Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1898-12-15
THE HALL CASE.
1t May be Reopened.-An Abstract of the
Evidence.

has marked an era in the history of
that county which will probably
never be forgotten. The case Of the
state against Thomas Hall is one
which has been long and thor
oughly discussed In this county, and
which eliminated Sunday, December
4th, by the jury returning a verdict
Of murder and fixing the penalty at
life Imprisonment. Hamlin county
has saved no expense in the prosecu-
tion of this case, but has put forth
great efforts and expense in order to
secure conviction by the employ
ment Of detectives and otherwise,
and by procuring the personal attend
ance Of witnesses from several states,
including Nebraska and Missouri.
Sixty-three jurors were examined
before the trial jury was secured.
Upon the part of the state about
forty witnesses testified, commencing
with showing the finding Of the body
Of LeMay on the north banks Of lake
Poinsett September 9th, 1897, then
following with witnesses who testified
that Thomas Hall and Charles Le-
May left Mellette, South Dakota,
with wagon and team of mules belong
ing to LeMay, between September
18th and 18th, but the state evidence
as to whether Hall left Mellette with
LeMay was decidedly uncertain and
indefinite. That the outfit was seen
near Watertown September 18th
with two men corresponding to the
descriptions of Hall and LeMay with
it. That on the following day the
outfit was seen going south from
lake Poinsett with one man in the
wagon corresponding in description to
Hall. Several witnesses from Arling-
ton then testified that Hall was in
Arlington several days and disposed
of some of the outfit belonging to Le-
May, including the harness, fly nets
etc. Several witnesses from Hartford,
South Dakota, then testified that
Hall remained in Hartford sev-
eral days and there sold the remainder
of the outfit consisting of the wagon,
mules and other articles. The mules,
wagon and other articles were present
at Castlewood and the smaller articles
were introduced in evidence, includ-
ing bloody clothing found upon the
body of LeMay and identified by Mrs.
LeMay and her mother, Mrs. Abbot,
as the clothing which Charles LeMay
took with him. The purchasers of
the mules, wagon and other articles
testified to having purchased them of
Hall. Numerous other witnesses
were examined by the state upon
incidental matters. The state COM
menced putting in it's evidence We'd
nesday morning and closed Friday
noon. Thereupon the defendent's
case was opened Friday afternoon by
the reading Of the depositions of sev-
eral persons from Tarkio, Missouri,
Halls former place ofresidence, show
ing his previous good character and
peaceable disposition.
D. r. Sweezey and Charles B. Cook
Of Arlington then testified that the
man with the LeMay outfit, who
who passed through Arlington Sep
tember 18th, did not correspond in
description to the defendent, and in
their opinion was not the defendent.
Thomas Hall, the defendant, was
then sworn IN his own behalf, testified
he was born in Kentucky in 1869; that
in company with several others he
went TO Mellstte in July, 1897 and
worked in various places there thresh-
ing and doing other work. That
he became acquainted with Le-
May and saw him last either Septem-
ber 18th or 10th. That on the morn
ing Of September 18th, Hall left for
Aberdeen on freight train; from
thence to Minneapolis and st. Paul,
at which latter place he wrote let
ter to one Emma Guthrie of Tarkio,
Missouri on September 2lst. That he
travelled by way of LsMars to Tarkio
where he arrived about October 4th.
H. E. Whittenmeyer and E. Mackin
then testified in corroboration of Hall,
that he was at Minneapolis and St.
Paul on the dates mentioned and
Mackin testified to having travelled
with him from Granite Falls Mime
sofa, to Minneapolis and from thence
to station near Sioux City. The
deposition of Emma Guthrie was then
read, wherein she stated that she re-
ceived letter from Hall dated at
st. Paul, Minnesota, September
21st, this being the letter which
Hall testified to having written at
that place. The arguments of the
attorneys for the respective sides
Friday evening and con-