The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-10-21


Benedict retorted that the prosecution
had opened it up and he wanted to
show that the deceased was and had
been an incorporate man. Asked if
Mr.. Hall had not often purchased
clothing, food, etc., for witness and
family, Mrs. Crook replied that he had
done some but she had most of it.
Hall never bought clothing for my
Older child, no stree, he did not she
said with great emphasis.
Asked how long Crook had been
away, Mrs. Crook said three and one
half years. Hall was at the house all
of this time except one month he
visited in the east. On the day of
the shooting Hall said he rode home.
He staggered a little when he came
| in. He was not ugly.
Had Had "Jangies"
! Mrs. Crook admitted that her uncle
and husband had had two or three
''iangles," and the last one about two
or three weeks before the shooting.
From June l Hall was opposed TO
Crook staying here" Mrs. Crook again
repeated the occurrence of her hu4-
band coming home the evening of the
shooting. She said that after Hall
came from his bedroom with the gun
her husband did not say a word to
him. Somewhat excitedly Mrs. Crook
said: Il took hold OF the stalk of
the gun which was in Halls right hand
with his thumb on the trigger [
grabbed the gun and tipped it down
ward so it would not strike anyone.
! Hall said, Let it alone"
i The defendants attorney asked the
witness the question, sis it not fact
that when you had mold of the gun
it went off? This angered Mrs Crook
and her answer in the negative was
with much emphasis.
Further, Mrs. Crook said: Crook
came toward the door facing Hall and
the latter said he had heard enough
Down town today Crook never raised
his hand nor said a word. Crool; was
standing up when shot; after shot he
bors' and when [ came lack Crook
was lying by tree
! Mrs. Crook admitted that during one
of the quarrcs between Hall and
Crook that Crook picked up dull
butcher knife in defense OF himself
against Halls threats.
Rifle Brought Into Court.
The rifle used in the shooting was
brought into court by Sheriff Donahue
and handed TO County Attorney Ply
mat, who asked witness to identify it
as the one used by Hall. At the sight
of the gun Mrs. Crook collapsed and
was taken to Judge Comstock's private
room and Drs. Kelly and Bigelow call
ed. After recovering Mrs. Crook was
permitted TO leave, which she did in
company with her son, daughter and
sons wife, all of whom were with her
during the hearing.
DR.. Charles E. Bgelow of Madison
Lake was the next witness called. His
testimony and that of Dr. Kelly, who
was next called, gave in detail the ex-
animation at the postmortem prior to
the coroner's jury inquest.
DR.. Bigelow related conversation
had with Hall some time ago in which
Hall discussed the giving of his Madi-
son Lake property to Mrs. Crook also
: that he (HalD threatened to kill Crook.
DR.. Bigelow thought it threat but
not murderous one.
Doctor Passing the House.
= DR.. Bigelow was passing the house
the night of the murder and was cal
led in. He said, 81 knocked at both
doors. The dining room was lighted
by a bracket lamp. The light shone
into the sitting room through the open
door. The table was in slight confus-
ion. Went out of the house to where
my horse was and then came back
into house to telephone to town, when
Hall spoke to me. He had 4 gun in
his hand then and asked who was
there. | came into the room and asked
Hall if he had shot Crook. Hall re-
piled: Eyes. | shot him. / tried TO per-
suade him to put up his gun and go
with me to find Crook. Hall then set
the gun down. ! suggested he 90 with
. me to see my slck patient. Hall
consented to go, but could not find
his shoes. About this time | called
up Mrs. Crook at the Frederich's home
,, TO come and look for her husband. She
came at once and stumbled over the
body ut the tree. Later | made an
examination OF the body which re-
!, vealed a rifle bullet hole near the ma
vel. His death was caused by hem
morhage.'
On cross examination DR.. Bigelow said
Hall was always nervous and irritable
when he came to his office. Hall, he
said, always had a good word for Mfs.
! Crook and the children. but the re-
verse of Crook.
Dr. Bigelow said that Hall insisted
in taking his gun when they went 10
look for Crook after he had been shot,
as he wanted to finish up Crook if
he hadn't already done so. Hall in
sisted he would shoot anybody who in
terierred.
To a question DR.. Bigelow said the
bullet went in a downward, backward
, direction and crossed the right side Of
the pelvis; striking a main artery. The
. angle of bullet would be about GO de-
. 9rees. Crook he said, must have been
! stopped forward when the bullet en-
tered the body