Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
n...I. HALL BLOOMS As A LAWYER.
Conducts Both Sides of His Case with
Marked Ability.

Conducts Both Sides of His Case with
Marked Ability.
William Hall, in whose possession a part
of $500 worth of household goods stolen
from Kimball Bros. was found, was in JUS
tice Cooks court yesterday afternoon for
the purpose of proving his claim that the
goods found rightfully belonged to him by
reason Of original purchase. The goods were
stored in Ktmball Bros factory four years
ago and were stolen one night and so sue
c~essfully concealed that no traces of them
could be discovered until a few weeks ago,
when a search warrant revealed the presence
of a large part Of them in the home of Hall
at 2013 South Thirteenth street. The stat
ute of limitation prevented the prosecution
of Hall upon the charge of burglary.
Among the goods recovered were a set of
drawing instruments and four silver table
spoons and a silver butter knife. Hall de-
MED all knowledge of the burglary, and
claimed without hesitancy that the spoons
belonged to him, and began an action for
their recovery. The case occupied a greater
part Of the afternoon, and also a part of
the time of several peace officers. c. E. Kim
ball was represented by his brother, a young
attorney who has been in the city but a few
months. Hall was his own attorney, and he
distinguished himself in that line as he has
in several others. Mrs. Kimball was called
to the stand to Identify the butter knife and
the spoons. This she did positively and
without hesitancy. The silverware was con-
siderably worn. but it had been in her fam
lily several years prior to the time 1t was
stolen and she was very familiar with the
engraving and other marks. Kimball also
identified the drawing instruments as being
a set given him by his father in a box made
by his father. The instruments were hand
made and easily identified. When the Kim
balls testimony was concluded it looked like
a case of positive Identification. Halls meth
DDS of cross-examination were novel and
somewhat forcible.
Where did you get my woman's spoons?'
he asked of Mrs. Kimball nonchalantly, while
n smile spread over his countenance as he
realized the imputation his question carried.
In an instant he modified 1t by apologetically
remarking: 81 shouldn't think you'd want
them old spoons now, anyway"
He insisted on Mrs. Kimball infinitely de-
scribing the spoons while he held them in
his hands and with indolent curiosity noted
the Identification marks as she mentioned
them. When the testimony for the Kim
balls was finished he called Mrs. Hall to the
stand. The attorney for the Kimballs asked
the court to exclude Mr.. Hall while his wife
testified, as Hall had declared that he would
go on the stand himself when he got through
with his wife. The court was about to COM
ply with the request when Hall dryly re-
marked:
"Ain't I an attorney in this case, Mr..
Court?"
The court was compelled to admit that
Hall was acting in that capacity.
You can't exclude one attorney unless
you exclude the other" said Hall.
By this time there was a good deal of feel
ing between Hall and the attorney, and
Hall informed the court that he would be
very happy to be closeted for about five
minutes with the opposing counsel, and he
! would endeavor to teach him something
about the manly art of self-defense as well
as law. The court would not consent to
this. and Mrs. Hall was excluded, while
Hall took the stand as a witness. The
court conducted the direct examination.
Hall testified that he and his wife pur-
chased the silver spoons somewhere in
Omaha about five years ago, and that the
butter knife had been given to his wife
by a woman. When asked IL these were
the spoons he replied:
IF them's the spoons the officers took
from my house they are mine"
"Do you recognize them as yours?"
Nav, l don't know that I do. Only II
them's the spoons Alberti took, they're
mine"
"What makes you think SOP"
Because we amt got no Others
Under cross-examination Hall became
very restless, and 1t was with difficulty that
he could restrain himself from flying at
the throat OF the opposing counsel. When
asked how he came into the possession
Of the case of instruments, he said he
picked them up on the street corner about
a year ago.
Didn't you tell Mr.. Kimball and N.Y.
self that you bought that box ?" asked the
counsel.
you're a liar" shouted Hall. as he
sprang from the chair and attempted to
strike the attorney. A dozen hands were
laid upon him and he was prevented doing
the lawyer any harm. you can call me
a thief, but II you try to make ne out a
liar I'll smash you" he muttered as he
resumed his seat. The prospect for a gem
eral fight seemed so good that a number
Of the spectators made a hasty exit from
the room. Hall was warned by the court
that he would be sent to fail for contempt
IL he repeated his offensive remarks. He
was still very angry when he left the stand,
and a moment later he crossed the little
room with quick strides TO where Attor-
ney Kimball was sitting. muttering: BE
lieye I'll smash you anyhow" Again he
was prevented and again the court threat
ened him with the county jail.
HE had no right to ask that question.
1t is not cross-examination, because there
examination said Hall. The point was
raised too late for the court to rule upon
II, and the examination OF Mrs. Hall was
commenced. Her testimony was a counter
part OF that OF her husband, only she could
not tell what street in Omaha the jeweler
was located who sold them the spoons.
Halls examination OF his wife was very
full and also very shrewd, and while she
was giving her testimony she took special
delight in looking daggers at Mrs. Kimball,
who had returned to the court room after
the l~ncipient riot had been quellei.
After the court had delivered a lecture
upon the necessity OF observing good order