Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-12-09
OF TENNESSEE.


GtsS- The JeG,rsoHian, in speaking of thcmtrial
of Allen A. Hall, characteristics his oGenceIns "cold
bloodcd murder" and says that he and his Nacces-
series Sought TO suffer the extreme penalty of the
law. Situated as we arc it is painful to he forced
TO aude TO the subject at ALL yet it would be nm
unworthy nc ;uiescencc in intended wrong, not TO
guard the public mind against the impression in
tended to be made upon II in advance of the udg-
ment yet to be rendered by jury of the country
In doing this, not to defend the living nor
a;sail the dead but TO ask for common usticc-for
n public verdict predicated upon an impartial hear
ing and not based upon sympathy with unreason-
ing denunciation. And we nsk the public to bear
it in mind, that it is not Mr.. Hall alone who is
charged with "coId-blooded murder" but some of
the best in Nashville arc accused as accessories
to that murder True, they are not named, but
Mr.. Halls associates are well known, and amongst
them these accessories are to be found, or no.
where.
1t was proven, and has not been denied, that Mr.
PoindeIter went twice TO Mr.. Halls Office with hos
tile intentions-uncertan whether he would slap
him with his Opeu hand, or strike him with his
umbrella, but prepared in either case, for what
might follow. Suppose he had found Hall in his
office, and had slapped his jaws, and Hall had re-
scented it like n man and Poindexter had shot him.
would the locoforos have denounced the act rs cold
bloodcd murder? No, it would have becu all right
in that case And yet Pondexter in going twice
to Halls office for the avowed purpose of personal
assault, and prepared for what might follow, was
guilty-so far rs the intention goes-of deliberate
attempt at assault and to kill if resisted This is
clearly established by the evidence, unless his arm.
ing himself for what might follow his assault can
be proven to mean nothing
But VIC are told that Poindexter, after his two
visits TO Halls Office had determined not to 90
there again, but to wait for an accidental meeting
or this, Hall was not appraised and he had right
to suppose that the third advance towards his office
was intended as a repetition of the visits-indeed
he could not well have come to any other concu
sion, and believing conflict unavoidable, he pre-
tcrcd the street to his Office, the scene of thai
conflict What the intentions of the deceased were
when advancing towards Halls Office can ncve
be known; but if he were not resolved upon ,
bloody issue to the quarrel it is difficult to accoun
for his advance pistol in hand, when told to stop
1t was act of suicidal rccklessness, or fixed de
termination to kill or be killed
But it is said, Hall provided the gun the evening
before, and this is adduced proof of premcdiat
cd design upon the life of the deceased No sucl
inference is justly dcduciblc from the fact Hal
had repclled in spirited manner, an unprovoke,
insult and knowing the character of the deceased
he was fully aware that he must fight or be guilt
of "A cowardy rctracton, and prcicring the formc
alternative he prepared himself just as Poindexte
did before visiting Halls office If there was Int
meditation in the case, there was in the other
but there is no evidence to show, and no one be
licycs that Hall intended to use the gun except /
self d'fcnce--t was a mere prccaution and n
evidence Of an intended assault
Az we said, in the out set it is painful to us
he forced to speak Of this melancholy occurrence
hut when an attempt is made in this communit
TO PREJUDICE the case; when it has been privael
charged here and in Nashville that there was
conspiracy of the Opposition press to murder I'll
deceased, and that we were cognizant of that COZ
spirlcy silence, ON our part, would be consuc
into an admission Of the charge, or n criminal il
difference to the claims Of equal and exact iustic
We have seen and heard enough to satisfy us thu
party has taken the case in hand and when Oppos
ton editors are charged with conspiracy to mmd
an oppouant we rs an Opposition editor claim Il
right to rcpe that charge and make such a shov
ing of the facts as will fully sustain the denial
And we feel the more fully authorised to adopt III
course because we know that if the case had he,
exactly reversed, and Hall had been the victi
there could not have been found in the whole 4
mOcrntic party one who would have sympathis,
with him or denounced rs a murderer the ms
who slew him. We are also sustained in the vie
we have taken of this subject by the action Of Il
examining Court. Had they believed Hall gull
Of a cold blo,dcd murder they could not, witho
perjury, have bailcd, and had they believed him gull
of aggravated mansaughtcr, they would not ha,
reduced the bail TO half the original amount.
I tho charge made by tho JcHcrsonian he true, II
Court Is morally or intellectually incompetent, %
N' II the Court ia competent The charge is not true
,,,, Decide between them.
urre,
miles eeE- The Senate has passed hin to bring II
2S'h nion Of Clerks Of the Chanccry Courts hclo