Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-03
NO ONE SAVED HIM
Desperate Talton Hall Hung
Yesterday Noon.
HE DIED LIKE A COWARD
Shook Himself Together by The Aid Of
Whisky But Was Afraid the
Rope Would Break.


Tslton Hall, the notorious desperate,
was hanged at noon today. No at
tempt Was made by his friends TO rescue
him. Atll:55, Hall WAS brought out
from MS cell To the front window of
the court house. lie had al along ex-
pressed desire TO address the people
before he was hanged and said he
could speak for two hours. When he
reached the window. he looked over
crowd Of about 500 people. Every
ear was strained to catch his expected
remarks. lie stood motiOnless for
some minutes the very picture OF
despair and then fell back IN
lie Died Like "A Coward.
char. He was given drink OF
whiskey and squared himself in the
window again. All he said was TO ask
man near his window MS name. HIS
lace WAS haggard and drawn and
everyone expected that It would be
necessary to drag him to the scatlold.
III was returned Ia MS cell where he
attIred himself in q neat well fitting
sun of black anu at 1910 he mounted
THO cANDS " kAtC Win III Ali ctC 80
As he reached the scatoid he turned
TO sheriff Holbrook and said:
"l'ye got only one word TO say. /
am afraid that the rope will break"
Guards and deputy sneuifs pressed
around HIM and shook hands. HIS
SISTER, Mrs. Bates, was brought IN and
bade him good bye. The black cap
was adjusted. Father Lynch kissed
HIM good bye. and at 1927 Sheriff Hol-
brok. who was crying, cut the rope and
the body fell four feet. The neck was
broken and the body was pronounced
dead in seven minutes. There was no
disturbance during the day.
sketch OF HIS Career.
Talton Hall is credited with ninety
nine murders, and while this is prob
ably on exaggeratlon, there is no doubt
that he is responsible for the death OF
al least two score men. He was born in
Letcher county, KY, forty-slx years
ago, and grew up with such desper-
ADDE'S as John Wright, who is credited
with twenty-seven murders. They
joined Guerilla Morgan's band when
the war broke out, and made them
selves conspicuous for their deeds of
reckless daring. When the war ended
tuty KttuIQtQ 10 htutuCk5 dLu luduS-
urated reign of terror IN the noun
talns. Murders were the daily
amusement of the gang, and although
they were frequently arrested. the
terror which they inspired insured
their acquital when brought to trial.
ANY Juror who voted to convict any of
the desperadoes was marked by their
friends. In this way Hall was acquIt-
ted of the cold-blooded murder of
Henry Maggard in 1866. He killed
Dan Pridmore in 1875 and was acquitted;
n cowardly jury acquitted him of Nat
Baker murder In 1881 and he went tree
when he murdered his brother-in-law
Henry Triplett, in 1882. He killed
Henry Houk in 1888 and was indicted,
but no officer dared arrest him, and in
1885 he killed his cousin, Mack Hall,
and laughed at the sheriff who tried to
arrest him. Finally, on July IA, 1891,
he deliberately murdered Chief OF
Police HyltOn Of Northern, Va. BY
this time public sentiment was too
strong for him, and he fled the coun-
try. He was captured at Memphis,
Tenn, and was duly tried, convicted
and sentenced.