The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-21
MISUNDERSTANDING
SMOOTH, The CONVICTED MURDER.
Err, 1iNNOvED.
a RIGHTEOUS VERDICT THOROUGH.
LIZ ~ HARMONY WITH
THE FACTS.

THE FACTs.
| We clip the following from the
Charles Town Advocate, issue Of June
liz, 1892:
The prisoner was brought into
lcourt on Thursday at 1850 for SEN
tence. When asked by the clerk il he
had anything to say why the sentence
Of the court should not be pronounced
against him, he huskily responded !:
"Nothing.n
| Judge Faulkner then proceeded to
pass sentence. He informed the pris-
oner that be had been indicted for the
murder Of Susie G. Terrell on the 2lst
of January, at Shepherdstown, to
which indictment he pleaded notguilty
that the real and only defence was
partial insanity, that jury after care
fully considering and weighing the
evidence, had found him guilty Of
murder in the first degree. That his
lcouncil, determined to do, everything
they could, had made a motion for a
NEW trial which the court felt com
Ipelled to over rule, and the duty Of
Imposing sentence according to law
devolved upon the court. The Judge
said that in his experience no case had
been more ably and skillfully conduct
led, and that council had done every
thing which they could legitimately
and properly do in the defense. That
all the evidence which might properly
benefit the prisoner was fully present
ed, and that no stronger appeals could
have been made in behalf of the ae-
cused. That the jury that tried him
was patient and attentive, and had
faithfully and conscientiouly dis
charged the unsouCht duty which de-
) volved upon them, that the execution
d Of the sentence, for the crime which
he had committed, could not bring
j back the life Of the innocent girl, MOI
! could It relieve the sorrowing hearts
Of the aged grandparents, or ali tn,
i vacant chair, but that society, justice
I'll and law, in snch cases, demanded .
} life for life. ,assz..,:sas..s
I'll When the fatal shot was fred BY you
(said Judge Faulkner in language 4.
near as we could get) on that cold win,
j ter eve, when all around was merri.
, ment and JOY, from hatred, passion,
} Jealousy or other canse, and the spirit
] Iof your helpless, frightened victim, III
the twinkling Of an eye, passed from
earth to heaven, you surrendered all
claim to freedom and life. The enormi-
| Ity Of your crime and the fearful con-
| sequences which follow from it, mnst
lnow be apparent to you. 1t is not
unkind for me to remind you 81 the
anguish, pain and suffering that you
have brought upon your own loving
, sisters aud devoted brothers, who ID
) your trouble, have stood nobly by You,
! and endeavored in every proper way,
to do what chey could to make the
burden brought upon yourself, as light
as possible. They have, and they well
deserve the sympathy Of all, and doubt
] less, had their advice been followed,
You would not be whore yon are to-day.
You yet have time to humble yourself
] before that Great Judge, and beg and
plead for mercy. No one can help you
there; your own honest, earnest APP
lpeals are all that can benefit you.
May you fully realize your condition
! | and prepare omeet your God, for what
! say means death, unless stayed by
THAT single tribunal which may review
| what has been done by, this court.
| 1t is therefore ordered by the court,
that You, the said Harry F. Smooth, be
hanged by the neck until you are dead,
and it is further ordered that the exc
cution Of this judgment be made and
done upon you, the said Harry f.
Smooth, by the Sheriff of jefferson
County on Friday, the 7th day Of 0c-I
tober, between theihours Of 10 in the
forenoon and two in the afternoon, IN
the Jail yard Of the jail in which you
are now confined, under the regula-
tions prescribed by law.
ThatnrisoneY re,oa;,,od 4, nn,o,,aa +,