Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-27
SAYS SHE KILLED HERSELF
Details of Today's Hearing at Blount-
vile, Va.
PRISONER ABOUT TO COLLAPSE
His Testimony Contradicts Nearly
Every Principal Witness in Case.
Argument This Afternoon.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
BRISTOL, Tenn, September 26.-Ack
Hale was placed on the stand in his own
defense for the murder OF Lille Davis yes
terday. His testimony was to the effect
that the girl committed suicide In East Hill
cemetery. He told substantially the same
story that he has claimed since the tragedy
The cross-examination was begun at IL
o'clock. He weakened and became ex-
tremely nervous. The cross-eXaminatCn
will continue throughout todays session.
Hale declared that improper relations had
existed between himself and Lille avis
whom he is charged with having crmlnally
assaulted and murdered in East Hill ceme-
terry March u last. for several weeks.
In doing this he contradctS many reput-
able witnesses. and his evidence against
her character Is wholly unsupported eN-
Cept by Mrs. Matt Mckenchan, a Knox
vile woman. who is the keeper of a house
OF immoral resort and whose evidence has
been impeached.
Prisoner Extremely Nervous.
Il never shot Lille Davis said Hale in
answer 10 a question from his counsel on
the stand. He was nervous at one time.
He came near breaking down from nerv-
BUSINESS. His attorneys attributed his con-
dition to the cold room and asked that he
be moved nearer the fire. He regained
coulposure while the change was being
made though there were evidences of men,
tai unrest and he rarely looked at the jury,
the court or the lawyers.
While answering questions his testimony
contradicts nearly every principal witness
in the case and he denies the statements
made by Capt c. T. Baylor of the South
ern railway that he whipped the girl a
short time before the tragedy.
Il never struck that girl in anger In all
my life; / swear it, said Hale The pris-
commended that the girl impure
though he tacitly admitted that he would
be unable to prove his statements In that
respect He denies the testimony of sew
eral officers and O physician to whom he
told. after being arrested. that the girl
was vlrtuous so far he knew, and he
had never sustained improper relations to-
ward her.
He also denied telling the officers when
they arrived in the cemetery and found
the dying girl that he did not know where
she lived.
States Circumstantial Evidence
The state has woven a web of circum-
stantial evidence about him which. 1t is
thought, he will he unable to throw off. He
is traced from Scranton and State streets
early in the morning in company with the
girl to various parts of the city. Many wit
nesses testified to seeing him whipping
the girl. pouring whisky down her throat
AMI mistreating her in other ways. During
tIle udS ana at ulUefeft times he is traced
TO the very entrance to East Hill cemetery
where number of witnesses testified the
girl was crying and begging him to allow
her to go home. but he literally forced her
into the cemetery and the shot was fired
fifteen minutes later.
When we sat down in the cemetery she
said that l did not love her and she knew
II. and rather than me go to see an
other woman she would rather die She
had previously expressed an intention of
dying l had laid my Is Smith & Wesson
on the ground. and she picked it up Good
by honey she said, and fired the ball that
killed her.
Considerable expert testimony. 1r.s
brought in yesterday in support of the
criminal assault theory. The hearing of
evidence in rebuttal began this morning
anu II Is expected that Judge Tyler will
charge the jury and argument of counsel
VIII begin this afternoon