Solicitor F. Don Phillips, upon whom will fall the burden of the prosecution of his millionaire townsman W.B. Cole for the killing of young Bill Ormond, does not expect to ask either the dead man’s family or the American legion for legal assistance in the trial.
The American legion has offered assistance, but the solicitor has declined.
Solicitor Phillips states that he expects to ask for a special term of court to try the case, but will fix a date to suit James H. Pou, chief counsel for Cole.
The state will ask for a verdict of first degree murder which carries with it, when the defendant is convicted by a jury, the death penalty. What the defense will offer to a Rockingham jury as justification for the shooting is still a matter of wild conjecture. So far, there has not been a rumor afloat which helps the defense in law. There have been several going the rounds which might influence a jury, but there have been none which would reduce the crime below that of second degree murder, punishment for which is largely in the discretion of the trial judge.
Cole shot young Ormond several days ago in Rockingham while he was seated in his automobile.
From the front page of The Randolph Tribune, Thursday, Aug. 27, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068696/1925-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/
No comments:
Post a Comment