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NEGRO TRIEDFATAL SHOOTINGState Say* Raleigh ManBit Infant Daughter,Shot Down RelativeIn Fit Of AngerAccused bv the state of havingseverely bitten his five-months-old daughter and then shootinghis brother-in-law, Henry Hyden Smith, athletic-Iooking, 21-year-old Raleigh Negro, went on trial for his life in Raleigh criminalco. rt yesterday in the fatalChristmas Eve s ooting of Edward • Red” Gorrell, 22, also a Negro.Prosecuting Attorney Ned Ragland asked for a verdict of firstdegree murder—and the Ifi jurors empaneled in the trial yesterday were asked it thev had any conscientious scruples against capita!punishmentSeven of them did, and courthad to be adjourned until afternoon before a panel of qualified jurors could be obtained.John Gorrell, father of the slain youth and father-in-law of the defendant, breaking into sobs while tegfirfyinc. said he talkedwith his son while he lay on an operating table in a Berkley hospital following the shootingAsked by Prosecutor Ragland to state what ins son said in regard to the shooting, the witness stated:*‘l went in see him and s.ud to him. ‘You'll get alongall right .” He quoted his son assaying, “No, Had, I'm dying. I can't make it.“He said.” the witness statedDad. Henrv shot me like I was a dog.’ He *aid I made Henry quit beating and biting Sandra.”• Defense Attorney J. Q Hutchinson objected to this ev idence : and moved to have the testimony istruck from the recordJudge Clay S. Crouse instructed the jury not to consider any of this testimony other than that| pertaining to the manner in ! which young Gorrell was shot.’ State’s attorneys asked to beheard in chambers, and court !was adjourned until this morningProsecuting Attorney Ragland [outlining the case to the jury, s tat evidence would disclose that Smith and his infant daughter and his brother-in-law. Edward (••Red” Gorrell. were alone in thehome of John Gorrefl when Jack Wayne, a friend of the slain man, [came to the house and invitedGorrell to go out to a party jChild's Face (inawedRagland said that Smith was I much put out at having to remain ; at the house w ith his infant daughter, and that while his | brother-in-law was gone, about 20 minutes he bit the child so badly on the cheek that blood trickled dow n its face Ragland said Gor-I reli returned, became incensed at ; what Smith had dont, and a fight ensued.! He related that Gorrell lt;hen 1 took his little niece and left to! have her cheek treated On theway, the prosecutor related, he met James Harper, a friend, gavehim the child, and then, in com-!j panv with Harper, went to Smith’s house to talk with him Ragland f-^erted that Gorrell knocked atSm.th’s door, that the nig t latchwas turned, the door was open-j ed. and Smith fired a shotgunj blast into his brother-in-law’s stomach before he could utter a word.Harper lt;aid on the witnessstand that about a haif-a-second;elapsed from the time the door was opened and Smith thrust out the gunbarreii and fired intoGorreil’s bodv.Harper said he was standinglust inside the gate to the Smuthome vhen Gorrell “walked up and knocked at the door.” He'did there was the knock, then a(Continued on Page 6) {
Newspaper Details
Post Herald
Beckley, West Virginia, US
Fri, Jan 23, 1942
Page 11
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WV, USA 13 Aug 2019
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