Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-01-30
A YOUNG LIFE SACRIFICED.

Thursday evening of last week
Shepherdstown was thrown into a
paroxism of excitement over the reck-
less shooting of young lady. 1t was
one of those cases of murder resulting
| from di5ordered mind and crazy
disposition arising from jealous love
affairs, broodiDg emotions, and read
4 ing and dreaming of ouch sensational
extremes. When the young man has
time to cool down in Jail, reflect seri-
| ousiy on his actions, he will see when
only too late that in forsaking the al
monitions of a good home and the
teachings of religion he has brought
death, sorrow and misery upon him
self and friends.
Some time about two years ago
Harry Smooth began to show pref
ence for Susie Terrell. She appeared
happy in his society, and they would
take long walks together, going to the
river, boating aud fishing. 1t went
along in this way for months, then
Miss Terrell went to visit Mrs. Show
in Hagerstown, with whom she was
almost considered a daughter. Miss
Carrie Show always treating her as a
sister. When she returned home
Smooth followed her and was as as
siduous with his attentions as ever.
But the girls mind had changed, she
no longer thought of him as she did
before, therefore, when be proposed
marriage she rejected him. He per.
sistently clung to her with the infatu-
alton almost of insanity.
Thursday evening VIII Myers asked
Miss Ferrell to go coasting with him
and she started with Miss Lucy Schop-
pert towards the hill where Myers
was to meet them. In turning the
corner of a street young Smooth ap-
peared and said he wanted to speak
to Miss Terrell. He caught her by
the hand and drew a revolver, when
she cried to Miss Schoppert to go for
held but before she had gone far the
report of a revolver was heard, and
Miss Terrell was found shot downward
| from the top of her head, dying in 30
minutes and never speaking. Drs.
Tanner, Reynolds and Butler exam
ined the wound. Excitement ran
high and Smooth who threatened to
shoot himself was taken 10 a
hack to jail at Charlestown.
Miss Susie Ferrell was born in
Shepherdstown and lived there all
her life, except for visits that she
paid outside for short time and at
long intervals. She was the only
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Terrell. having a grandfather and
grandmother Ferrell living and a
brother, William. These she leaves
to mourn her sudden and frIghtful
loss. Her mother is crazed with
grief, and fears are entertained that
she will not regain her mind. The
suddenness of the shock, seeing a
bright, interesting and pretty daugh-
ter go out an hour before and then
brought in corpse cut down by the
cruel bullet of an assassin has left her
father and brother in an almost de-
ranged state. The girl as far as per-
sonal appearance goes, was rather tall,
with slender figure, and a rather
sharp face. Her eyes were black and
her hair of the same color. Her age
was but % This girl had endeared
herself to all with whom she came in
contact Every body was devoted to
her and looked up to her as a woman
of strong character and christian life.
This is not the first blow that has
struck this family of unfortunate peo-
PIE, for they lost a son but few
months before.
Harry Smooth is a painter by trade
and a man Of about rs years of age,
of good instincts and well brought up.
His family consisted of a sister, Mrs.
Grant, who is the wife of William
Grant an engineer on the G. V. r. r.,
and lives in Hagerstown. Also a sis
ter Alice, who lives with MIR. Show
in that place, and three brothers,
Laurence, who lives at Harrisburg,
Pa, Charley and Joseph who live at
home. He is about five feet five
inches in height with red hair, and
sandy moustache. He weighs about
Il5 pounds, and is man whom the
people of Shepherdstown thought
much of III every way. He was OF
strict sobriety and honest dealings.
His family are in the depths of de-
spondency over his fearful act.
Mr.. Chas. Terrell, the unhappy
father of the girl, was in the Color
Company of the Second Virginia
regiment, or the Stonewall Brigade.
Ex-Judge Henry Kyd Douglas was
his captain.
The sister, Alice, of Heny Smooth
has not as yet regained consciousness.
but is in the stupor into which her
brothers horrible act cast her, and
grave fears are entertained that she
being III weak state, may never re-
cover from the blow even if she should
live. The mother of the girl is said
by those who saw her to be absolute
ly insane, and calls on the corpse Of the
dead girl to speak, to wake up. 1t
seems that she cannot realize that
she is dead. Then in anguish the
poor mother throws herself on the
floor, tearing her head and crying
and screaming. She has heen driven
insane. The father, though more
pfOiool cbnrc h,t litflo