Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-06-28
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

.sinated by man named George Wells, son
Of the Rev. Mr. Wells. formerly pastor of the
Pfesby terrain church in Detroit. bu. now chap
'lain Of the military pos, a, Prairie du Chen.
Wis. George seems 10 have been alienated in
some measure from his father and brothers,
the former very respectable clergyman. and
one Of the latter being a very worthy man, a
hardware dealer 10 Monroe. where George had
worked as a ,nman. Mr.. Hall is brother of
Rev. Charles Hall of New York city, Secre.
rotary Of the American Home Missionary So.
ciety. The following statement from The
Monroe .adrocate contains the principal facts Of
this most remarkable case of crime
The facts and circumstances attending the re-
cent attempt npon the life Of Mr.. LEWIS A. HALL
OF this city, by George Wells, are briefly the Il
lowing: and we give them publicity, as well to
correct erroneous and contradictory reports on the
subject now ia circulation, as to satisfy public in
/ qury and solicitude.
! month OF two since, Wells showed Hall
letter purpou,ng to be from an uncle of Wells, sta
ting that he, the uncle, had sold boat, and offer
ing to let Wells have $4,000, for which w. night
draw, or he, the uncle, would send draft, after
the l7th Of June Instant OF something to that ef-
feet.
! Sool after this, Wells wanted to borrow of H.
! sl50-havng previously borrowed $40 of him,
stating that he would pay it when he got his draft;
and II lent him the money.
On the evening OF the 4th instant al abou. 10 o.
clock, w having been absent for sometime, came
into Keebauck's Recess in this city, where he
! found H., and after few words had passed ask-
ed him il he was going to the bank soou. H. re-
piled that he was, and they started off together
| On their way 10 the bank, W. said he had some
kegs of specie which he wished 10 leave in the
bank. and had tipped over this side OF Brest and
lost keg out, and rolled il into the woods III.
remarked-"ihen you have got your d, afp'-to
which Wells replied in the affirmative. III. then
asked him il the Michigan Insurance Company
cashed the irat w. said yes. III. asked him
how he got the coin if they paid him their notes.
W. replied "about half" H. asked If he drew
the specie himself-he replied, "no; sent man
| after it.n
! BY this time they had reached the steps of the
bank. ii says, hold on; | viii get light, and
bring 1.-THE kegs--in." w replied, mo: viii
bring it in while you are getting the light and
did so by the time the light was Obtained upto
this time, w. had SAID nothing, except as above.
| Of losing the one keg; but said he should want
some nelp TO get the other into the buggy; and H.
without further request, consented TO go with him
for that purpose aud they started of in w IS bug
gy, To which two horses were hanessed, ascertain
ed to have been hired at Iiowe's livery stable at
Deifoit--H taking with him the key OF the bank
On the way, III. asked if he, W., had drawn jusi
$4,000 in coin, and If the two kegs contained ST.
900 each. W. said 'yes,' and that there was
more in the other key w. also, on the way, ask
ed II. row much had been drawn from the bank.
/ by the run occasi0ned by the failure Of the St
Clair Bank. II. replied, "psrhaps in all about
/ S3,000n w. then said, A." / suppose you must
have $4,000 or S25,000 lef,--meaning coin.-
lie said" yes"
After reaching tn woods, the first on the right
OF the road Detroit, and mile and three-iourths
from the bank, aud after looking near an hour ana
a half, IL. told w. il was useless 10 look further
without light and suggested returning to the bank
foi one; to which w, answered, hold on maybe
we can make a light with pistol" Ii. asked how
! w said with wa1, OF with paper. Ill. sad, De
careful and stepped behind w close to him. w.
fred into an old log, where he said he had placed
some paper, but II. saw none-made no tiIe. III.
had just before remarked thai when the pistol went
of, he would see if he could discover the keg by
the light of the pistol did look, but saw nothing, as
| no FIRE was Obtained. Ill. still kept looking, and
was about ten feet in from, Of w. when he heard
the pistol 20 off the second time, about one or two
minutes after tho first; nothing was said OF ints-
/ About this time w. asked ii. if no was sure he
had locked the bank. Ii. replied yes, have the
! key in my pocket and at the same time felt III
his pocket. w. said, "we will take one mnre
'ook, lite further into The woods, and give II up"
Went lrttle further in, gave up the search, and
started to return for a light. ii. beinga few ieei
in front, heard pistol SNAPS and turned round anu
said, {" be cateful.n w. sand the pistol was in
his ceat pocket, his overcoat his arm, and that
il il had gone off, il would have shot him, w, thro
the body, and seemed to be putting into or taking
something cot OF his pocket. They then got into
the buggy, aud returned TO the bank for a light,
| While in the bank preparing the light, w. ask
ed il thsie not some way oil enneeaing Inc
| light. ii. replied he could put it under his cloak
/ W also asked at the same time, if Charles Ford
rooned in the bank overhead; 10 which III. replied
q" Yes, but he will hear nothing; | am oiten 10
/ late"-W at the same time took out his pistol, a
revolving six-shooter; tried il with the rammer-
thsie was two charges in--put III third charge
/ They then started again for the woods. HI'ched
the horses the same place as oeiore--went IN
to the woods, and looked near an hour aud halt
snore with the lantern. ii. then said" wS can't
/ look much longer, the light will be oOt''-at the
/ same time that there was a little ovei hall
inch of candle left. W. said he could not sleep
f he did not find it; and proposed to take oae more
look, lille further into the woods They started.
aud the light suddenly went out; Ill. said he knew
/ IL had not burned out, there was a moment be-
foe, half an inch of caidle-(the lamp has since
been onud on the spot with over hall an men OF
candle unburned.) w. was behind him when the
light went out They then gave up the search,
aud were returning again to the load--W. still
Keeping from four to six feet behini-when h. re-
ceryed a shot in the back litte to the left OF the
spine, and near the seventh rib; and fell by the
shock, and almost Instantly rose sgAia. III. speak
ing first, saws, "GsOTge, YOU have shot me," 10
which w. only replied" has it hit you!" IL.
said ayes; hurry and get the buggy and take INC
"a town as soOl, as posslbe.n
III On, i,,o ,he h,sev without helm did not ro-