grand jury returned its indictment and. was “convicted and. sentenced
to diex XXNXEXARESEREIRXAMNSR SAX ENS in spite of the fact.+that
several alienists stated that he was on no condition on the night of
the crime to have premeditated the murder because of his intoxica-
tion. His attorneys appealed to the North Carolina Suprme Court
on the grounds that the promptness in which he was placed on trial
did not give them adequate time to prepare a defense but the trial's
outcome was affirmed by a 7-2 vote, After the Governor denied
clemency, Creech very calmly went to his death in the gas chamber
on Jan. 28, 199,
THE SMITHFIELD HERALD7~30-1)8 (Photo in paperd
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grand jury returned its indictment and. was convicted and.sentenced
to dick XXNXEXAEESENEREXAPHSAXSUXENEXBXOX in spite of the fact.that
several alienists stated that he was on no condition on the night of
the crime to have premeditated the murder because of his intoxica-
tion. His attorneys appealed to the North Carolina Suprme Court
on the grounds that the promptness in which he was placed on trial
did not give them adequate time to prepare a defense but the trial's
outcome was affirmed by a 7-2 vote, After the Governor denied
clemency, Creech very calmly went to his death in the gas chamber
on Jan. 28, 199. :
THE SMITHFIELD HERALD?7-30-l8 (Photo in paperQ
8-13-L,8
8-20-18
8-31-18
1-7-9
1-28-))9
8=10-65
‘ted and. sentenced
e of the fact. that
several alienists stated that he was on no condition on the night of
the crime to have premeditated the murder because of his intoxicc
tion. His attorneys appealed to the North Carolina Suprme Court
on the grounds that the promptness in which he was placed on trial
did not give them adequate time to prepare a defense but the trial's
outcome was affirmed by a 7-2 vote. After the Governor denied
clemency, Creech very calmly went to his death in the gas chamber
on Jan. 28, 1919.
wand jury returned its indictment and was com
to die i
THE SMITHFIELD HERALD7-30-])8 (Photo in paperd.
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8-10-65
CG Sabaneta La te
CRHHCH, James Rufus, Jr.
#
Creech, a wealthy and prominent 37-year-old Smithfield, N..¢,., farmer
and tobacconist, was a chronic alcoholic. When sober he was devoted ~
to his third wife, NAREXSXWExANOXK 26-year-old Mattie Woodall creech,
who he had married in 19),0 after his two previous marriages had ended
in-divorce, but when drinking he beat her severely on several occasions
During the eight year period of their marriage, Mrs. Creech left him
on several occasions but always returned. On Joly 16, 1918, after a
HREFSL ee while out driving she left and went to the eae of
Mrs. David Ureech and Mrs, John Grimes, sisters of the-actress Ava
Gardner, at Brogden where she mamained until July 28 when Creech _
appeared and after talking for awhile asked if she was going to re-
turn home. He had been drinking heavily and she replied-that she was
not. He left and returned in 10 minutes with a shotgun. The women
and Mrs. Grimes! dhihldren ran into the beiroom where her husband was
sleeping and attempted to barricade the door. Creech fired the shot=
tun through the paneling and hit his wife. The others ran out the
backdoor and hid while Creech entered the room and fired another
oad into his wife! s head. He then went into Smithfieldx and
surrendered at the “heriff's office,explaining that he had just
killed his wife. Creech was placed on trial the day after the —
CREHCH, James Rufus, Jr.
Creech, a wealthy and prominent 37-year-old Smithfield, N..C., farmer
and tobacconist, was a chronic alcoholic. When sober he was devoted
to his third wife, NAXEXSMBsdxOOR 28-year-old Mattie Woodall creech,
who he had married in 190 after his two previous marriages had ended
in-divorce, but when drinking he beat her severely on several occasions
During the eight year period of their marriage, Mrs. Creech left him
on several occasions but always returned. On July 16, 198, after a
BREFSL quarrel while out driving she left and went to the home of
Mrs. David Yreech and Mrs. John Grimes, sisters of the-actress Ava
Gardner, at Brogden where she mamained until July 28 when Creech _
appeared and after talking for awhile asked if she was going to re-
turn-home. He had been drinking heavily and she replied that she was
not. He left and returned in 10 minutes with a shotgun. The women
and Mrs. Grimes! dhihldren ran into the beflroom where her husband was
sleeping and attempted to barricade the door. Creech fired the shot=
tun through the paneling and hit his wife. The others ran out the
backdoor and hid while Creech entered the room and fired another
oad into his wife's head. He then went into Smithfieldx and
surrendered at the "heriff's office ygexplaining that he had just
killed his wife. Creech was placed on trial the day after the
CREACH, Janes Rufus, Jr.
Greech, a wealthy and prominent 37-yoar-dld Smithfield, N,C,, farmer
and tobacconist, was a chronic alcoholic, When sober he was devoted
to his third wife, MAXKTOURMAOOXE 28-year-old Mattie Woodall creech,
who he had married in 190 after his two previous marriages had ended
in-divorce, but when drinking he beat her severely on several. occasion
During the eight year period of their marriage, Mrs, Creech left him
on several. occasions but always returned. On July 16, 19)8, after a
quergel wile out driving she left and went to the hone of
Mrs, David Sreech and Mrs, John Grimes, sisters of the actress Ava
Gardner, at Brogden where she mamainad until July 26 when Creech
appeared and after talking for awhile asked if she was going to re-
turn home. He had been drinking heavily and she replied that-she was
not. He left and returned in 10 mimtes with a shotgun. The women
and Mrs. Grimes! dhiildren ran into the beffroom where her husband was
sleeping and attempted to barricade the door. Creech fired the shot=
tun through the paneling and hit his wife. The others ran out the
backdoor and hid while Creech entered the room and fired another
load into-his-wife's head. He then went into Smithfloldy ai
surrendered at the "heriff's office,explaining that he had nee
killed his wife. Creech was placed on trial the day after the
Shek neta
