The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-03

was brought to close on JUICE 30, in the con-
viction OF Iaiton Hall OF murder in the nrst oe-
gree. The Jury took twelve hours TO deiloefetc,
and when their verdict was announced Hall
rose to his feet and seemed perfectly cool ana
collected. The trial was helG at Wise Court
House, the county seat of Wise county, Va, four
miles from Norton, the nearest telegraph sta
ton. All week the strange sight was seen In
this little mountain viilage q . courtroom
men armed with WINCHESTER rifles 70 prevent
the prisoner from being rescned or lyncheo.
Even the attorneys In the case had to appear
hesvly armed to protect Themselves ir po,
two days band of the friends OF Hall, all
from over the Kentucky line, seventy-nve
strong, lay in the woods in the vicinity OF the
village, awaiting an opportunity TO sweep down
upon the guard, and the Jail asd courthouse.
which commands entrance to the Jail, were
filled with armed men. One OF the Hall men,
strong preparations made for sheir reception
frightened of the gang. Notwithstanding the
mob, 1t Is probable that the verdict rang down
the curtain on the closing scene in the career
OF the most notorious desperate living. and the
man who has killed more OF HIS fellow men
than any OF the many desperadoes OF which this
region can boast Had an attempt at Halls res
cue been made he would not have lived TO join
his friends even should they have succeeded In
driving Oft the guard. 1t has been Tall Halle
boast that he has killed ninety-Biue men. He
began his criminal career when be was Ii years
old. Thirty victims are named and charged to
him by the authorities of Virginia and Ken.
lucky. Hall, according to his stery, was in all
the battles of the Howards, Turner's and Ever
soies, and had several private vendetias with
which to amuse himself When things were
dull Once Milt Turner attempted his capt
ure for large reward. Hall and half dozen
friends gave the posse q warIn reception. at
which time the dead numbered over ten.
Turner was himself captured. Another feud
was between himself and q cousin named W.
J. NJ. Hall. who was a wealthy citizen OF Cat
iettsburg, Ky. man named Clay Jones also
had an interest in this muss. in which he
scored one more life After this Hall found
claims to have been q deputy United States
marshal for four years prior to lSs4 and to have
killed large number of moons3iiners. When
asked how many men had bitsen the dust at
bis bidding Hall nonchalantly replied: "Oh,
about ninety-nine.S The actual count with
the humble. of his victims at twenty.fye or
thirty. S. N. Taylor, a brother -irf-law of Town
Marshal E. Hylton. of norton. Wise
s sims, tells tells one on Hair. ha exploits as
which differs somewhat from the
story told by Hall himself, but in the main they
are the same, as far as Halls boo5 career
is concerned. After earning the name OF drunk
ard and gambler before he was 25 years old,
Halls first step of note was the shooting OF the
Triplett boys, whose sister be had married, and
with whom he had quarreled. a warrant for
his arrest was placed in the hands of the sheriff
OF Floyd county, Ky. The sheriff approached
Hall and, placing pistol in his face. ordered
backward and fired upon the sheriff, killing
him instantly. few weeks later Hall joined
the John Wright band of outlaws, comprising
about thirty men, which was then AT war with
the Jones faction. With this mars Wright Hall
has been associated more or less intimately
ever since. He returned to Wright's protection
In Letcher county last summer after killing
Hylton. In fight which occurred at the mouth
OF Boone creek, the Jones gang was fred upon
from ambush. They returned the fire, and in
the melee Hall had his skin loaded with shot.
inn h0nk IN md raoA
the report that he had died from the effects
OF wounds received in the battle with Jones'
followers After time Hall signslized himself
oy killing man who was known IS Dick Vance
An ancient name of terror. Dick vas jealous of
the fame Hall was making for hinsself, aud this
feeling led to the duel aud Vance's death. Hall
had no respect for the ties OF relationship, for
he killed three of his own cousins who had de-
Tended Vance. Soon after, at Cattettsburg, he
threw John Adams, Vance's half BROTHER, from a
seeond-story window, from the effects OF which
known a. q bloodthirsty villain, but disliked
any reference TO his wife, who had been his
faithful companion through all his disgrace. 1t
isa fact. explanatory Of his shrinsing, that he
killed Salyef, his wifes former husband, to
marry her. 1t is said salyer had decided to
leave the mountains, seeing that his wife pre-
forated with bullets Hall the II fed to Memhis
was taken into custody. The story
deed to Halls calendar. He and one
Bates, his brOther-in'law, appeared In Norton,
Va, last June After various brawls q warrant
against Bates for larceny was issued and an at
tempt was made to execute it by Town Marshal
Hylton. Bates and Hall were in the yards of q
railway when the officer found them. Hylton.
who did not see Hall, presented his pistol at
Bates head and demanded that be surrender.
Hall stepped from behind the Car, and drawing
his pistol made Hilton hand over his weapon.
No sooner was the officer disarmed than Hall
shot at him. Hylton knocked the pistol up
Bates then seized Hylton, and thus. while being
held by Batess Hall deliberately shot him to
death. Bates was captured. but Hall escaped
from large posse by crawling on has hands and
there was no chance of escape he Joined the
Catholic church, and religion was a great con-
ISOLATION to him in his last trying moments. He
realized tn at the tug of the rope would shake
his rectifed spirit free from its tenement of clay
to enter into immortal life.