The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-04
Preacher Under Cross Ex-
animation for Two Hours
This Morning.
SWEARS HE DIDN'T
SEE HIS WIFE FALL
Says 'She Just Toppled Over and
Struck on a Little Island Below
Describes in Detail Circumstances
Following Fatal Accident. E

SAC0. Me-, Feb 4.-After two hours OF
cross-examination by the prosecution to-
day in his trial for the murder of his
wife, Henry II. Hail. the Wells Depot
preacher, was permitted To retire from
the witness stand The defense rested
and it was announced that during the.
Afternoon session rebuttal evidence would
be Offered by the state. -
The preacher told his story effectively
but simply and without evident striving
far dramatic pose. His voice was husky
land with every mention OF his wife's
name he seemed TO struggle with his
emotions.
/ On, the afternoon Of Mrs. Halls acei-
dent, Hall said his wife and kcrhad start
ed ont sirawherrying. He helped her, 10
Iwash the dishes and weed her flower gar
lden before they started The witness
described how they passed spring near
/ lie railroad embanknent and had drink
There. After they had picked some straw
berries near the culvert they climbed up
1.-THE railroad cmbankment. Mrs. Hall
Isaid she was tired
As we walked the railroad. said Hall,
III noticed some fishes in the water be
low | called 10 her saying. Minnie,
there are some fishes here She turned
lto look where | pointed and that is all |
know of the accident. She just topple,l
lover. and struck on a little island below.
Cont inning. Hall described in detail
how he climbed down the einbankment
/ to go to his wife's assistance and his i'm.
lpai ience while awaiting the coming of q
. II MUSICIAN Eventually Mrs Hall was
lulaeed on hand ear and taken TO hei
hame During that evening while his
!. wife was at home she lay on a couch.
Il went along and knelt by her side,
isaid Hall Il asked her ii she knew me
She said Yes. darlins what happene,
! io me, what was the troubley' | asket
her ii she did moi remember that ",
went strawberrying and that she fel
! from the bridge She said No, | don
! Eremember :"
The witness voice was tremulous as h
recited the details of his wife's last mo
lments and he appeared unable TO sup
IpresS his emotions. On cross examination
the defendant was made TO rehearse In
story of his acquaintance with youn
! woman AT a strawberry festival in Port
land and of his subsequent Illness. Wit
ness said he did not see his wife fall fror
the bridge as he was ut the further en-
of the structure
In his direct testimony yesterday Ha
declared that hc loved the wife he j
charged with. slaying too devotedly [
5 have ever raised his hand against her d
:. TO have said an tnkind word He Slave
# for her from the day he married her unit
i lshe died he said, nor was there any loy
d in his heart for Grace Gerow until aftt
/ Mrs. Hall was buried in the little eem,
/ ltery al West Harrington. The Wei
. Depot minister cried bitterly as he r,
g called the love scenes of his life and pr,
% Iclaimed his innocence.
III His was striking setting, quite
i keeping with the dramatic inciden,
! which have followed his career from II
+. time he gave up wood chopping and cool
!. ing ut sea to preach the gospel, as |
Il Went on through life as the spiritu
:. leader Of the community and up TO Il
= moment when he began TO make love
h Grace Gerow on the beach al Portlan
three weeks after his wife wax laid
rest. and went from her embrace into u
hands of the officers Of the law