Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-13
and :, i: children she proceeded towards Mr.

On the way Mrs. Grover asked
Maggie about the occurrence. You
must have imagined that somebody
was killing your grandpa and grand
ma? Everybody about here thinks
too much Of them To hurt them," said
she.
"Well, IL might have been dream.
do have bad dreams sometimes"
Maggie replied.
"Oh it must have been = Dream"
said Mrs. Grover.
Maggie now seemed to reconcile her
self to the idea that it was dream,
but said she, 81 knoT / Jumped out OF
the window"
That was o reality that could admit
Of no question in her mind, for she said
that she was very faint while running,
and came near falling. "But," said she,
"if it isn't dream will you take care
ofme?" Certainly" said Mrs. Gro
yer, "don't bother about that" "And
will you take little brother, too?"
"Yes, I'll take care Of him, too, said
Mrs. Grover. Thus quieted they ap.
preached the house; Mr.. Grover came
out to meet them, and told them that
Maggie's story was only too true.
THE WOUNDS.
When Mr.. Grover arrived at Mr..
Halls be found Mr.. and Mrs. Hall on
| the bed and the boy beside them. The
child had come downstairs, had lighted
the lamp, and made himself very useful.
DR.. Carthorn Archer was sent for,
and was luckily found at home-about
three miles distant-and came with all
dispatch to the assistance Of the wound
ed couple.
Mr.. Hall had received . severe blow
on tie forehead, making a wound one
and half inches long and going nearly
to the bone. His left clavicle COLLAR
bone) was broken. There were marks
OF bis having been seized by the throat,
and there was severe confusion on the
left breast and an injury on the back of
the right hand. AS late as yesterday
afternoon his suffering was great, but
he is rational and free from fever.
Mrs. Hall has several severe scalp
wounds. extending nearly to the bone
and causing considerable loss Of blood.
She also suffers from hemorrhage Of the
nose, caused by a blow near the eye.
Her right arm is very badly bruised.
The thumb on her left hand is almost
crushed. There are many bruises on
her shoulders and lower limbs; the
latter indicating the purpose Of the
mans visit, in which he was happily
foiled, for no sooner had Maggie jumped
out the window on side Of the house
than he made his escape on the other
side.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hall are badly
hurt. Her injuries are worse than his,
but both husband wife are getting along
we'll.
In neither case does there seem to be
any injury Of the brain, and in all pro-
babiity in a few days both will be so
far recovered as to justify their being
brought here to their sons house..
THE SEARCH.
Early yesterday morning Mr.. Fussell
and several neighbors set about to track
the rascal. They followed his shoe
tracks back of the house, through the
orchard, and northwsrdly about two
miles to near Nat. Hills Hall "a
colored school.house. A heavy rain
having come up here about s O'Clock,
the tracks were obiterated.
The tracks identified were made by
shapely No. shoe.
Approaching the house, the man fol-
lowed well.known path, and crossed
a ditch on a plank which has long been
used for bridging that point. Leaving,
he followed the same general direction,
but his steps show that he was running
and he leaped the ditch.
Following his tracks are those Of a
barefooted mana man who would
wear a No. 0 or 10 shoe.
There is o difference Of opinion as to
whether the barefooted man was with
the murderously- inclined party; proba-
bly, not.
Several mulatto men were brought
before Mr.. Hall yesterday, but the
right one was not found. Mr.. Hall is
tolerably sure that he could identify
the man should he see him again.
The wounds we're undoubtedly in
flicted by blunt instrumental stout
walking-stick probably.
FRONT DOOR LOCKED.
When Mr.. Hall retired night before
last be left the key of his front door on
the outside. The attacking party when
he left locked the door. Not, knowing
who was up-stairs--probably greatly |
astonished that anybody was-he be-
thought himself that to lock the front
door was to check pursuit.
Mr.. Grover, when he came up, found |
the door locked and unlocked it to en-
ter the house.
THE MOTIVE, &C., &C.
In the light Of present information,
it would seem that some one knew that
Rev. Mr.. Hall had left for Richmond;
that that party did not know that Mr..
Hall had returned, and that his ex-
pectation was to find Mrs. Hall alone.
1t is not probable that robbery was
the prime motive for the visit. No
thing was missing from the house.
MIR. Halls residence is about one or
two miles from Deep Bottom, on James
river, and about one and half miles
from Four-Mile Creek BAPTIST church,
Of which he is pastor.
Maggie Hall is a sister Of the two
little boys who were killed several
years ago by the explosion Of q boiler
st her fathers saw-mill in the upper
part of Henrico county. She is q
blonde; is undersized for her age
Z. e. Il