The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-06
HALL ACQUITTED,
VERDICT CHEERED
Wells Depot Preacher Near
Collapse as Jury Makes
the Report
MORE THAN 10 HOURS
IN DELIBERATION
Prisoner Formally Discharged Late
Last Evening Unable to Make More
Than Weak Response to Congratula-
tions of Friends in Courtroom.

SACO, Me, Feb. 6-Hen1y H. Hall Of
Wells Depot, the preacher acquitted last
night OF tie murder Of his wife, Minnie
stephen Hall, accompanied by his mother.
sister, and two brothers, ). d. Hall and
Zcmbro Hail. left here for Lawrence,
Mass, where his two brothers reside
Hall had virtually recovered from the
collapse which he suffered after hearing
the verdict OF the jury and was in a
cheerful mood. Grace Gerow, Halls f.
aneec, accompanied the party as far a..
Wells Depot
Han said before leaving that he had
no definite plans ion the future II have
felt in my heart OF hearts from the very
trst, he continued, that my God, who
knoweth and ruleth all things, would not
fofsake me when my hour OF greatest
need came for Him to direct the heart
and minds of the iurymen in returning
a Just and true verdict. He has guided
my life through the storms OF the deep
and on land in Harrington, Pubnico and
Wells Depot. bringing me as He has al.
ways done to safe haven OF rest He
surely has been with me IN this, the Sc
vcrest tempest in Saco. To the county
officials. in their zeal to perform the du-
ties with which they are charged, and
those who temporarily turned against me
| can only say as did our Lord and Mas
ter. Father forgive them for they know
not what they do At this time above
all others | should keep in mind His
words which my able counsel quoted in
| his eloquent plea to the jury, Let him
who is without sin cast the first stone
My many friends who have so staunchly
stood by me through this storm and with
Gods help assisted me in making a safe
port, | shall always remember in my
| prayers with heart full Of gratitude. II
is now too soon for me to make deiinit,
| plans for my future That is in God,
hand
| There was an outburst oi handclappinl
| from the crowd as the foreman announced
the finding late last evening The eour
voiced stern protest. but in spite of it
the applause was continued.
Hall was in state approaching col
lapse as he heard the words of the fore
man. He tottered as he was told 10 stant
when the jury was ready to report, Hi
keeper, Deputy Sheriff Fred f. Much
more, was compelled to assist him to hi
feet. When the words, Not guilty,
were uttered Hall swayed, bnt was pre-
vented from falling by the deputy. Thcl
Judge Wilson pronounced the formal dis
charge of the prisoner from custody an,
Hall slipped heavily into his chair. II
| responded weakly to the congratulation
Of his counsel, the members OF his famii
and others in the crowd which Immediate
II surrounded him.
Without much delay Hall, accompanier
by his aged mother. Mrs Zemro Hal
his brother, Zemro, and his sister, Mary
started down the stairs toward the exi
doors He was stll showing evidence G
weakness from the nervous strain and hi
chief counsel, George L. Emery, assiste
him by placing an arm around his shou
ders Halls mother also had to be al
sisted.
In the early evening when the presto
ing judge, Associate Justice Scott Wilson
announced a brief recess and went to din
ner, the crowd became smaller, but man
rcmained in the courtroom determined
witness the closing scenes OF the trial. |
the Jail beside the courthouse the defent
ant spent a nervous afternoon He ha
periods of sobbing. ate very little of I'll
food that was brought him, and pace
restlessly in the corridor 1t was know
that Hall had been strongly hopeful ,
an early verdict of acquittal and he b
came greatly depressed rs the passage
the hours indicated a difference of opi
ion among the jurors
, Later in the afternoon Hall conquerC
; his nervousness to some extent after
visit from George H. Emery, his chi
counsel. After eating fairly large su
per he stretched himself on the couch
his ceA. The door OF the cell was opt
and he conversed with his keeper, iokii
part OF the time. He said he did not ca
to have a light for reading
Throughout the charge to the jury
q Associate Justice Scott Wilson. H;
leaned eagerly forward iii his chair vi
his head slightly turned to one side, +,
lowing every word. He seemed Who'll
alert. His appearance in this respect "
c in contrast with his attitude while t
:. closing argument for the state was bel
f given by Attorney General Guy H. Str
r gis Under the denunciatory words Of t
V attorney general, Hall gave little or
il evidence that the issue meant more
e him than to any other person i t
n | court room.