The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-08
'NERVOUsAND EXCITED
HARRY SMOOTH on TRIAL, FOR 4
BOLD MURDER.
THE JURY IS SELECTED.
THE MURDERER OF MISS TERRELL
IN LEGAL CLUTCHES.
HISTORY OF THE KILLING CHAR
LEsTowN CROWDED WITH SPEC
TAroRs-ISsANIrY THE
PRISONERS DEFENSE.

IAI0AAS-lNSANlE1 THE
PRISONERS DEFENSE.
Special 70 THE Womb.
CHARLEsTowN, W. VA, June S.
The crime for which Harry F. Smooth
is to be tried was committed on Thurs
day evening, between Q and Z o'clock,
January 81, in Shepherdstown. Smooth
met his victim, Miss Susie G. Terrell,
in company with friend. Miss Lucy
Schoppert, ON one of the principal
streets and, grasping both hands Of
Miss Terrell, said he wished to speak
with her. She told him not touch her
and exclaimed to her friend. Lucy,
run for help. He has a revolver As
Miss Schoppert started to run away,
Smooth told her il she ran he would
shoot her, but she did not heed HIM.
She rushed for assistance and gave
the alarm. In moment a colored
man came to the rescue Of the young
lady, whom Smooth was still holding,
although she struggled frantically to
to release herself. With wave Of
the revolver he compelled the colored
man to remain at distance. Putting
his left arm around her neck, Smooth
placed the mnzzle Of the 3S-caliber re-
volver to the top Of her head and sent
: ball through her brain, killing her
instantly. Her lifeless body fen upon
the snow at his feet. In 4 few mimi
ties James w. Kearney and T. h.
Davis, two citizens Of the town, arriv-
ed where the body lay and carried it
into the residence of Rev. A. A. p.
Neal, where it was discovered that life
was extinct. Drs. Al. s. Reynolds and
!. s. Tanner soon arrived, and an ex-
animation of the wound showed that
the HAIR had been burned by the fame
from the revolver and that the ball had
penetrated the brain or head, the
physicians not being able to locate Ii.
SEnootz turned from the dead body
Of his former sweetheart, for such she
had been, and went to the Butler Ho-
tel, where he met his brother Charles.
He told his brother of the deed and
asked him if he should commit suicide.
His brother replied that he could give
him no advice. Together they started
homeward, but stopped at the Office Of
DR.. Stottler, where Smooth several
times placed the revolver to his head
and breast, but did not have the nerve
to end his own life. He threatened to
shoot any one that should attempt to
arrest him. BY promising to protect
him from violence, DR.. Stottler induc-
ed him to give up the revolver. a
constable soon after entered the Office
and arrested Smooth. He made no
resistance to the arrest, but asked to-
be protected from the father Of Miss
Terrell. He was taken to the Office Of
the mayor and in d fewminutes large
and excited crowd gathered in front
Of the office and threats Of lynching
were made. BY the efforts and cool
Judgment Of Deputy Sheriff Col. W.
A. Morgan, assisted by those whom he
called to his aid, the crowd was per-
suaded to use no violence, and the
prisoner was hurried into hack and
driven distance Of eleven miles to
the jail at this place. For several
days after the murder it was feared
the jail would be attacked by mo b
and the prisoner lynched. He was re.
moved from the Jail at night and kent
under guard. The feeling against the
prisoner was so intense that one night
the Jail was guarded by a company Of
State militia until the prisoner could
be taken to the railroad station to be
convened to Charleston, w. Va.
where he was kept several days until
the feeling abated, At the February
term of the court he was brought to
this place for trial, but the sudden
death of the judge, Hon. Joseph S.
nuckwall, caused = postponement Of |
his trial for that term.
The cause Of his crime is said to be
unrequitted love. About two years
previous to- the murder Smooth began
to pay attention to Miss Ferrell, and
it IS said by his friends, she encour-
aged his suit for more than a year.
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