Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-03-30
HELD EoR MURDER.

The coroners Jury in the case OF Lillio
Davis. who WAS shot in Etsi ililI ceme-
terry. in suburb of Bristol, "Wednesday
night and died an hour later, yesterday
rendered 4 verdict holding Aek iiaie on
the charge Of criminally assauling and
numbering her Hale had been with
Miss Davis all day Wednesday. and was
with her at The time Of the shooting.
The evidence before the ju'V, psrn'
eularly that given by DR.. W. Il. Rogers
and Dr. s. n Peters. who made ihe
medical examination, was such that
members of The lnry we're frank 10 say
that no other verdict could have been
arrived at.
Additional evidence tending TO prove
that Hale deliberately ccnspired TO taEe
the life of Bliss Davis, WAS developed last
night 10y officers at johnson Ci!y, the
GIRLS home. A letter from Hale con-
tains thrests agninst Miss Dayis's life,
and saws "she shall never testify against
| Roy." Roy Hale. Ack Hale's brother,
recently killed the dead girls brother
at the lattet's home.
Hale is still being held in the Bris-
, tol, Va, Jail, but will be taken to
| Tennessee, it having developed tnst the
] scene of the tragedy was six feet across
the State line into Tennessee.
The body OF Lille Davis was taken to
Johnson City yesterday for interment.
| The body wss clothed in the gown that
had been made for the girPs wedding.
Her marriage TO Dolas McRoberts wonld
have taken place Easter Sunday. Ar
rsnsements for the ceremony we're IN
progtess when the girl met her death.
| In the casket beside the body was placed
a photograph OF the man to whom she
was to have been married.
The Davis family left johnson City
soou after the killing of lrby Davis.
| Mrs. Davis relates since her daughters
tragic dssih that she waS spprehensive
of her safety on account of Ack Hale,
who, she says, wrote threatening note
| to Lille recently, warning her that II
she married another he would not pre-
nit her 10 live.
Lille Davis bore an excellent repnta-
| ton. She left home early in the morn
ing Of the shooting for her work in 3
local printing establishment, but hear
ing certain machinery jn the office vas
! odf Of order, she said she would frtnrn
home tor few minutes. She met Hale
aud was persuaded TO 90 buggy riding
| with him, The Two drove to the sn'
burbs. where, according to evidence be
fore the jury. Hale forced her to drink
whisky repeatedly.
AT 8 O'Clock in the afternoon two
other men, strangers to the Davis family,
drove to the Davis home and told Mrs.
Davis that her daughter had gone ia
Johnson City TO visit her sister, Mrs.
| Manning. The mother says she did not
wonder when Lille did not return at
night.
Hale and Lillie Davis, according tC
! the testimony, proceeded TO The cemetery
overlooking The gifl'shome, at nightiall.
There the whisky bottle Was emptied,
and when the girl WAS picked mp the
scent of liquor WAS on her breath.
Hale declared the girl had committed
suicide, but before the coroner's jury
witnesses reluted HE story OF what oc
curred while they were together in the
buggy. Witnesses testified 10 having
seen Hale slap the girl in the face anc
intimidste her after forcing her to take
drink after drink OF whisky.
| Hale is we'll connected in Bristol and
Rasl Tennessee, where his people ar'
highly respected, some of them being
wealthy. From his youth he has hsd
tho reputation Of being reckless.
Lille Davis VIVA to have been thu
chief witness against Roy Hale for th'
murder oi her brother.