The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-06
THE HALL HANGING.
Particulars BY An Eyewitness.
Everything Worked Smoothly.

Talt HsllS taking Off, felt disinclined
to execute it because of an aversion to
such displays, but the line of duty said
go and so Friday morning found me
footing it between Norton and Wise
Court House, distance of six miles. L
was advised to walk, and though the
trusting to infantry tactics was quite
apparent from the fact that we passed
coach something over half ways which
same coach had started over an hour
ahead OF US. AS we neared the scene OF
action the throng began to manifest it
self, and for over half q mile outside of
town we encountered horses, mules and
oxen tied to the bushes and fences;
wagons, buggies and hacks standing in
every vacant apace alongside the road,
with not human being near, the own
ers of these animals and vehicles hav-
ing gathered at the sacrifcial center,
to be near, il not witness. the execution
OF the great criminal, Talt Hall,
That ruthless man,
That chief OF arcbellious clan.
We reached the gate to the Jail ward
about 10 O'Clock and sent in our creden-
tials to Captain Bullitt, of the volunteer
guard, who very soon appeared and
courteously informed us that we would
be admitted in time for the performance;
but it was long and weary wait until
we got our passes and another wait until
Capt Bullitt appeared at an upper win
dow Of the Jail and announced in clear
and manly voice that the laws OF Vir-
ginia provided for private execution;
that 1t was the desire Of the sheriff to
admit everyone, but only the officers OF
the law, phi ysicians, the relatives of tho
condemned and that highly privileged
clsss-the representatives of the press,
could be admitted to the enclosure.
Captain Bullitt then requested the re-
porters to gather at the front gate and
await his call, at the same time an
nouncing that MIR. Hall" would soon
appear at the window to make few re-
marks.
We were admitted to the jail yard at
the close of Capt. Built s remarks and
were drawn up in line at the rignt of
the platoon of guards uich confronted
the window at which the notorious pris-
oner was 10 appear The upper and
lower sash Ind been removed from the
window TO afford greater freedom of
view for both the cond, mned man and
the thrOng and souL our waiting was
rewarded by the sight OF the great and
only Hall, thin, pale, grizzly speci-
men OF humanity, by no means a dan
gerous looking man, at the same time
bearing q repulsive look. The hearts
OF the lookers-on were touched by the
realization that this was his last look
into the great world through those
small grey eyes, which glistened and
blinked in The unaccustomed light Of
The man seemed to realize his posi-
ton, and whilo we stood almost: breath
less with expectation, he was appar.
emily intent only upon one thing, and
that was to look, long lingering look,
day.
At sun and stream and plain,
AS what he necr would see again.
Then after probably five minutes of
suspense and silence Hall turned away
without word to the crowd and was
lost in the gloom of the Jail again.
The corporal of our little squad of
news.Ratherers then marched us to the
pen or board inclosure around the scat
fold and there we stood with bated
breath and quickenrd pulse awaiting the
crack Of doom for Hall.
Soon the clank Of chains announced
the approach OF the PROCESSION and
slowly and mourufully came the little
band, Captain Bullitt in advance, then,
the prisoner with the sheriff on one side
and Father Lyr CHI on the other. Hand
cuffed and chains on his feet, the unfor-
tunate man walked to his death with
steady, though not strong, step up the
rough stairway to The moose and the
trap. AS he started up the steps
one of the guards dropped his gun
and seized Halps hands with the exola-
nation: Good bye. Talt, old boy; is
it all rightwit you? The answer came
Standing on the trap he asked to see his
sister, Mrs. Bates, and the old lad y came
In, walked up the steps unassisted and
shook Halls hands as they were mao
aclt d behind him. There were no tears
at this scene, the sister having hard,
revengeful look and uttering words OF
hate, to which Hall replied that he
wanted no more trouble. II want no
one killed about this" were about his
last words except those he uttered me-
chemically following the words of Father
Lynch as the cap and moose were drawn
down over his face. His faithful attor-
ney, M. c. l.. Richmond, was the last
to tell him goodbye and then two strong
men grasped the stays under the trap,
| removing them and letting the trap
down about two inches, II resting only
on small cotton rope The seconds
now seemed minutes and the mimi les
hours, SO great was the suspence.
Sheriff Holbrook grasped Ratchet
and standing upon the steps he struck
warning blow with the butt OF the
Ratchet, then in loud and trembling
voice he exclaimed, THE Lord have
mercy upon the soul of this poor unfor-
tunate man. struck the cotton trap
rope ringing blow, and as the victim
dropped into the void below the sheriff
covered his face with both hands,
rushed to one corner of the inclosuro
and wept as though his heart was
broken.
This scene will never be effaced from