Episode -14- The hanging of Peter Smith-- Crime and punishment in the Appalachian Mountains
Crime and punishment in the Appalachian Mountains.
On Oct. 2, 1905, A man was hung at Marshall NC the County seat of Madison County. Most of us history nuts in the Western NC area are familiar with the Hanging of Peter Smith.
Growing up in Madison Co. I had heard the stories and have seen the photographs of Smith standing on the gallows in Marshall out side of the Jail in 1905.
The concussions over the years I was told was that Smith did not commit the crimes he had been accused of. A murder of a young girl then several years later a rape of another young girl. I had been told many times that he had been framed for the assault.
Reviewing the media of 1900's, copies of the court testimony, the findings of the NC Supreme Court and the Governors Office. Listen for yourself. Did he or didn't he? Did North Carolina hang an innocent man?