Killer orders defense to allow no witnesses

Web posted Thursday, February 1, 2001

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By Greg Rickabaugh
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN - Calling himself a responsible adult, convicted killer Arthur Hastings Wise ordered his attorneys Wednesday not to involve his family or friends in an effort to save him from the death penalty.

Wanda Wood spoke Wednesday about her sister, Sheryl Wood, who was killed in the 1997 shootings at the R.E. Phelon Co. plant. Sheryl Wood was 27 years old when she was gunned down by Arthur Hastings Wise. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

``I made the decision to not bring my family or friends into this,'' Mr. Wise told Circuit Judge Thomas W. Cooper Jr. in a hearing outside the presence of the jury. ``I have not tried to shy away from the charges or my guilt. As far as I am concerned, I consider myself an adult.''

A jury will be asked today to decide between life imprisonment and death for the workplace shooting spree in which Mr. Wise killed four former co-workers and injured three others Sept. 15, 1997.

On Wednesday, 2nd Circuit Solicitor Barbara R. Morgan built a case for death, calling 15 witnesses to put faces to the slain workers and show the pain and agony Mr. Wise has caused the living. Jurors saw the victims alive and dead, viewing family pictures and autopsy photos.

But Mr. Wise's early-morning decision might give jurors little reason to spare his life because virtually no one will speak on his behalf.

The move crippled the defense and led his attorneys, Gregory Harlow and Carl B. Grant, to ask the judge to be removed from representing Mr. Wise.

They said it isn't in their client's best interest to not call witnesses.

But the attorneys are bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct to follow their client's instructions, Judge Cooper said in denying the request.

That ruling sets up a quick end to the trial this morning. The only mystery is whether Mr. Wise will testify on his own behalf, a decision he will make today, Mr. Harlow said.

Mr. Grant said he still has an obligation to fight for his client's life.

Developments Arthur Hastings Wise orders attorneys not to call his family or friends to testify for him. Prosecutors present 15 witnesses in bid for death. Jurors view crime scene photos and family pictures.

``Even though Mr. Wise may continue with his decision of not calling witnesses, I am going to do all I can within my professional ability to save his life - whether he wants me to or not,'' he said.

During Wednesday's testimony, R.E. Phelon Co. plant workers recalled the little things they remember about their co-workers: a tip of the hat, pretty blue eyes or a smile. Relatives of the slain workers told personal stories of visits to the lake and good times on the golf course and softball games.

Some of the most emotional testimony came from those who were shot or witnessed Mr. Wise's rampage through the plant.

``I've never known fear like this,'' said Loretta Legg, a former security guard at the plant. She was a few feet from Stan Vance when Mr. Wise shot him in the chest at the guard shack. ``Sleeping is hard. The dreams never stop.''

Since the shootings, many have required psychological counseling, medication or therapy. Others have changed jobs or are disabled.

Mr. Vance, paralyzed from a gunshot wound to the chest, said his wife left him more than a year ago because she couldn't put up with his torment and pain.

``I'm trying to shake it loose, but it's hard,'' he said.

Pam Morey couldn't return to the human resources office, where her boss was shot dead and the killer threatened her with a gun. She was moved to a purchasing job and later left the plant.

John Mucha was shot by Mr. Wise. He lost a kidney and suffers back problems. He saw a psychiatrist for six months and tried to return to work. But he said he saw the bullet holes that remain at the plant and kept visualizing Mr. Wise standing there, pointing a gun at him.

``I couldn't stand it anymore, so I got out of there,'' Mr. Mucha said.

Tears flowed from family members of the slain workers - Sheryl Wood, 27; David Moore, 30; Leonard Filyaw, 30; and Charles Griffeth, 56.

Attorneys Gregory Harlow (left) and Carl B. Grant requested Wednesday to be removed from the case after Arthur Hastings Wise, who sat behind them, ordered them to call no witnesses. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

Janet Cooper spoke of her brother-in-law, Mr. Griffeth, who was Phelon's human resources director. His death was so devastating for his mother that she won't watch or read trial coverage, Ms. Cooper said. Only Ms. Cooper and Mr. Griffeth's son Greg attended to the trial.

Ms. Cooper said her brother-in-law had hundreds of friends. Six of them were his golfing buddies.

``They loved him so much, they went and had a hole in Orangeburg dedicated to him,'' Ms. Cooper said.

Nellie Eubanks of Warrenville called her nephew, Mr. Filyaw, a caring and loving person who was about to get married.

Tommy Thompson, his voice trembling with emotion, spoke of his stepson, Mr. Moore, who loved automobiles, hunting and drawing. He brought a bag full of family pictures to show the jury, including ones of Mr. Moore in high school and at the prom.

John Goad, brother of Mr. Moore and a former Phelon worker, said he has seen three psychiatrists since the shootings. He had searched the plant as the shootings continued and found his brother dead.

``He was my very best friend, and I didn't even get to tell him goodbye,'' he said.

John Wood, father of Ms. Wood, described his daughter as an athlete who had big plans. Ms. Wood loved helping others, and her favorite saying was, ``We'll see what we can do about that.''

Mr. Wood said he felt guilty after his daughter's death.

``As her daddy, I thought there was something I should have been able to do to protect her,'' he said.

Ms. Morgan entered evidence showing that Mr. Wise had been convicted and served jail time for participating in a bank robbery and receiving stolen goods, both in the 1970s.

Authorities said Mr. Wise returned to the plant in 1997 with ``murder on his mind,'' killing those who wronged him or shooting at random. He had been fired from the plant two months before for being aggressive with a supervisor.

Court reconvenes at 9:30 a.m. today.

Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (803) 648-1395.

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