Rev. Ormond Doesn't Want Execution if Cole Convicted of First Degree Murder, Oct. 4, 1925

Ormond’s Father Doesn’t’ want Death Penalty. . . Rev. A.L. Ormond Wants to See Cole Punished but Not with His Life—Trial Resumed This Morning—Three Witnesses Examined Up to Adjournment of Morning Session

By Isaac S. London

Rockingham, Oct. 5—The trial of W.B. Cole for killing W.W. Ormond here August 15th was resumed this morning, court convening at 10 o’clock.

Of particular interest just now is a statement made Sunday by Rev. A.L. Ormond, father of the dead man, that he only wishes to see justice carried out, and that in the event the slayer of his son is adjudged guilty, he wants to see him punished, but not with his life. Rev. Mr. Ormond is not bloodthirsty, in fact, if Mr. Cole is found guilty of first degree murder, Ormond would likely be one of the first to sign a petition asking that the death sentence be commuted.

The first witness this morning was C.R. Hall, who was a student at State college last fall. He was asked to relate a conversation he had with Ormond shortly after Christmas about Miss Cole. Just here the jury was ordered to retire and a vigorous argument ensued for an hour and 15 minutes. Finally the judge stated that he would withhold a ruling on this vital point temporarily, the State contending that any communication made by Ormond to a third party that had not been in turn communicated to Cole would not be competent. J.T. West Jr., an employee of Cole, next testified to reaching Ormond within a few seconds after the shooting, that Ormond was almost lifeless and his left foot was against the break lever. Cross-examination sharply by Larry I. Moore, he admitted telling two State’s witnesses, Scales and Steel, both cousins of Cole, that there was a probability they would be indicted for perjury if they concealed any facts that would be favorable to Cole.

J.W. Jenkins, superintendent of Hannah Pickett Mill, was called to the stand at 12 o’clock He testified to having been confided in by Mr. Cole and detailed Cole’s mental and physical condition since last February. An effort was made by defense to get an opinion as to Cole’s mentality, but Judge Finley ruled this out. The jury retired. The reply of Jenkins was dictated to court stenographer privately, and exception noted by the defense to the judge’s ruling. The State began cross examining Jenkins at 12:35 and was still hammering the witness when court adjourned at 1 o’clock to convene again at 2:30.

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Saturday’s session was taken up with cross-examination of Cole by Clyde Hoey of the private prosecution, Cole many times reiterating his statement that he killed Ormond in self-defense and to save his family from Ormond’s slanderous tongue.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, Oct. 5, 1925

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