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

7 for him the rest of his days. HI
made no objection to Crook living
3 there if he behaved himself. The de
Tense would not be based in what
Crook did, but it could be shown that
Hall did not Intentionally shoot
/, Crook. 1t would be shown that Crook
was dissatisfied with the arrangement
the first winter, as he thought thai
!, the place should be decided outright
and that he treated his wife shame.
fully, refused to work, and drank
heavily. Hall thought the world Of
his niece and especially of her little
girl, Pearl, and took her part against
Crook. Matters finally came to the
point where Hall declared that he
would leave unless Crook did. Crook
finally left, and did not come back for
some time, and then wanted to take
his family away, but had no home
for them and they declined to go with
him. Crook then disappeared for
three years and Hall lived happily
with Mrs. Crook and family, and all
were contented. Hall had misgivings
that if he decided the property to Mrs
Crook her husband would return
When he did deed it, it was with the
understanding that Crook was not
coming back. Soon afterwards, Crook
came back to live with his family
His homecoming was far different
from when he came first as the first
time he wanted to take his family
out into the world to tramp about
Now he came back to nestle down in
that little nest that Hall had provid-
cd for his niece. When Crook return
ed last summer. it would be shown
he began to boss Hall about and
then to abuse him, and Dragged that
he would get Hall off of the place.
Shooting Was Accidental.
The defense would show that on
Oct. |, last. Hall had been drinking
some, but was not intoxicated When
Hall came back that afternoon, Crook
made a most irritating remark to him,
along the line that he had previously
done. Hall intended to talk the mat
ter over at the supper table and reach
an understanding. He knew that
Crook was most violent man, as he
had had experience with him. Hall
therefore got the rifle to protect him
self with, from Crook, i'll case of trou-
bic. He was wrong in doing this, as
weapons lead to trouble Hall brought
it out holding it down by his side, by
the pistol grip.
Hall remarked, 81 have heard enough
down town." this being intended as
the opening remark of an argument
before Mrs. Crook, so that she could
hear it all. At this point, Mrs. Crook
jumped up. The only eye witness
! that the state saw fit to put on was
Mrs. Crook, and the only other wit
ness was Hall. There is DO reason
why his testimony should not be be-
Geved as well as Mrs. Crooks or any
one else. Mrs. Crook said that she
did not see the position of Crook
when the shot was fired. 1t will be
shown that Crook was leaning over
struggling for the gun. Hall will say
that Crook grabbed the gun from him.
His finger was on the trigger, and his
thumb was lacerated by it when
Crook grabbed the gun from him.
Mrs. Crook was mistaken when she
said that Crook fell to the floor. The
defense will show that the gun was
discharged when Crook tore the weap-
OH away from Halls grasp, and this
was why he was able to go as far as
the tree before falling.
Hall was greatly excited and
wrought up. He took his shoes off,
thought came to him of Crook being
outside with the gun, and he then got
the shotgun and was afraid to be
alone. He was glad when the doctor
came and was glad to go away with
him. The jury should carefully and
justly weigh the testimony of the
defense, together with that of the
state. The case is peculiar one,
and requires careful consideration to
arrive at a just verdict.
Mr.. Hall Called.
Mr.. Hall was called and said that
his name was Whitford NJ. Hall, that
he is seventy years old, and was born
/ in New York state. After moving
around some, he located in Diller,
Neb., and remained there tweny two
years. He had been a farmer for for
! ty years. He was married in 1861,
and his wife died in May, 1905. His
children were also dead.
| had known of Ida Crook for for
/ ty years or more saw her when
she was two or three years old, and
when she was thirteen or fourteen
years old, the last time while visit
ing i'll Belvidere, Ill. She returned
with me to Nebraska, intending to
! live there, but her mother was then
taken sick and she was sent for and
did not return.
After my wife died, l concluded to
come to Minnesota to visit my broth
or, whom / had not seen for thirty
years, but my real purpose was to
learn of Ida and her family relations
and her situation. l found that she
was there, and went to her, and re-
ceivcd hearty greeting. 1 met Crook
for the first time and Crook went down
cellar and brought up a whiskey jug
for me. l did not drink and did not
like this. 1 asked Ida if she could
not come and help me if wanted
her, and she said that she could. Two
weeks later | wrote for Ida To come