The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-06

Did you go and notify Mrs. Hail
about this tronble2''
Il wouldn't be sure
Didn't you and DR.. Hogeboom go to
Mrs. Halls house?"
Il don't recall it,
Didn't you hear Mrs. Hall say that
she was afraid of serious trouble?"
Il object" said Ensminger
objection sustained said Judge
Hazen.
Did you know of Hall shooting a
man in the back"
Il never heard of it till yesterday"
Was Hall removed from the force
after this trou5le?"
No, he was moved to this side of the
river and wore citizens clothes and he
was given the discretion of the city
Did he not set in trouble after this?"
YES
Was he discharged for that?"
No. he was discharged for another
matter
was he not arrested, and did he not
plead guilty to it?''
Object said Ensminger.
Objection sustained said Judge
Hazen.
..Didn't Head look like a strong
man?"
Yes"
HEAD LAUGHED AND JOKED.
Ex-Pol1cernan Henry Carpenter was
the next witness called. He said that
at the police station Head laughed and
joked his wound was dressed and
said: 4 old enough to know better"
He said Head had been drinking and
was under the influence of liquor. He
had seen Head intoxicated before and
that it was a common occurrence for
him to see Head intoxicated. He said
he went home with Head in the patrol
wagon and that when they met Hall on
the bridge Head asked that the wagon
be stopped and that Hall be allowed to
get in. He said he had known Hall
three years and that up to the time of
tic TJ-1I I'm
taking officer.
Did you consider Hall a cool officer?"
asked Ensminger
4 never saw him excited said Car
penter
WAS he quick tempered?'
Il never saw him lose his temper"
Sergeant McEslrOy and Officer Bernard
testified that they thought Hall a good
officer.
HENRY STEELE TESTIFTES
Jailer H. S. Smith was called by the
defense after d short recess which end.
ed at 1850 o'clock. Before the recess
was taken Attorney Ensminger had
called Hall to take the stand in his own
behalf, but at the close of the recess
Smith was called instead. He testified
that at the station Head joked and said
Head had been drinking. On cross
examination he said that Head was
booked for being drunk and disturbing
religious meeting.
Henry steele, at one time chief OF
police, was called to the stand. He had
known Hall ten or twelve years. He
thought Hall careful and cool-headed
officer. On croSS-examinatiOn he said
he had heard people say Hall was quick
tempered.
Chief Stah1 was recalled to the stand
and the question was asked by AttOr-
ney Ensminger if Hall was not espe-
took the position Of chief by his pre-
deceSSOrs- The question was objected
to and ruled out The question was
asked if at the autopsy Stahl did not
ture of the skull could not have caused
death and they would have to look for
other causes for the death
Did you see the hammer and chisel
used on the skull to open it ?" asked
Attorney Ensminger
Yes replied Stahl.
What effect did they have upon the
skull?"
Il saw them perceptibly open and
close the fracture.
HALL ON THE STAND.
AT the conclusion of Chief Stahl's tes-
timopy the defendant, S. NJ. Hall, was
placed on the stand. He said he had
lived in Topeka fourteen years, and had
worked at lumber yards. He joined the
police force three years ago last July.
He was appointed a policeman by
Mayor c. A. Fellows under Chief of
Police Strauss and served under Chief
Ramsey and Chief Stahl in turn until
July 2S 1901. In answer to a question
by Attorney Ensminger he said he first
saw Head on the night of the trouble
standing in front of the Adams house
What was Geo. Heads condition
that night?''
He was intoxicated"
What happened between you and
Head2"
'-One of the mission people told Head
to be still 1 had not seen Head until
then He had his hands clasped to-
gether and was swaying his body. L
went to Head and put my hand on his
shoulder and said You must keep STILL
l walked to the bridge and back on the
other side of the street When I got
back and looked across the street L
saw that he was still disturbing the
meeting. 1 went to him again, and told
him he was in no condition to be on
the street, and told him to go hime. 1
went back nearly to the building and
then after went to him and took him
by the sleeve and led him out of the
crowd He had his hands in front of
him, and turned around and struck me
on the shoulder had my club grasped
about nine inches from the end. l
tapped him lightly with my club. The
blow did not stagger him. He again tried
TO strike me and took hold of a lamp
post. and had to take him away from
it. 1 led him to the depot and sat him
down in a chair
There was no enmity between you
and Head?"
No"
You had no trouble with him be-
No. Except that at the election I
had to lead him out of the lines"
mere was no revenge between your
Did you mean to hurt him?"
Did you mean to kill him?''
mad no more idea of killing him
than 1 have of killing the court today
DO you regret the ia of that this Oc-