Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-08-11
MAY NOT TAKE
APPEAL IN CASE
People of Louisa Believe
Mrs. Hall Received
Light Sentence,
GORDON MAY BE SUED
Argument of Counsel for Woman
, Causes Offense--Said w. r. Dun
!. KUN May Have Killed Victor Hall.

Louise Courthouse, August IL
"She got off with a very light SEN
tence" is the general opinion of the
verdict in the case Of Mrs. Victor Hall
convicted of killing her husband in
the early morning of April 10 and
given ten years in prison. The jury
debated the question less than an
hour and it was the unanimous opln;-
ion that the widow was guilty OF
shooting the young Green Spring
merchant the same night W. Il.
Dnnkum's store was burned at that
place. While the evidence was en-
tirely circumstantial, the chain was
so complete that it was apparent long
before the end of the trial that there
was hardly a probability concerning
what the verdict would be.
Attorney Gordon, chief counsel for
the convicted woman, says he will
carry the case to the supreme court.
Many people, however, think that on
second thought Mr.. Gordon will let
we'll enough alone and accept the ver-
dict as brought in Saturday after
noon. The community is almost 4
unit in the belief that the woman is
guilty and they have thought so from
the very first.
There was rumor that Mrs. Hall
had confessed, but this proved to be
untrue. 1t is extremely doubtful if
she will make any statement differ
ing from that she has held to ever,
since the murder, and on Which she
will also include the Dunkum store
fire.
Lindsay Gordon's argument in the
case is discussed, almost as much as
the verdict. The attorney is bitterly
censured, and people do not hesitate
to say that the lawyer hurt his clients
case by his abuse and invectives,
which "trained like a serpent" through
his entire talk of six hours. He de-
nounced :,as liars practically every
WitneSs. of the commonwealth, vented
abuse on the press, which he declared
printed only, the; sensational side Of
the case, and, did not fairly represent
Mrs. Halls side, and, in conclusion,
said that ,there,was more il, the evil
dence toSimplicate w. r. Dunkum
than there was to implicate Mrs.
Hall.
.Dunkum is very much ,incensed>ove
the statement and it is said is con-
tenplating entering suit against MIR.
Gordon for SANDER. Dunkpm is one
of:the most highly respected citizens
in the community and: is absolutely
above suspicion in the case.
Should the case be reviewed by the
Court Of Appeals. and. sufficient er-
rors found in Judge: Shackeford's
rulings,:the case will be remanded for
a new trial.
The record, however, is peculiarly
free from exceptions. Upon almost
every point The prosecution yielded to
the defense, and the rulings which
the judge was forced to make, are
believed to be based upon undisputed
principles of law and long established
precedents. = -"
If a new trial is ordered it will not
lie within the province of the jury
to convict Mrs. Hall of murder in
the first degree; She has been tried
for first degree murder and acquitted,
and she cannot be tried again on the
same charge.
But it will lie within the province
Of another july to: send Mrs. Hall to
the penitentiary for eighteen year:
mat being the maximum penalty for
second degree murder. Some are,
therefore, inclined to think thatgno
'ppeal will he taken; that the ten
year sentence will not be contested
'hat we'll enough will be let alone.
Every member of the jury which
tried Mrs Hall believed her guilt,
when they retired to discuss the yer
dict to be returned.
On the first ballot every man sal
guilty" Several were for life-im
prisonment. Some were for eightee
years; others for ten. Three were fc
five years. One man held out for th