Although acquitted of the charge of murder, W.B. Cole, wealthy Rockingham manufacturer, is still in jail today facing the problem of proving his sanity before gaining his freedom. A Union County jury Sunday returned a verdict acquitting him of the murder of W.W. Ormond, but the State law is responsible for Cole’s present predicament.
In defense Cole plead transitory insanity, and for that he is showing today causes why he should not be confined to an insane asylum. The hearing is taking place in chambers at Judge Finley’s home in North Wilkesboro.
Members of the jury have openly declared that Cole was not acquitted on self-defense or insanity pleas, but because they would have done the same thing had a man slandered their daughter.
Judge Finley stated that from a legal standing, in his opinion, Cole was guilty.
Cole has said nothing since the verdict was returned. He was one of the calmest persons in the court room when the jury came in. His son Robert was in “an agony of nervousness.” Mrs. Cole and her two daughters, Misses Elizabeth and Katherine, were not in the court room.
From the front page of The Enterprise, Williamston, N.C., Tuesday, October 13, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1925-10-13/ed-1/seq-1/#
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