Asheville, July 29—William W. Campbell found guilty of murder in the first degree by a jury in Superior court yesterday afternoon for the slaying of Mrs. Annie Smathers on May 6, 1922, was this morning sentenced by Judge Henry P. Lane to be executed in the electric chair at the state prison in Raleigh. Date of execution was set for October 11.
Campbell, who was present when the death sentence was pronounced, was remanded to jail and ordered taken to Raleigh and placed in the custody of the state prison warden until the day of execution.
Counsel for the defense gave notice of reservation of right to appeal the case to Supreme court of North Carolina. Judge Lane granted 50 days in which to prepare and submit the appeal.
Before pronouncing sentence, Judge Lane called on Campbell to stand, and asked him if he knew any cause why the verdict as returned by the jury yesterday should not be carried out. Campbell indicated a negative answer by moving his head from side to side, making no audible reply.
As Judge Lane continued asking the condemned man if he had any reason to state before ethe court why he should not pay with the death penalty for slaying Mrs. Smathers, Campbell remained silent, shaking his head from side to side in quick, jerky movements.
From the front page of the Gastonia Daily Gazette, Saturday, July 29, 1922
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