The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-27


NORTON, Va, Jan. 26.-lSpeciall-
The trial of Talt Hall. the most noted
desperate over known in Virginia, began
here to-day. Hall his killed thirteen
men. his last murder was that of
Eunice Hylton, policeman at Norton.
This last crime and the one for
which he is now being tried was COM
mitted last July. Hylton was shot
whilo ono of Halls confoderates a man
named Balso held him. Hall escaped,
but was captured several weeks ego in
Memphis, Tenn. He was brought back.
to Norton and has since been kept under
strong guard.
Great excitement prevailed in Norton
at the time OF his capture and threats
OF lynching were freely iudulgud in.
There was also some fear on tho part OF
the authorities that his friends would
attempt to rescue him FROM prison He
was brought into court to-day heavily
manacled and surrounded by strong
guard OF men armcl with Winches.er
rifles. lie seemed very much uncon-
cerned and chatted pleasantly with
TIE Times representative, SAYING hs
had no doubt but that he would be &c.
Quilted; but when the jurors were being
examined no became very muoh excited
and seemed anxious about the jury.
The entire day was consumed in pre-
llminary motions and tho selection OF a
jury.
The jury was at last obtained and are
mostly from Big Stone Gap. They arc
all remarkably intelligent and is prob
ably the best jury over soon in tho
county.
There is q great array of counsel, j.
Il. Richmond leading for the defense
and Judge G. 4. Duncan for the com
monwealth.
Tho general opinion is that tho YER
dict will be for conviction, and If ac-
Quilted that ne will be lynched.
y largo number of Halls allies and
friends from Kentucky are attending
the trial. Ho made o desperate attempt
TO break Jail last night and succeeded
in taking stone from tho wall, when
he was discovered, and was closely
watched the balance of the night. He
is kept heavily ironed and tho utmost
Drocaution is taken to prevent escape.
The prosecution took great pains in
selecting the jury and have gone over
the whole proceedings carefully in order
TINT there may be no defect and no
ground upon which to grant now trial.
There seems to ba but little doubt in
the public mind that he will pull hemp
and that by due course of law. The
best citizens in the county express de-
termination to see that he has fair
trial and that the verdict of tho jury,
Whatever it may be, shall be executed.
Superintendent Taggart, OF tho Vir-
ginia Coal and Iron Company, was in
Halls cell one day this week and SAYS
that Hall talked freely with him. lie
told MIR. Taggart it would be only
matter of thirty minutes for him to
make his escape were it not for tho
handouts which adorned his wrists. lie
does not seem to be fond OF jewelry and
would evidently like to be relieved of
his beautiful bracelets.
Hall is tall, slender man, six feet
two inches in height, and will weigh
probably ono hundred and seventy-fivo
pounds. He has keen black eyes, an
aquiline nose and mouth that indi-,
Gates firmness. His hair is streaked
with gray, he has high, receeding fore
head and is not at all q bad looking
man, and certainly not one that would
impress you with the idea that he was.
q desperado. In crowd he would be-
one OF the last men one would be likely
to pick out as vicious, desperate char
acter.
He was dressed to-day in cheap
brown suit and smoked cigar with an
unconcerned air, but when close to you
you could see that his hand trem bled
and that he was experiencing consider
able suppressed emotion. Hall in chat
ting with reporter related how hs was
captured.
"My arrest was brought about by the
treachery of ono of my friends had
been giving tho follow money, but he
came to me when was broke and could
not help him. He went off and gave
mo away to the police Tho detectives
came to my house in Memphis and told
mo l was wanted at the police head
quarters by sheriff from Mississippi,
as a man who had broke Jail.
Il knew was not the man, and went
on with them to tho station. When 1
entered tho room, about fifteen men
jumped on me, overpowered me and
locked me up"
II have not killed as many mon as is
accredited to mo-"
He was asked how many ho had
killed
81 don't know" was his careless ro-
sponse."
Have you killed half dozen men?v
Eyes, more"
IA dozep?"
mo. not SO many as that and that
was all he would say concerning the.
number OF his victims
Whitelaw Reid to Resign
WASHINGTON, Jan 26 Especial lit
is ascersained on the best authority that
Whitelaw Reid, United STATES munster
to France, is seriously oontem la,inr
resignation in order to resume his