The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-09

! Inc cleanlnS up Une W1Oe Dllncl.
He called Crook names and gave as
his reason for so doing that Crook
was man of that kind Hall said
that when Crook came back Crook
and his wife put their arms around
each other in the chicken yard and
kissed, and Hall said that he believed
that if he had had a gun then he
would have shot them both This
was about July "a.
Cross examined, the witness said
that Hall might have said "clean
Off" instead of "clean up Hall said
at different times that he couldn't
stand seeing Crook around his wife.
Hall had never told of the Crooks
trying to get him Off of the land He
was always Dragging about Mrs.
Crook and cursins Crook. lie spoke
well of Pearl. Once Hall said that
the first thing that Mrs. Crook did
after he decided the property to her
was to write for Crook to come.
Rias Broodbcnt, a farmer living near
Madison Lake, told of a conversation
there May. 1907, with Hall. Witness
had remarked that it was curious
that Crook had gone away and left
his family Hall had said that Crook
went away owing him Sis Witness
had said that Crook would porbabv
come back and pay Hail, and the lat
ter had said that if he came back
he would shoot him. Witness had
changed the subject then.
"Why did you change it," asked
| Mr.. Benedict.
II was hearing more than / wanted
to-" replied the witness
''You were learning more than You
had asked about, weren't your"
1T was because | have an antipathy
against one man shooting another
The witness said that he had never
told anyone about this conversation
and was surprised that he was sub
poenaed as witness. He didn't know
how it had gotten out
Miss Mollie Crook, niece OF George
Crook, Twin" at Montgomery. testi-
fed that her father runs the Mime
apolis House at Montgomery Hall
had visited there one week before
the shooting. lie had told tho wit
ness about how her uncle had treat
ed her aunt since his return. He
had said her uncle had treated her
aunt very good since his return, and
he had seemed angry about this He
had said: "WelI, MOllic, don't be
surprised if you hear OF my doing
something desperate"
Cross examined, the witness said
that Hall was on his way to Farm
ington to visit a relative and stop
ped off. Hall said that it disgusted
him to see Crook help pick up the
dishes and helping his wife, and ther
acting very afectionate. Hall seemed
downcast
Told About the Gun.
Madison Lake, of Gallagan G. Healey,
identified the rifle with which the
shooting was done az one that was
brought into his store by Marshal
Neary last spring. 1t was in the store
in September, and he did not know
how it left the store He had not re-
turned the gun, and had heard his
partner say that he had not. Hall
brought the gun to the store with in
structions' to sell it, and showed it to
several people. Hall was there nearly
every day and had free access TO the
gun.
Cross examined, the witness said
that the gun was Halls and he had
right TO take it home. Hall had
taken it out once before.
Ed. Stagmeier, eighteen years DID,
living east of Eagle Lake, said that
he was in Madison Lake October
and left for home about 5l5 p. M,
driving, and Hall rode out as far as
his home with the witness Hall had
stopped the witness in the village
and wanted ride. He got in the
wagon alone. He had little box
in his pocket. He got out at his
home alone, about 500 p. m. He was
talking all the way out, but witness
could not remember what he said. He
thanked the witness for the ride, said.
Good bye and started into the
house.
Mrs. William Dchring, formerly Miss
Alma Crook, was called and said that
she made her home with her mother
Mrs. Ida Crook, off and on. She was
there all day October l., until late in
the afternoon, when she went to
town. She told OF Hall shooting the
gun off in July. She had not asked
the defendant To bring the gun back
from town as she wished to shoot a
woodchuck.
Cross examined, the witness said
that she had shot gun several times
when about fourteen years old She
never shot 4 woodchucli. but had shot
n dog once.
Hall Had Been Drinking.
James Mape, saloonkecpcr at Madi.
son Lake, said that on October |, Hall
was in his place Of business at 4:45
p. M, and drank two glasses of beer.
lie was not intoxicated, and did not
appear different from on other DAYS.
The witness had identified the body
found that night as George Crooks.
and had taken charge of the body at
the request of Marshal Ncary.
i Michael Sullivan, another saloon
keeper of Madison Lake, said that he