The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-03

NORTON, Sept. a.-[Special l-Talt
Hail, the murderer and desperate, OK
plated his many crimes on the scaffold
to-day at Wise Court House. The drop
fell at 1897 and the body was cut down
thirty minutes later.
1t is estimated that there were over
1000 strangers in Wise Court House who
came to look upon the features of the
executed man.
| Reports have been freely circulated
| for the past few weeks that an attempt
would be made to rescue Hall and the
jail and its approaches were strongly
| guarded. but If the condemned man had
any friends among the crowd they made
no demonstration and the execution
| passed Off without hitch,
Hall spent mis- last night on earth in
restless manner. For the past few days
he has shown signs Of breaking down
and has been stimulated with whiskey.
In fact. he has been in state of mild
intoxication that has robbed his APP
preaching doom of many Of its horrors.
Last night he set fire to his bed and
would have burned the jail but fc T the
timely arrival Of the guard. When
asked for his reason for this act he
laughed and replied that he wanted to
smoke DR.. Taylor out of his CELL
Hall was visited this morning by his
sister, Mrs. Bates, and other relatives.
During these interviews no bore up
bravely and discussed his fate with
calmness.
He reiterated the statement that he
had not been given fair show at his
trial, but said that no had forgiven all
his enemies. After she left him Mrs.
Bates stated that there never had been
any danger of mob trying to rescue
her brother. She spoke very bitterly of
the manner in which no had been
treated and declared that somebody
would suffer for his hanging.
Notwithstanding the large crowd in
town only those whom the law allowed
saw the execution. 1t was twenty-three
minutes past twelve whom Hall was led
from his cell and the march to the
scatfold commenced. Tho condemned
man was attended by Father Ducie, Of
Lynohburg, and Father Lynch, OF Roa-
noke. He walked with firm step and
his lips were constantly moving as
though in prayer.
Arriving at the scaffold he assembled
the steps, still attended by the two
priests. Hall Immediately took his
| place under the fatal moose, which was
immediately PLACED around his neck by
Sheriff Holbrook.
"At 12 o'clock Hall was allowed to
stand in one OF the Jail windows to adj
dress the multitude outside, the hang
ing being private, but his fortitu6e for
sock him and he fell back. A second at
tempt was made but he only succeeded
In sa!uting the acquaintances whom he
recognized.
Father Lynch made the unfortunate
N a n nd IN SO fot nd a l.
robbed of It's terror When Sheriff Hol-
brook adjusted the black cap he broke
down and cried like child. The sig
nal was given and o second later Talt
Hall was launched into eternity.
The body was allowed TO bang for
thirty minutes, when it was cut down
and placed in coffin. The remains
will be taken to Letcher. kentucky,
and inferred by the side Of McCl.l.
Adams and George Johnson. two of the
most noted desperadoes ever in that
State. These men died with their boots
| on.
John Wright the Kentucky detect
| i've who stood by Talt Hall to the end,
will accompany the remains, which
will, at his request be buried near his
home.
Talton Hall was one Of the most noted
| desperadoes in this region, prolific in
lawless characters. He is credited with
having killed nineteen men in the last
twenty years, which the papers magni-
| fled into ninety.ni Hall acknowI-
edges only four or five, however. He
said to reporter week ago that he
killed Henry Triplett in 1878 and Henry
Houk and Mack Hall in 1885, for each
OF which he was tried and acquitted.
These murders occurred in Kentucky.
Inc crime for which Hall was execu-5
ted to-day was the murder in cold blood
of Enos Z. Hylton, special policeman
OF Norton, on the 25th of July, 1891,
Hall shooting the policeman on the lat-
tors refusal TO release an arrested man
named Miles Bates.
he and Bates then escaped to the
woods, Hall wandering around in Virs
ginia for month or more and then
going TO Memphis, where his family
was. He remained there unrecogniaed
for several months until he was finally
discovered and arrested by Policeman.
Pryde, OF that city.
He made no resistance to comingback
to Virginia, seeming confident that he
would be acquitted when brought to-
trial on his usual plea of self.defense. z
He was promptly convicted on his trial
last spring. Strong effort was made by 3
Halls friends and a band of sentiment
alists at Lynchburg, where Hall was
confined, to have Governor McKinney
commute his sentence.
President Harrison Leaves Washington.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-TSpeciall
President Harrison left Washington at
Z o'clock this evening for Loon Lake to
visit Mrs. Harrison, making no stops.
iu nod hat L