The Washington herald., 1908-01-27
Special to The Washington H,uld.

Special to The Washington Htuld.
Bristol. Va. jan 26-Ack Hale will be-
arraigned tomorrow for the second time
for the murder of his sweetheart. Lille
Davis. in East Hill Cemetery, last March
His brother. Roy Hale, will be tried at
Jonesboro next week for the murder OF
Irby Davis. a brother Of Lille Davis. as
result OF a difficulty growing out OF ACk
Hale's attentions toward the Davis girl.
The second trial of Ack Hale promises
TO eclipse the former, which was one OF
the most notable murder cases IN the
history Of this section, Eight jurors were
uncompromisingly in favor Of hanging,
three for life Imprisonment and one for
complete acquittaL Hale is very anx-
ious for his second trial and has been
III jail almost a year.
The charge against Hale is that he
lured the girl away from home, and,
prompted by Jealousy. because Of her en-
gagement and approaching marriage to a
rival suitor, which had been announced,
criminally assaulted and then murdered
her. A strong and UnbrOken chain OF
circumstantia1 evidence has been woven
about him by the State, though 50 far
as is known. there was no eyewitness
to the shooting
Children Give Evidence.
Little children who saw the two to-
gether near the cemetery, about dusk
on the evening OF the tragedy. say the
girl was crying and begging Hale to
allow her 10 return home. Reputable
witnesses testified that he was mistreat-
ing her and fourishing his pistol. The
children say that they distinctly heard
the girl say between sobs
Please let me- go home, Ack If go
in there I know will never come out
alive"
Hale almost literally pushed her in. ae-
cording 20 witnesses. A few moments
later shot was fired and he ran out.
passed the home of the girls mother.
and went 200 yards farther, where he re-
ported that she had shot herself She
was found lying on a private square,
with a bullethOle above her heart and
Hale's .44-caliber S-inch-ba revolver
ten teet distant, I'm the direction In which
he had run. She was unable 10 make a
post-mortem statement and efforts 10
have her tell whether she shot herself
or not proved futile
Intense excitement prevailed. and so
pronounced was public sentiment AGAINST
Hale that II was necessary TO hurry him
on to Blountville under heavy guard. to
prevent a lynChing. When arrested. he
had little to say, but made>the statement
that he did not know the girl nor where
she lived, which was shown TO be false.
He also told conflicting stories.
Attack Girls Character.
The batteries of the defense are turned
toward an attack on the character Of the
dead girl, though it was fully sustained
at the former trial by many reputabe
witnesses. Several who testified against
her We're impeached and their evidence
thrown out. The defense will seek to
show her to have been unchaste. under
mine the criminal assault charge. and
destroy the fabric Of the States case.
The trial will be before Judge A. J.
Tyler, who presided at the former hear
ing. Attorney General Dana Harmon will
direct the States case while former Com
monwealth's Attorney ]. S. AshwOTth, of
Virginia. Is chief counsel for Hale. as
sisted by number Of eminent lawyers.
The Hales are related TO some OF the
wealthiest people I'm this section, and are
spending a vast amount OF money 70 save
the prisoner.