Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-08-10

SOLITARY IN A CELL
Attorneys for Woman Note Excep-
tions in Many Points and Will
Take Appeal to Supreme Court.

Louisa, Va, August 1O.-Mrs. VIC
tor Hall was Saturday afternoon
found guilty of second degree mur-
der and her punishment fixed at ten
years in, the penitentiary, on the
charge of killing her husband on
April Is at Green Springs. Attorney
NJ. J. Fulton, of Richmond, concluded
the case for the prosecution at
o'clock and one hour later the ver-
dict was rendered by the jury.
The Hall murder mystery was the
most sensational case ever heard IN
Louisa County and will be regarded
as one of the famous criminal cases
of Virginia. While the lack of mo-
tive was never in evidence, the cir
iumstances leading up to the CRIME
and actions of the prisoner after
the murder made chain of evidence
that neither the eloquence nor the
skill of the two learned attorneys
could overcome.
It was learned that Mr.. and Mrs.
Victor Hall were alone on the lower
floor of their home on the night OF
April ID. The store of W. K. Dun
kun, across the Chesapeake and OHIO
railway tracks from the Hall home,
was discovered or fire at midnight.
The store was completely destroyed,
and at 4 o'clock the alarm was given
by Mrs. Hall that her husband had
been shot. The dead mans pistol
was found in the bureau drawer in
the bedroom, and the body was found
Just outside the bedroom, with bull
let hole in the back of the head.
The coroners inquest did not men,
tion any one as the possible muir
derer. Detectives and county officials
went to work on the case and on
May Is a special Grand Jury indict-
ed Mrs. Hall.
The accused. woman, in: describins
the killing, said her husband was
awakened at a o'clock by some one
knocking at; the store. door. He got.
up and went from his bedroom to
the store adjoining. In short while
Mrs. Hall:,said &she heard her, hus-
band cry out, ooh, Lordy," and this
was followed by a pistol shot. When
she opened the door she found her
husband "all crumpied up" on the
floor. Her explanation was that
burglar shot him.
The burglary theory was exploded
as: being utterly improbable. Mrs.
Hall moved lot of things out Of her
house on May IA and that night the
house was discovered to be on fire
on the inside, fifteen minutes after
she left the house with the family.
1t was contended by the prosecution
that Mrs. Hall set the house afire to
burn up the physical evidence Of the
murder.
The case attracted widespread at
tention. largely because woman was
accused of the terrible crime; The
trial lasted two weeks, lacking one
dav. and developed brilliant legal
battle. NJ; J. Fulton, of Richmond,
assisted Conmonwealth's Attorney
Bibb and Hill Carter, of Richmond,
who assisted in the defense of Henry
Clay Beattie, assisted r. Lindsay
Gordon for the defense.
The scene in court after the verdict
was rendered was very pitiable. Mrs.
Hall broke down completely, while
one of her little daughters clung to
Judge Shackleford and begged plte-
ously for her condemned mother. 1t
was possibly the saddest scene ever
witnessed in Louisa County. IN
Attorney Gordon announced that
he would appeal the case to the Su-
preme Court.
1t is understood that efforts will be
made to get the Commonwealth not
to prosecute two ALLEGED charges OF
arson against. Mrs. Hail. one to
charge her with burning the station
building at Green Springs and the
other with attempting to burn he1