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

sitting, and was able to rise and &C
out. 1t seems reasonable that he may
have grasped the barrel of the weapon
as it was thrust against him, before OF
after its discharge, and that it fell
from Halls hands after the shooting
and that Crook carried it to nearly
the point where he fell and expired
From thursdays baIIy.
The trial of Whitford VI. Hall on the
charge of numbering George Crook is
now well under way. Yesterday after
noon the attorneys expressed an opin-
ion in court that the case would be
disposed OF by Friday night, but this
seems hardly possible. Mrs. Crook, the
first witness, was on the stand all OF
yesterday afternoon and part of this
forenoon. She was dressed in deer
mourning, which contrasted with the
pallidness of her face. She made an
excellent witness and stood the rigid
and extended cross examination that
she was put through very well. Except
for some slight details, she told the
same story that she had told several
times before. A little new light was
thrown upon the case when she testi-
fled for the first time that when her
uncel gave her the deed to the Madison
Lake property there was an under
standing that Crook was not coming
back.
Mr.. Hall watches the proceedings
closely, and yesterday afternoon OBJ.
served to The Free Press reporter that
he had no fear as to the outcome of
the trial. His brother, J.. b. Hall OF
Greenland, and his nephews, Clinton
Hall of Pennington and Lester Hall
of Greenland, are attending the trial
& Mrs. Clara Sauter of LeSueur Center
a sister of Mrs. Crook, and Miss Mollie
Crook of Montgomery, sister of the
dead man, are also attending the trial
Opening Argument.
County Attorney Plymat opened the
case to the jury yesterday afternoon
as soon as the noon recess was over He
read from the Indictment, charging
Whitford NJ. Hall with having com
mitted murder in the second degree up.
on George A. Crook on October /, in
LeRay township, by means of gun
shot fired by his hand, willfully and
with the intent to take his life. The
defendant must be found guilty beyond
q reasonable, not a possible, doubt, he
said, and explained what that was.
The state expected to prove that on
October l, Crook, wife and two daugh.
tiers, lived near Madison Lake, and that
Hall lived with them; that Hall had
bought the place and given it to Mrs
Crook for taking care OF him; that
Crook was gone three years, returning
last summer; that Hall was hard
drnker; that the best of feeling had
not for some time existed between
Hall and Crook; that at supper time
October ], Hall came in under the in
fiuence of liquor; that Mrs. Crook
warned her husband to keep quiet
that Hall went into his bedroom ana
got his rifle and came back into the
dining room; that Mrs. Crook struggled
for the gun; that Hall ordered her ia
leave it alone; that he then shot and
killed Crook. 1t would be shown by
former friends OF Hall that he had
made threats against Crook; that he
seemed jealous of Crook and bore i'll
will toward him. Mrs. Crook, the only
person of mature age, who saw the
shooting, would be sworn; and the nine
year old daughter, who was also pres.
ent, would be produced, so that she
could be called if the defense wished
A grave duty rested on the jury. Only
one thing was asked of it, and that
was justice between the defendant and
the state of Minnesota. No victim was
being sought, or revenge desired, only
a just verdict according to the evidence
Mr.. Plymat closed with an effective
quotation from Hamlet
Mr.. Plymat adapted the quotation, to
fit the present case, as follows:
Thus was l, unaware, by an uncle's
hand,
OF life, of home, of wife and child at
once dispatched.
Cat off even in the blossoms of nv
sins,
Unhoused, disappointed, unannelled.
No recovering made, but sent to my
Account with all Of my imperfections
on my head.
Mrs. Crook Called.
Mrs. Ida NJ. Crook, widow of the de.
ceased, was the first witness called
She said, in substance: My husband
was George Crook, and we lived nea,
Madison Lake, in LeRay township
We went there four years ago at the
request of my uncle, Whitford NJ Hall
Ny husband, myself and two daugh-
ters, Alma, now twenty years old, and
Pearl, now nine years old. went to live
there. Mr.. Crook lived there the first
winter, then went away and was gone
over three, years. returning June q