The morning call., 1893-12-21
NO LAWYER TO DEFEND HIM
Witnesses Again Brought From
All Over the State.
THE PROSECUTION WAS READY.
But the Man Charged With the
Murder of Ida Shaddock Again
Begs for Delay.

The case of the People of the State of
California against DR.. Samuel II. Hall for
the murder of Ida Shaddock by criminal
malpractice was continued again yester-
day, making the sixty-first continuance
since the accused was first arraigned in
the Superior Court of this city and county.
But the continuance yesterday was not
"by consent" Assistant District Attor-
ney Hosmer at length opposed another
continuance of the case, calling the courts
attention to the fact that witnesses had
again been brought from all parts of the
State at great expense to themselves and
the State government and that if the case
were again continued they would be CON-
PEELED to return at still greater expense {;
that the defendant had been given far
more than ample opportunity to prepare
for a second trial, over two and a half
years having elapsed since his first trial,
and that no valid excuse was offered for a
continuance. The prosecution was ready
and anxious to proceed at once.
Henry G. McPike appeared for DR.. Hall
in the absence of George A. Knight, who
defended him on his first trial. Mr. Nc
Pike STATE that MIR. knight was in Hum
boldt County. or on his way there, and
that he (McPIke) was not willing to under
take DR.. Halls case.
For a long time the court hesitated about
granting the continuance, and while the
Judge was deliberatiug DR.. Hall, looking
decidedly seedy and anxious, sat in the
rear of the courtroom strainiDg his ears
to catch every word uttered for or against
him. Gone was The jaunty air, the conf
dence, the impudence that marked the
demeanOr two years ago of the man who
put dying girl aboard Of train and left
her to her fate. DR.. Hall has found that
there are jurles outside of cOurtrOoms
which can neither be bought nor swayed
by eoquence, and life has not been as easy
sailing for him as 1t used to be. People
know him, and the remembrance of the
terrible sufferings of the child-woman on
the train and at Benicia after she had been
abandoned by DR.. Hall, in whom she
trusted, and who when he found her dy-
ing deserted her when she most needed his
aid. has made DR.. Hall not only an
object of unenviable not0riety but has
kept patients away from bis office.
Finally the case was continued until
January %, 1894, but on that date. il is
stated. il viii be tried, attorney or no
attorney. The truth Is that no reputs BILE
lawyer wants Dr. Halls case. The first
trial demonstrated the strength of the
prosecution as against him, and lawyer
dislikes to undertake forlorn hope even
for big fee. 1t is question whether
George a. Knight VIII again defend the
man, but somebody will defend him on
January %. for another continuance will
not be granted, and if no attorney appears
the court will undoubtedly appoint one.
Hall should be tried and either con.
yicted or acquitted. To bring witnesses
from Siskiyou, Colusa, Tehama, Solano
and other counties to San Francisco three
or four times year is at once an outrage
upon the witnesses themselves, who are
compelled 10 leave their business and
their homes at few days notice, and an
expense TO the taxpayers Of the State that
could and should be avoided" said Supe-
ri0r Jude Yesterday.
surely, Hall has had lsniency enough.
Sixty-one contlnuances, case dragged
along for almost three years. is chance
enough. Ii he has any defense 10 make
be ought TO be ready with it now. Let
him be tried and punished or else SET at
iiberty"