Evening journal., 1889-10-08
SEWELL HALL ACQUITTED
END OF ONE CHAPTER OF THE DRUM
CORPS RIOT.

The Defence Proves That the Prisoner
Was Entering Peregoy's Saloon When
the Shots Were Fired-Hearing Appli-
cations for License.
Court recanvened at o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Sewall Hall, colored, charged
with attempting to kill Joseph Lawler in
the drum corp riot. pleaded not guilty.
Deputy-Attoiney Davis conducted the
case for the state; Walter Bacon, Esq,
represented the prisoner.
Lewis Hause testified that be saw
Sewall Hall shoot at Lawless. The drum
corps stopped playing at Third and Mon
roe streets. He saw Sewau Hall by the
corner light he was with woman.
Boys in the vicinity threw stone or dirt
or something" at the colored persons.
Then occurred the firing. Mr.. Bacon
warmed the witness somewhat on cross
examination, but did not shake his testi'
mony.
Peter Kelly was witness of the riot.
He saw a colored man knock white
mans hat off and then walk towards
p sregoy's saloon. The colored man looked
like Sewsll Hall. He fred into the crowd
and struck young Lawless. Witness did
not see any stones thrown.
Charles 6lazier, morocco dresser, saw 8
man with a woman knock off white
mans hat. This was followed by the
firing of two shots and Lawier fell.
John NJ Richardson, watchman at
Quigley's factory saw Sewell Hall going
up the street in the rear OF the corps,
with woman. Did not know whether he
| fred the shot. but he (HalD was near the
/ IL 1a 81, Il
no stones thrown. The court refused to
reputation Of the locality for attacking
colored people.
Court adjourned at Is o'clock until 9
o'clock this morning
Court convened at 0 o'clock this morn.
ing and the trial of Sewell Hall for as
sault with intent to kill in the drum
corps riot last spring was resumed.
Thomas Howard testified to the occur
ances Of the riot, duplicating the pris-
oner Police Officer William A. Meri
dith testified to the arrest of Hall as he
came from Peregoy's saloon.
With this witness the state rested
Mr.. Bacon then opened for the defence
by stating to the jury the grounds of tn,
defence. Then he made point of law tC
the court
Edward T. Peregoy, the saloon keeper
was the first witness. At the moment
the shots were fred Sewall Hall and tn,
man who carried the transparencie,
opened the door of the saloon. Hall said
lets have a drink, and then came in
In a moment a man looked in and said
"Al of our boys come out" They al
went out.
Grant Bannon, colored, a brick make
and manager of the drum corps, said tina
at the moment the shots were fired Sew
ell Hall was ahead of him ana the shot
came from behind him. Wayman Thomas
colored testified that he was tifer in tn
drum corps, but left the ranks befor
they got to the flying horses. becaRs
the stones were flying too fast for him
William Richardson, colored, anothe
fifer said he saw Sewell Halls hand o
the door of Peregoy's saloon at the me
ment the shots were fired. Georg
: Walker, a colored boy of IA, who wa
following the drum corps, said tina
/ Sewel Hall was at the hea
, Of the procession and that h'
the witness, ran when the shots wer
I fred William A. KINNEY who mad
/ the plot of the scene testified to thi
same and to the distances from point {
! point.
, John Banks, coIored another fifer. lef
, the ranks at the merry -go-rounds, afte
/, having his fife knocked out of his han
and mouth by flying stones. Sewel
, Massey, a white headed old colored mar
and Frank Caldwell, testified to the pre-
r vious good character of the prisoner. Bot
i sides then closed. Deputy Attorney Gen
/ eral Davis made brief presentation q
! the case and evidence to the Jury. Wal
ter Bacon, Esq addressed the Jury fC
/ the defence in a lengthy speech. review
] ing the evidence in detail
1t was 10 35 when Deputy Attorne
General Davis opened his closing argu
ment for the state. Mr.. Davis spoke fC
twenty minutes
4 Chief Justice Comegys then charge
} the jury. The jury retired to their rooi
& at II. 40 o'clock,
At 1S5 o'clock they returned to tn
box with a verdict of mot guilty
: Sewell Hall was discharged by I'll
5 chief justice. Court then adjourned unit
2 o'clock
0 At this afternoons session of court IL
{ hearing of remonstrances to the grantin
D of liquor licenses were taken up and wi
4 be continued tomorrow morning.