The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-03-09
ROSS POWELL GETS LIFE I'M
PRISON NMENT.

PRISONMENT.
After deliberating two hours and d
half the jury early Friday night re-
turned verdict OF guilty OF murder
with recommendation to mercy in the
case Of Ross Powell, who killed his
wife, Emily Powell, at Glenwood cot
ton mill in Easley on October a last
A sentence of life imprisonment was
Immediately imposed. The defense
announced that no appeal would be
taken. Powell's defense was insanity.
The case was started Wednesday,
Powell, it was charged, went to the
mill where his. wife was at work and
slashed her throat from ear to ear
with a razor, killing her instantly.
Following is substance of Ross
Powells testimony:
81 was 20 years old last June and
am the son of Mr.. and Mrs. r. p.
Powell. l have lived at Anderson and
Easley and have worked in Greenville
but never lived there, only boarding
during the time stayed there.
"I have continually had headache
and earache Sometimes these spells
would last SO long as to be unbear-
able. The last attack was about two
weeks ago, since being in Jail.
"After marriage / lived happily
with my wife for six or seven months,
until she left me without any cause.
She, claimed that she wanted to go
back to her mothers home. She would
stay away two or three weeks at
time. While we lived at Brogon mill,
Anderson, she left again, but later
came back and lived with me two or
three months.
II went to Easley to see her sew
cral times but they did not seem to
want me around where she. was.
Emily told me that she could have
better time at Easley with Jess
Phillips, a boarder there, than she
could have with me. I often saw nv
wife and Jess Phillips playing the
grafonola together. One time when I
got to the house I saw nv wife and
Jess Phillips in the same room. Jess
Phillips went out back way. My
wlte's hair was down and she was
iH'ng across the bed, having on
icose dress of some kind.
Il protested to Phillips about be-
ing with my wife. Mrs. Perry Emily's
mother, told me that Emily was too
good looking for me- to have. The
last talk l had with my wife and
mcther-in-law at the same time was
last spring. don't remember the date.
My mother-in-law told me that she
was not going to let Emily have any
children by me.
II went to Greenville in August
and wrote my wife to come there.
She came to Greenville but soon left
again. She went back to Easley about
a week before | went there and be-
fore the killing took place. / was SO
worrica that l could not eat or sleep.
The only reason she gave ME for
leaving was that she could have a
better time with Jess Phillips than
she could with me.
when I went to Easlcy / rode with
j. Robert Martin, and got out at the
Glenwood mill. I went up in the mill
where my wife was working and
rleaded with her to return to me. but
she said she did not care d-m for
me. At the last she said, 'D-m you.
get out of my way, I don't care any
thing about you and my folks don't
want me to live with YOU
"The next thing I knew she was
standing there before me bleeding.
wanted to cut my own throat but
the razor was broken. I went up
town and gave myself up"
On cross examination the following
information was brought out: "I re-
covered my mind few minutes after
the killing. / was crazy then, but am
net now, reckon. I realize that I
am here on trial for murder. did
not remember what happened until I
saw blood on my wife's clothing.
Jess Phillips, Mrs. Perry and others
we're in the house when Emily and
Jess had been seen together. had
net heard that Jess had later married
9 sister Of Emily I did not know
that Jess had been keeping company
with Miss Eula Perry.
II paid Mrs. Perry SO week board
fer myself and wife. did not know
i if my wife was organist at the
Sunday school, was walking beside
nv wife in the mill. wanted to talk
with her one more time before ending
my own life. My wife said the dress
she wore at that time was given her
by Jess. MY wife cursed me. at the
same time declaring that she did not
love me and would not live with me.
J do not remember what happened for
the next few minutes. gave up be-
cause 'reckoned it was that had
done wrong to my wife"
A hard legal battle ensued over
the admissibility Of letter intro
duced by the prosecution and nnr-