October 25, 1923 Mount Airy Times "Mose Smith is Killed by Frank Hicks"

Frank Hicks of this city woke up Sunday morning after a Saturday drunk spell and found himself in the city jail where he was lodged Saturday afternoon charged with the murder of Mose Smith.

For some time report says that Hicks and Smith have been associating together very much, and at times would go off on trips to the mountains supposedly after liquor. Friday night they are said to have been out on a trip somewhere.

Smith boarded at a cousin's near the quarry and about noon Saturday Hicks came by and called to see him. They went out back of the house and engaged in conversation. Just what they were talking about no one knows. In a few minutes the inmates of the house were Smith boarded heard a shot ring out and on investigation found that Smith had been shot through the heart with a pistol, Hicks still being with him.

Sheriff Haynes was immediately notified and summoned a coroner's jury which ordered Hicks held for the crime. There were no eye witnesses to the crime and nothing has so far developed to give any light on the motive Hicks had in killing his friend. Those who saw Hicks after the shooting believe that he was crazy with liquor and he himself declared Sunday morning that he has no recollection of any occurrence on the day of the shooting.

He is now in Dobson awaiting trial. The grand jury on Monday brought into court a true bill against him for first degree murder and an effort will be made to dispose of the case at the term of court.

Hicks is a married man and is about 40 years old. Smith was single and was about 35 years old. Both were quarrymen and worked at the quarry near this city.∼Son of Euel and Lizzie (Hendley) Smith.