Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-25
THE DEED OF A DEVIL
HE MURDERS HIS WIFE AND AT
TEMPTS SUICIDE.
one or the Most Brutal Murders in the His
tory OF Council Bluffs-One of His Neigh
Dors Nearly Killed in Trying to Rescue
the Murdered Woman.

0OuiCll bAuuS-OnO OF HIS Neigh.
nors Nearly Killed in Trying to Rescue
the Murdered Woman.
ABOUT 6 o'clock on the morning OF the
10th, one of the most brutal murders in
the history of Council Bluffs was commit
ted, tollowed by the murderer cutting his
" throat. In a little cottage at No. 2l1
Logan street, has lived for some time Hall,
ms aged wife and three little children.
Both heads of the family have been indus
tflous' the mother and wife performing the
duties as janitor of the courthouse and the
iather and husband that of teamster. In
this way they managed to earn a comfort
aoie living for he members of the house
mold. The night before the crime Hall
repaired to his home under the influence Of
llquor, and he began to abuse his wife
shamefully. His brutal qualities predomi-
mated over his human disposition to
such an extent that he threatened to kill
his wife and children. Fearing tina,
ne would carry out his rash act Mrs. Hall,
who Is past midnight in life, took her little
ones and sought shelter and protection in
the adjoining house occupied by the family
OF George w. Bennett. Nothing further
happened until the following morning.
AT this time Mrs. Hall returned to her
home and scarcely had she entered the
cottage when the sharp crack of a r~evolve,
rang out, which was followed by heart
rendlng screams. Mr.. Bennett, the near
est neighbor, and in whose house the VIC
tim had sought shelter, hearing the shot
and the screams, at once rushed to the
rescue. He was met by Hall with o smok-
ing 3S-caliber revolver in hand, and to
Bennetts appeal to not do anything rash.
Hall took deadly aim at his benefactor and
hred. Whatever was Halls intention, the
bullet went wide of the mark, as did also
the second shot. Finally Bennett
found himself closed in upon,
and in a position where he must
either resort to physical persuasion OF
meet with death. He grappled with the
assassin, and before he could get posses
sion OF the revolver another shot was
fired, the bullet taking effect in one of Mr..
Benefits fingers and inficting a painful
yet not serious wound. Hall apparently
manifested a disposition to discontinue his
lnhuman work, and Bennett retired. After
finding himself dlspossessed of a ~revolve,
Hall provided himself with q knife and cut
a horrible cash in his throat. By this time
the police had been notified and shortly
after Marshal Templeton. Chief Carey,
Capt. Clough and a squad of officers with
the patrol wagon hurried to the scene. DR.
Cook was summoned, as was also DR.. Lacy
Upon entering the house in the kitchen
hard by the door was found the body o.
Mrs. Hall lying in a pool of blood and ap.
parently lifeless. Beside her was he
clothing-a shabby dress and ~tattered
shirt. The body was partly sheltered
by a table upon which rested viandl
just prepared. Under the in,
structions of the physicians the apparent,
lifeless form of Mrs. Hall wa picked W
and laid tenderly on a couch in the ad
joining room. Upon opening the doc
leading to the latter room the body of Hal
confronted the already Mortified spectators
4 deep, ugly looking cash in his mech
from which the blood was oozing freel,
showed that he had wreaked vengeanc
upon himself as we'll. After restoring th
woman to an easy attitude, the semi
inanimate form of Hall was lifted to th
side of his wife and an examination of tn
wounds Was at once instituted. The bulle
was 38-caliber and entered Mrs. Hail
head in front Of the left ear, raging
downward, penetrating the brain. Sh,
fingered until 1870, when death ended he,
suffering. No cause is assigned for tn,
deed except a druaken quarrel on the par
Of the husband. Hall was taken to tn,
hospital and may recover.