Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-01-29
4 [ oveIy Girl Instantly Killed by>a
Rejected Suitor.
THE MURDERER ARRESTED.
Removed to the Kanawha Coun-
ty Jail for Safe Keeping.
THE STORY OF THE AWFUL CRIME

ever been enacted in Shepherdstowi
occurred last Thursday evening, whei
Susie Cameron Terrell, the only daugh
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Terrell
was shot and instantly killed by Hal
ry f. Smooth, her rejected love.
Never was such a dreadful eriIe
known in this quiet town. Never
were the people SO stirred up and *
cited. Never has such Overwhelming
indignation been manifested, nor sth
universal sympathy for the sufferers
expressed.
The REGISTER presents TO its reid
ers to-day the thrilling story of 'he
crime and the events that led up TO
its enactment. No fiction is necesa-
nv nor establishment of words-the
awful truth is sufficient of itseli to
claim the closest attention.
THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY.
Some two years ago Harry Smooth
began to pay attention to Miss Susie
Terrell. She was friendly with him.
as with others of the young men of
her acquaintance. Their friendship
grew stronger, but was not of such
character as to attract more than
passing attention. Last summer Susie
visited Miss Carrie Show in Hagers-
town, with whom she had long been
intimate. Smooth was also there, os-
teDsibly in search OF employment. He
became jealous Of the attention that
the bright and attractive girl re-
ceived from her young friends there,
and showed such an ugly feeling that
Miss Susie's friendship was turned to
repugnance. When he saw that he
was losing her esteem he became more
annoying TO her, and finally allowed
himself to be guilty of such acts of
meanness that he earned the con-
tempt and disgust of the young lady
and all who were aware OF the state
Of affairs. Miss Susie was in Hagers-
town long time, and when she re-
turned to Shepherdstown Smootz also
came back home.
From that time be began to follow
Miss Susie and TO dog her footsteps
until she feared TO go on the streets
alone. Always keeping within the
pale of the law, he prosecuted her con-
tinually, in vain endeavor to make
her listen to him. She refused TO have
anything TO do with him. Smooth
persisted in his attempts, and by day
and night lurked around the streets
in his endeavors to make her resume
the friendship Ii was only by the
constant pleading and ofttime forcible
restraint Of friends that her father and
brother were prevented from assault
ing the man, who courted such an en-
counter doubtless with the purpose OF
killing one or both Of them.
THE APPALLING DEED.
Last Thursday evening Miss Susie
Terrell and Miss Lucy Schoppert, who
were on terms Of the most intimate
friendship, were together at the home
OF the former. Will Myers, who was
in Miss Susie's Sunday School class
and devoted to her, called, as he had
often done, TO invite them to go coast
ing. BY the time they were ready,
however, Will had gone on with his
sled. The two girls went around to
the New street hill, which extends
from the Episcopal Rectory down past
the Neel house to the run. AS they
went up the hill they saw some one
following. Susie said, 20, Lucy
There is Harry Smootz. am afraid. "
They went quickly to the top of the
hill, where number OF young folks
were, but saw nothing of Will Myers.
Smooth stood on the pavement, while
they were on the other side of the
street. To avoid him, the two girls
ran down the middle of the street.
lie followed after.
Seeing him coming closely behind
them, they attempted to run into the
clearinghouse OF Rev. A. A. p. Neel,
on the corner Before they reached
the pavement, however, Smooth was
upon them and had seized both OF
Susie's hands in his. He said TO her !:
Susie, i have something TO say to
you"
She cried out, do not touch me J"
And then, seeing revolver i'll his
right hand. she exclaimed: "Oh, Lucy,
run for help. He has a revolver"
Lucy stepped to Susie's side, and
saw Smooth with the revolver laying
against his breast, while he held the
doomed girl in a vise-like grip with
the other hand. Susie again cried
out:
Please, please, Lucy, run for help
wont your
Lucy turned to do as she was asked,
when Smooth called TO her that il she
moved he would kill her. But the
thoroughly frightened girl ran like
the wind 10 seek assistance.
by this time a young colorsd man
ha,ned Henry Staley and several boys
had reached the spot where Smooth
he'd the struggling girl, but he forced
them away with the cleaning, deadly
revolver. Then the murderer, putting
us left arm around the poor girls
meek, drew her irresistibly to him, and
placing the nnl,, n,nzzla l,f tho % en- IL