Tag Archives: COLE, William B.

Cole’s Lawyers Plea Insanity (1925)

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Richmond County Court House, Rockingham, NC, Oct. 4 (AP) – Laying aside temporarily their plea of self-defense, attorneys for William B. COLE tomorrow will continue their introduction of evidence to support their plea that at the time the cotton manufacturer killed W.W. ORMOND he was insane.

Five witnesses were sworn Saturday and three of them had been heard when court was adjourned, Miss Edith McLEOD, W.B. LEATH and George BEVERLY, a student at Duke university.

Miss McLEOD and LEATH, employees of Hannah Cotton mill, described COLE’s “queer” actions since last February.  BEVERLY described a conversation he had with ORMOND some time in March.

The two remaining witnesses  are scheduled to be called tomorrow, together with medical men who will be asked to describe the reactions of a mind under abnormal conditions.

COLE was visited today by his family.  Many of his friends called at the jail during the day to speak to him.

The 12 jurors from Union county this afternoon were permitted to exercise themselves along the winding roads that fringe the town.  They left the courthouse about 4 o’clock and accompanied by Sheriff H.B. BALDWIN skirted the business section for a short walk.

Source:  Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 5 October 1925. Available online at Google News Archive.

 

Defense Says Slayer Insane (1925)

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Richmond County Courthouse, Rockingham, N.C., Oct. 3 (A.P.) – The first determined effort in the defense of William B. COLE to prove the wealthy cotton manufacturer insane at the time he killed W.W. ORMOND, his daughter’s former sweetheart, came today.

A crowded courtroom also heard the state charge the defense with publishing copies of “slander” letters received by COLE for the purchase of creating sentiment in his behalf and obtaining evidence for his cause.

After COLE was submitted to a gruelling three-hour cross-examination during which the state sought to force the admission that he killed ORMOND “to shut his tongue” and not to protect himself, the defense swore five witnesses, two of whom testified to the “queer acts” of the defendant.

Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 4 October 1925. Available at Google News Archive.