem-
| bled and feeling ran high. Col. Morgan,
however, addressed the throng, and by
cool determination and judicious man
agement succeeded, with the assistance
of Messrs. Maddox, Keys and others,
in bringing the prisoner safely to the
| Jail in this place.
A CORONER'S INQUEST,
which was atten ded by States Attor-
ney T. 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 precautionary measure, and at
the instance at the civil authorities.
| the Middleway Guards were sent here
by the Governor on Saturday evening.
| There was, however, no attempt at
| lynching, Notwithstanding false ru-
mors current abroad.
| THE PRISONER REMOVED.
The prisoner was on Saturday night
| (having waived a preliminary hearing,
| quietly taken from jail here, conveyed
in private vehicle to Berryville, and
taken thence by the N. & w. and G. &
| o. railroads to Charleston.
THE FUNERAL OF MISS TERRELL ON
SUNDAY.
The funeral of Miss Susie Terrell, al
Shepherdstown on Sunday, was prob
ably the saddest and most impressive
scene ever witnessed in this county
and was attended by several thousand
people, The funeral services were ap
pointed to be held in the NJ. E. Church
South at o'clock. Before one O'Clock
the crowd began to assemble, and long
before the funeral cOrtege arrived the
building was packed from gallery tC
basement, and hundreds stood on the
streets and upon the campus of Shep
herd College across the way Wher
the corpse was brought into the church
the scene was extremely touching anC
scarcely dry eye was to be seen-the
pitiful means of the poor mother
"Oh SUSIE" ''Oh /! my little girl,
touching tender chord and melting
even strong men to tears The coffir
was literally banked in choice flower,
and the boys of the Sunday Schoo
class of the. deceased bore rich anC
beautiful floral designs of various
forms. The chair usually occupied by
Miss Terrell in the choir was tastefully
draped in mourning, and told mutely
of vacancy in that department Of
church work.
The funeral services were attended
and participated in by Rev. J. r. Var
Horne of the M. E. Church South
Rev. Charles Gheislin of the Presby
teriau Church, Rev. D. M. Moser Of
the Reformed Church, and Revs. Ed
wards and Mcdaniel of the NJ. E.
Church.