The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-09
HALL WILL SPEND THE
| REST OF LIFE IN A CELL

For the murder of George Crook,
Whitford NJ Hall will have to spend
the remainder of his natural life be.
hind the prison bars at Saltwater, un.
less some time in the future his SEN
tence shall be committed. After be-
ing out five hours and taking many
ballots, the jury yesterday that tried
his case decided by unanimous vote
that he was guilty of murder in the
second degree, as charged in the indict-
ment.
When the jury retired, it took bal
lot on the question of whether Hall
was guilty of anything at all, and ten
of the ballots read Guilty" and two
were blanks. After that the balloting
was on the question of whether the
aged man was guilty of murder in the
second degree or of manslaughter in
the first degree. The vote swung
back and forth, but during the after
noon the ranks of those who believed
him guilty of murder in the second
degree gained steadily, until all de-
clared themselves of that mind. As
to how any particular ballot stood, or
how many ballots were taken, the jur-
ors agreed among themselves to keep
that a secret.
After being brought into the court
room to listen to the verdict, and be.
fore the verdict was rendered, Hall
was asked by The Free Press whether
he would be willing to venture a guess
as to what the verdict would be, but
he declined, saying that he placed his
trust in God.
Hall declared yesterday that he did
not care what the verdict was, but it
is evident that he expected an acquit.
tai, or at most verdict of man.
slaughter. He appeared greatly disap.
| pointed when the verdict was given.
Jury Out Five Hours.
The jury agreed upon a verdict at
$3.50 o'clock, and at once sent Bailiff
Lundberg to notify the court. The lat.
ter excused the jury in the Foley dam
and gave word that the attorneys in
| the Hall case be summoned and the
prisoner brought over. 1t was nearly
| four o'clock before Arthur Schaub, for
the defense, arrived, and the jury was
at once brought in.
The court asked Foreman Herzberg
whether the jury had agreed upon a
verdict and he said that it had He
then handed the verdict to Judge Pau,
who read it carefully and handed it
to Clerk of Court krost to be recorded
before reading. 1t was plain to see
from the expressions of gravity upon
the faces of the Jurors when they came
into the court room that their verdict
was nfavorable for the defendant. 1t
was a sad duty that the chosen twelve
had to perform, but they decided as
their consciences and intelligence die.
tated, without fear or favor
After the verdict had been recorded
on the minutes of the court, Clerk
krost read it as recorded. and the
Jurors were asked whether that was
their verdict and all assented Judge
Pfau then addressed few words to
the jury, thanking them for the at.
tention they had given to the case
and the fidelity with which they had
discharged their duty. He then dis.
charged the jury.
The jury was right glad to be dis.
charged. Sleeping seven in a room
on cots, with steam heat on part OF
the time and cold part of the time
was not pleasant thing, and most of
them needed rest. They all spoke in
the highest terms of the meals served
at Mrs. Riley's. 1t appears that yes.
terday this feeling was put into words
after one of the meals, spokesman
thanking Mrs. Riley for the fine meas
and excellent treatment accorded the
jury.
The penalty for murder in the sec.
ond degree is life imprisonment, with
no alternative.
Judge Pau remanded Hall to the
custody of Sheriff Donahue, and stated
to The Free Press that he does not
intend to pronounce sentence for a
day or so. Hall was taken back to
the county Jail. His step was far less
firm than when he came in, and he
did not stand as erect.
Hall Talks of Verdict.
/! When seen at the county Jail lit.
tie later, Hall expressed his surprise
at the verdict and showed his disap.
pointment. When asked whether there
was anything he would like to say al
this time he replied:
"You may express my sincere thanks
to Sheriff Donahue and Deputy Sheriff
Klugherz for their kind usage, and say
that they are gentlemen in every way
and form. / know that l have had
the sheriff's sympathy ali through the
trial. l also wish to thank my attor.
neys, who have done as we'll as they
could do.
Il have no enmity in my heart
toward anybody who has testified
against me. They have done wronl
and they know it, and l pray tina,
God will open their eyes to it and for
give them. | feel as guiltless as 9
child. as when | left my mother.
breast, and no one can put his finger
on black mark on my character.
Il have been rather wild since living
at Madison Lake, but it was due tt
my usage and seeing my property g
as it did. Ida smelled liquor on my
breath several times, and I told he
that she caused it. If it had no