Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-06-10
Harry Smooth, Who Killed
Miss Susie FerrelI, on
Trial fc| the Murder.
GREAT INTEREST IN THE CASE
The Courtroom Crowded with
Spectators.
The Prisoner Cool and Collected.

Smooth, on trial for the murder of
Susie Terrell in Shepherdstown last
January, was called. The court
room was crowded with men from
every section of the county-and two
women appeared as spectators in the
gallery.
The State and the defense both an
nouncing their readiness, the court
ordered the jurors to be called. as
follows: Charles Vanmeter, Robert
Smith, Thomas Callahan, John H.
Gruber, Charles Rau. G.. w. Benner,
]. D. Butler, J. w. Rider, Daniel
Link, II. b. MiddlekaufT, John Q.
Fleming, Benjamin Engle, James
Melvin, Miller Bane, Charles b.
Nichols. George Washington, Charles
Moler, J. d. Clapp, Robert H. Phil
lips, Frank n. Moler.
The court asked the following
questions OF each juror;
Have you any conscientious scru-.
Piles against intiicting the death pen
altyf
Have you any interest whatever in
the case,
Were you on the grand jury that
indicted the prisoner
Are you related to either the de
PENDANT or the deceased
Are you sensible Of any bias or
prejudice for or against the prisoner ?
Could you give the prisoner fair
and impartial trial!
Miller Bane and T. O. Link were
excused on the ground of their rela-
tionship to the deceased girl.
Charles Vanmeter. Robert Smith,
Thomas Callahan and John H. Cru
bur answered the questions salts
factorily and were accepted by the
court. Charles Rsu doubted very
much il he could give the prisoner
fair trial, and he was excused. &. w.
Benner had read the papers and
heard the subject talked of, but had
no positive opinion and was accepted.
J. d. Butler was also accepted after
answering the same questions. j. w.
Rider thought it would take the
strongest sort of evidence TO change
the decided opinion that he had
formed as to the guilt of the prisoner,
and the evidence would have to be
from the most reliable source. Mr..
Rider was excused forthwith. Daniel
Link thought he would not be able
to give the prisoner a fair and i'm
partial trial, and he was also rejected.
III. B. Middlekauff was accepted with
out much questioning beyond the
usual interrogatories John q. Elem
ing had read and talked of the case,
but his opinion was not positive one
and he was sure he could do the pris
oner justice. He was accepted. Ben
jamin Engle had formed an opinion
of the case when he first heard Of it,
but had none now. He was accepted.
James Melvin was accepted after
answering the questions satisfactory
ly. Charles B. Nichols and George
Washington had decided opinions
and prejudice against the prisoner,
and they were allowed TO depart.
Charles Moler thought he could rem
der fair verdict, but admitted that
his prejudices were pretty strong,
and 80 was excused. J. d. Clapp and
Robert H. Phillips had formed
opinions, but thought they could
render fair and impartial verdict,
and were accepted. Frank \. MOler
had formed an opinion at the time
FROM reading the newspapers, but
was impartial and unprecedented, he
thought, and could give just YER
dict. He was accepted.
The regular panel having been ex-
hausted, new names were drawn. L.
E. Clevenger had formed an opinion
at the time, but had no opinion now
that would prevent him from render
ing a verdict according to the evi-
dence. David Deck was excused
when he said that the prisoner would
have to prove his innocence or guilt.
o. J. Blackford came forward with a
smiling face, but he was afraid that
his prejudice was too strong against
the prisoner to do him justice, and
couldn't promise to render an Impair
tial verdict. Excused. Charles Ro-
senberger, Charles II. Johnston,
Lewis Clipp and James l.. Shew-
bridge answered all the questions
satisfactorily and were accepted.
Charles ID. Keplinger was the only
juror summoned who had conscien-
tious scruples against the death pen
atty being inflicted, and on that ground
was excused. w. A. Thompson and
John ID. Curry were the last two
jurors examined, for both were &C
cepted after answering the proper
questions.
The list of twenty jurors thus Sc
cured was handed TO the counsel, the
defense having the right to strike six
names and the State two. The names
of Thomas Callahan, q. w. Benner,
John q. Fleming, Benjamin Engle,
James Melvin, J. d. Clapp, r. H..
Phillips and John ID. Curry were
scratched of.
The twelve men in whose hands
the fate OF the prisoner was to rest
then took their places in the jury
box, as follows: Charles Vanmeter,
Robert Smith, Charles H. Gruber. J..
ID. Butler, H. b. Middlekauff, Frank
n. Moler, t. E. Cleyenger, Charles H.
johnson, Lewis Clipp, James L.
Shewbridge, William A. Thompson,
IL. Do.aDlo~