The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-06
PRINCESS ANNE TRAGEDY
George Hale Shot and Killed by
Ben Brock.
The Men Have Difficulty at Jones
Store, Near Virginia Beach. Hale
Shot and Left to Die in the
Road. Intense Feeling
Prevails.

pight with MIR, Beuj. Brock and two
Swedes and received injuries from
Shioh he died at st. Vincent's Hospital
Sunday morning.
While there ID perfectly clear string
OF the circumstances leading up to the
killing, exactly what occurred when
Che man received the wounds which
lead to his death is somewhat of q
mystery.
There is intense feeling in the
county on account of the treatment of
Dir. Hale after he was shot. An in.
quest will be held this morning, when,
Ut Is thought, all of the circumstances
will be explained.
AT JONES STORE.
Jones' store is located at the cross
foads about half mile from Virginia
$each Hotel. 1t is favorite resort
tor the farmers and fishermen of the
heighborhood, who sell much of their
products of the farm and fish and crubs
80 the Princes Ann Hotel One of the
Srequenters of the cross roads store
Kept by tue Jones Bros was Geo. Hale an
Cuglishman. who located in the neigh
6orhood about fourteen years ago.
Halo was good natured man when
sober, but thought TO be dangerous
when drinking. He mad wife, sn in
dustrlous, hardworklng woman, and
neversl children-sll girls. Very re
Gently baby came into the family and
30 reloiced WAS Mr. Hale that Satur-
wife at home with the
children and after disposing of load
of crabs at the Princess Anne II otel
went to Jones store, to celebrate the
birth of the boy baby by having
good time with the boys. He found at
Jones' store Ben Brock, Henry Braith-
wait and several others. Hale was
drinking and possibly some of the
Others.
THE FIRST ROW,
Men who drink generally talk and
The crowd at Jones corner were no
exception, md ct length there was II
hkylarking scutfle, in which Halo is
said to have hurt Brook, who was
Nuch smaller man. The VIRGlNIAN is
Informed that Brock became:angry and
used very insulting language to Hale,
who slapped him In the face, knocking
him down. Brock was no match for
Hale In fist fight, and left the store
saying that he would have his revenge.
Alter the row the meE quieted down
and Hale and Henry Braithwait went
Co the barber shop of negro man
named Mayo, where Brnithwait was
shaved.
THE SECOND Row.
After leaving Jones store Brock, it
sB said, went to Oceana.i it is thought for
the purpose OF getting pistol.
At "any rate" he soon returned.
and the negro barber says that
when Bralthwait and Halo and
the others;:went ont of his shop. he
heard noise. Soon after, Brock was
charging Hale with treniiug him badly
and that Hale denied doing SO. He
then heard pistol shots. He ran out
into the road and found Hale lying on
She ground, man was standing behird
tree. He, (Mayo), became frlghtene eu
and ran away.
BROCK sURRENDERS.
1t appears that soon after the shoot.
ing ben Brock went to the homo Of
Justice Gressum in the neighborhood
ana told HIM be had shot George Hale
and desired to surrender to the author
stles. The Justice said that he (Brock
Had better 60 and get bondsmen, ana
Brock left,
The Justice then went to the scene OF
she shooting and arriving there about 4
CLOCK IN the morning; found Hale's
morse and wagon still in the road but
sne man was not where last seen by
mayo, the negro barber. From the
roadway there was trail as if some
thing had been dragged. Following
shis trail Hale was found u short dis
tance from the road under n "clump"
OF trees. He was alive but was covered
WIN blood. which flowedsfreely from
Two pistol wounds. one in the side and
ehe other in the stomach These were
not necessarily fatal
These were, however, not all. There
was cash on tho top OF his head rs If
made by some blunt instrument. This
bloW fractured his skull aud his brains
were ooZing from this terrible wound.
Ihe persons who had tsken Hale from
she road to the trees had placed his
hat over this terrible wound, and
evidently placed him there with the
expectation that death would coon re.
aleve his suffering.
HALE's STATEMENT,
Hale was taken by tho Justice to
zones store and DR.. Miller was sum
moned. He soon arrived and said tl,at
there was bare chance TINT tho man
would live. The Justice questioned
Hale. who said I've was shot by Ben
Continued on Second page.