The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-28
HALL MURDER CASE
COMES TO TRIAL IN
LOUISA COURT TO-DAY
Life Of Widow Of Green Spring
Merchant. Killed April 18th.
In Balance
Defense to Be That
| Burglar Shot Hall
e Commonwealth Will Seek to
Establish as Motive jealousy
Of Rival Business and Desire
to Silence Word of Crimes

Louisa, Va, July 27.--With deep
care-worn face and dressed in
widows weeds Mrs. Victor Hall to-
day appeared on the streets of Louisa
This town has never Witnessed such
h scene before. ON every corner
crowds are gathered. Visitors from
Throughout the state are here III an-
|tcipauen OF the beginning 81 the
trial OF the now celebrated Hall nur-
der case tomorrow.
Mrs. Hail. as she appeared on the
ktFeet. was at once the person upon
whom all eyes were turned. News
pa per correspondents pressed her for
IN Interview. without success Every
where the circumstances surrounding
the death Of young Victor Hall are
discussed
The greatest legal battle in Vir-
ginia tor years Is expected Ia take
place when the widow is called on 20
answer To the charge of murderins
per husband. Thee are mary who
say That interest in the case SIii be
hs great as that shown In the Eeatue
rial
Mrs. Hail. II il believed fully real
yes The ordeal through which she II
O pass Her chief counsel, K Lind
tey- doIGtAt Ief|iSbt flAhs @hNstt 50
(ae, thar ne was ready fer the fight.
-ommnnwealit's Attorney Hihb stated
ha; aac thought that there woJld be
ho hitch Is the proceedings.
As To Change Of Venue.
Whether or no; tho defense vii. ask
Ter a change of venue OF no; IS not
et known, The probabilities are
hat the Common wealth ceula sae-
esssaily oppose any such motion, II
a that Anf
Injections woald be raised ts the
Prosecution should the defense only
AK TO draft fury from "A yensre from
ONE ether county.
Attempts at analysis Of the evidence
be introduced by the prosecution
the chief occupation of the inhanas
arts OF the town tonight No one
uestions the fact that no direct eva
ene4 against the widow has AZ YET
asne 10 HIGHT What evidence the
hate may have against Mrs. Hail IL
n circumstanttai- On effort VIII he
made to connect the links Of chain
circumstantial evidence and motives
hat the widow might have had IN
Killing her husband.
The defense will undoubtedly force
he Commonwealth 10 bear the full bur
en- OF proof. ~ maintains that Mrs
Hall though having ample oppor-
VI
pr Hail, while size had every rea-
pn not &c II ia expected to main
hin that Mrs Halls account Of the
murder liz not only probable ore and
orthy OF belief but au absolutely true
tory in every detail OF which can
4. and will De established
seeking For Motive.
SiFace The proof Of ska WILLOWS gum
epends largely upon sone metive she
hight have had TO kta her husband
his complexion OF the case is the
host interesting. No one sad ever
Ted that their marital relationship
not one OF harmony For this
on the Commonwealth Will try 70
stahiish that II was on account or
kars that the woman might have hsc
Kat her husbnd might discover In
Eliminating evidence against her IN
egards to other alleged crimes. pre-
lniahiy such as that OF burning a
lore owned by her hrother-in law. WAS
l. reason OF her desperate ACT. In
n effort TO prevent a break In their
hppy relations the woman in frenzy
bmmitted the deed.
Going further the Commonwealth
III try to prove that Mrs. Han did
some of the things suspected OF
kr in an effort to prove that this
Opposition 10 correct.
About three years prior to the XIII
& of young Hall. Asa anc W. n.
unkuin. operated large store at
reen Spring depot on the Chesapeake
Id Ohio railway in Louisa county.
ctcr Hall, youth OF about twenty,
N clerk In the store.
About this time Asa Dunkum, ono OF
owners OF the store. suffered an
tack OF pneumonia and died within
week After the death OF Asa Dun
i'm, the widow and w. r. punkum
ntinued the business, the store being
INDICTED Jointly by the two. Victor
Ill remained AZ clerk. II was not
very long after the death OF Asa
L9kum that his widow and the
sng clerk several. years years her
nior became very friendly. w. h.
nnkum objected to the closc friend
fp which existed between the two
a this started the opening wedge
thc breach between Dunkum and
widow, which gradually wtdened.
Partnerahtp Broken.
Eighteen months after tho death OF
FIRST husband. Mrs. Dunkum mar
ID Victor Hall The breach between
woman and her brother-in- law
nched its climax. Tho business part
rship was broken and Mrs Hall be-
me the sole owner Of tho now Halls
bre. Dunkum. following his break
IN hts slater In law at once began
erection OF new store Just across
railway tracks from the old store.
Inkun began to vet the principal part
the business done In tho village.
tttnE largely into the income OF tho
brs owned BY Mrs. Hall.
Then followed a series Of nres. the
gin Of which has never been de-
Ininsd.s First broom factory. once
ned hy the two bfOthers. was de-