The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-12
Tom Hall, II Years, New Al
bany Bandit, Reader of
Trashy Literature.
PLANNED UNIQUE ESCAPE
AFTER RETURNING TO LOUIS
VILE HE HAD ARRANGED TO
BE PACKED AND SHIPPED IN A
DRY GOODS BOX TO TENNESSEE

Louisville, KY, Nov. 1o-Fired by
the daring deeds of dime novel heroes
and seeking to emulate their bravado
acts, Thomas Jefferson Hall, not yet
II years old, is held a prisoner in the
Indiana Reformatory, a weak and pit
iful wisp of humanity. his "bravery''
gone and himself sad example Of
youth led astray by the iniquitous
teachings OF the cheap variety of yell
lowback literature.
Late last evening the identity of tbs
STRIPPING, who at IL o'clock yesterday
morning, stepped from an automobile
and entered the Merchants National
bank at New Albany, Ind, where he
shot to death the cashier, Jacob Han
gary Fawcett, seriously shot the pres
ident, John X. Woodward. and proba-
bly, fatally wounded negro, Walter
Tucker, chauffeur for Walter E. Scott
of Louisville, was established as Hall
and from this Identification comes the
unraveling of story that is seldom
paralleled in the most lurid fiction.
At the home of young Halls father,
William J. Hall. SO2 South Preston
street, where detectives finally were
led by the various clews that unfolded
themselves, the aged father, after
hearing a minute description of the
young bandit, tearfully admitted that
the prisoner was his son. Then and
there the aged man told the boys life
story.
Says Mother Was Drunkard.
Toms mother was a drunkard," de-
clared the parent between sobs.
wears ago l left her and secured a
divorce. taking little Tom with me.
When he was mere infant one day he
was playing in the street in front Of
our home when his mother was in an
upstairs room in a bestial condition
Peering out of the window she saw the
child, and in her maudlin state hurled
large platter down at him. 1t struck
him full on the head and for a time we
thought he would not live. Fo-
months he was not conscious and at
intervals he appeared demented.
LOT late the old symptoms have man.
ifested themselves. and I have often
feared for his sanity. l am a cabi-
net maker. and, to tell the truth, the
boy has never had proper care. He
has reared himself and has been an
inveterate reader of dime novels.
am afraid that the tales he has read,
have led him to this deed"
Had Collection Of Masks.
AS he talked, the aged father hap
pened to recollect that his son of late
has busted himself much in an old
shed in the rear of the home. Lets
see what Tom has been doing" said
the man as he led the way to the back
yard.
In one corner of the place was 4
large dry goods box, probably five feet
in each dimension. Closer examina-
tion revealed that the box had been
made waterproof by a lining of oil
cloth, while inside it presented the
appearance that could only have been
conceived by a diseased brain. On the
side marked "Top. this side up" was
fastened a five gallon galvanized iron
tank filled with drinking water. Fas-
tened to the other sides were changes
of clothing, masks, false wige, whiskers
and mustaches, a dark lantern and
several time tables, while in a box on
the floor of the box was a large bag
Of food. In another part was large
bottle of matches. Outside, painted
in large letters was the address: -. X.
Smith, Knoxville, Tenn"
Boy Planned Escape.
Thus had the boy, with diabolical
cunning. planned his escape from the
clutches Of the law after he should