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

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the voters to decide whether they shall
be with the standpatters or progress
sives."
From thursdays Daily.
The preliminary hearing of w. NJ
Hall, who is charged with shooting
down George Crook, at the formers
home near Madison Lake on the even
ing of October ], was held before Judge
w. l.. Comstock in the municipal court
today. County Attorney Walter A
Plymat appeared for the state and c.
L. Benedict for Defendant Hall. The
court room was well filled, several be-
ing there from Madison Lake village
W. b. Davies took down the evidence
in shorthand.
Mrs. George Crook, widow Of the un-
fortunate man, was accompanied by
her son Clifford, her daughter Pear
and her sons wife, Mrs. Seth Crook
who resides near Elysian.
Hall appeared somewhat nervous
when brought into the court room by
Sheriff Donahue, but took a seat al
the table next to his attorney, where
he was asked questions by Mr.. Bene
dict at different times "a the testi
mony was given.
Mrs. Crook Called to Stand.
After waving reading of the war
rant charging w. NJ. Hall with muir
der in the first degree, Mrs. George
Crook was called to the witness stand
; Her sons wife and daughter, Pearl, Were
constantly by her side. She had sew
eral faintinS spells during the exam
nation, but was able to give her ties
timony in satisfactory manner. Cross
questioned by the defendants attor
ney, she frequently became SO EN-
phatic in her answers as to be heart
at some distance.
The sight of the rife used by Hall
which was introduced in evidence
caused Mrs. Crook to faint, and sh'
was taken into Judge Comstock's pri
vate office and cared for by Drs
Kelley and Bigelow. Mr.. Crook recov
cred in a few minutes and left, ac
companied by her relatives.
Testimony of Mrs. Crook.
Mrs. Ida \. Crook, widow of Georg,
Crook was the first witness and tea
titled as follows: II am the wife o
George Crook and have always live,
together. Have known Mr.. Hall eve
= since | was child-am his niece
Lived near Greenland with my hus
I" hand and IN 81. L.
cause my uncle had bought a plac
there and | wanted to make him
home. | moved to Madison LAX
four years ago this fall. Ny HUSBAND
went to Wisconsin the next sprin,
and was away for three and a hal
years. He came back the last o
, June and on July Fourth this yeai
To the question as to what were tn
relations between your husband an,
Mr.. Hall, Mrs. Crook replied that 'the,
had not always been pleasant-some
times agreeable and sometimes other
WISE Continuing her testimony, Mrs
: Crook said: My husband was shock
ing corn the day of the shooting. Hi
conduct has been fine. He never touch
. ed drop of liquor. Hall left tn
house about nine o'clock in the maxu
, ing and came home at $3.50 that after
noon. He was intoxicated, acted Xix
one who had been drinking. Was par
ing some potatoes when he entere
the house. He reprimanded me 70
this, as he thought it wasteful to par
!. away so much of the potato. We ha
supper when Crook came home. Hal
got up from the table and went int
another room with something in hi
! hand and as he passed slammed tn
: door. My back was toward the doc
ne went into. about six feet away"
AZ this point Mrs. Crook was over
come with the heat and had faint
ing spell. Her son, who was in tn
audience, came to her assistance an
she was placed near a window 70
air.
Continuing her testimony she said
: after Hall slammed the door
. heard gun. The door then opene
and | turned around and looked. II
had rife in his hands. l jumped II
!, and asked him what he was going t
!, do with it. He had the gun cooke
ready to shoot. Hall answered tina
;, he had heard enough down town to
! day. Crook did not speak to Tla
{ Pearl pleaded with him not to shoe
q Hall pulled the trigger and Crook wen
:, down. After the shooting l ran t
!, Steve Frederich's house. Was there
!. seemed TO me- about three quarters c
= an hour. Came home then and foun
q Mr.. Crook laying by tree on tn
ground. Crook never moved. Ha
;. had made threats against
Here the defense objected The OF
y lection was overruled and Mrs. Croo
y continued: / went over to Mr.. Lamm
cottage one evening to see Mrs. Lamn
q who was sick, and Hall asked me VIII
, | couldn't have gone there before. an
o told me ''to go and enjoy yoursel
o you will only have forty eight hom
o longer" My husband was away tn
n day OF the shooting and Hall sal
many times he had a notion to d
something harm Crook in som
4 way. Hall had n shot gun and riff
9 Brought home rifle about week b,
d fore the shooting. He kept his riff