The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-08
AND APPEAL
IN G0RDON'S ARGUMENT

arrived before sunrise. and many,
through the long, hot day, never left
their seats. AS during the French
revolution, women sat about the gull
like regularity into the basket 80 wo-
men came to hear the Hall trial
brought their needlework with them.
The day pulsed with restrained OK
element 1t was known in all the
county that Lindsay Gordon was going
TO speak. and nearly all the county was
present. People blocked the windows.
doors and stairways. Society women
, from Richmond struggled for seats
One gained her chair this morning nj
$50 O'Clock. and never left it until
court adjourned. When court convened
in the afternoon there was a mad rush
and several hundred could no, gain adj
mhttance. In many ways the case has
been lifted from partial obScurity
and ii was Lindsay Gordon who, though
decryinS the sensationalism of the
newspapers. created tho sensation to-
day and placed the Hall case on a par
with the famous McCuc and Eeattic
trials.
commemorative Attorney W. G.
! Bibb opened for the state this morn
ing. and was followed by Attorney
Hill Garter for the defense. Both went
into study of the evidence, parti-
cularly Mr.. Bibb. and Mr. Garter
''oN'' Wy WIN an Def1Oi
Mr.. Gordon occupied the whole of
the afternoon.
Mr.. Gordon proceeded along the lines
of the biblical triusm that all men are
liars. with particular reference to news
paper men and detectives. lie charac-
terizcd the newspapers as sensation
monScrs and the detectives as human
bloodhounds, all working for money.
Later. during the course OF his arrlI-
ment, lie said that Mrs. Hall would
not be able to stand the financial
strain resulting from hung jury. lie
aid not say what was becoming OF
her funds. In his vilitication of the
newspapers. Mr.. Gordon charged that
they had published every fact point
ing to the guilt OF the accused and
had suppressed every fact which
would point TO her innocence II
should be stated in this connection
that during the investigation OF the
murder a representative Of The Times
Dispatch went to Mr.. Gordon on two
occasions. once in his own home. and
informed him that The Times Dispatch
would publish any statement he cared
TO make in behalf of his client He
refused to make any statement. Mrs
Hall was also approached, and she,
too. refused
MOST IMPORTA NJ CASE
HE EVER HAS HANDLED
Gentlemen Of the jury" said MI
Gordon in opening, This is the most
important case have ever had do
NOT wish To weary YOU but I expect
to go over ;ll the physical facts in
this case and attempt to prove that
all the circumstantial evidence adj
duccd by the Commonwealth not only
does not point to the guilt OF my eli
Ont, but points to her innocence" lie
described the dual nature OF man as
exhibited in his good /and bad uu"ii-
/ ties, and continuing said '''ThN peX,S-
papers In Virginia have done this wo-.
man an injustice which they can never
repair. They have published every
fact that tended against her and have
suppressed every fact in her favor
have come 10 the conclusion that the
love OF money is the root OF all evil
and he said that ii WAS this love that
animated the newspa pers and detec-
tivcs. ~ shall argue This case in tho
fear OF God fearing nothing else
want TO say to YOU in all fairness"
addressing the spectators. that though
many of You have come here with hon.
est intentions. some of YOU have comc
for the sat/e motive which impcls the
newSpn pcrs to send their representa-
tivcs here. BY your love OF sensa-
tionalisM YOU help the sensational
newspapers You create a demand for
them. and are equally responsible for
their sale. II YOU did not read them
they would not be published or sold"
In an eXhortation to the jury, he
said: ''if YOU will free your minds Of
all suspicion and try this woman on
tho record. defy any man to say that
she is guilty. This case has been built
UP by detectives. Remember gentle
man. this is detective made case"
He criticized George Trainham. one
of the witnesses for the prosecution.
for his activity in the Scase. and adj
dcd, But George is a good fellow.
| The trouble is that he has been asso-
ciating with detectives and lawyers.
But, thank God, we had only one de
tective. and we employed him only
ten days at IS day.
Nov" he said this murder Was
committed by Il man. a man known to
Victor Hall \ lie" he said. turning 10
MIR Carter. can run Il mile while the
truth is taking OFF its boots; but when
they meet there is killing.
Yes" answered MIR. CarteH the
mills of the gods GRIND slowly, hut
they grind eXceedingiy fine"
PROCEEDS no PRICi< HUBBLE
or CfRCUMSTANTItL EVIDENCE
Then Mr. Gordon proceeded to prick
what he called the bubble OF circum-
stantial evidence surrounding Victor
IIai"s pistol. and said that If il had
been fired by Mrs. Hail, IL would have
Smcllcd Of powder when Miss Wood
took 4 out Of the bureau dra wer. He
charged that Mr.. Bib had not before
The inquest suspected Mrs. Hall. and
said, since the Coroncr'S inquest there
has heen some mysterious influence
I opera ting IN Mr.. Bibbs mind. chang