Evening star., 1920-01-01
HALL MURDER CASE
EVIDENCE ALL IN.
May Go to Jury Before To-
night; Defendant on
Stand.

MANASSAS. Va, January with
all testimony completed. arguments
of the attorneys began today in the
trial of w. c. Hall, prohibition IN
spector charged with killing Law
renee Hudson last March. There Is a
possib that the case Will be SUD-
mitted to the jury before night
Testifies in Own Defense.
Hall took the stand in his own de-
fense yesterday afternoon. Win tne
conclusion of his testimony the de-
tense announced that all evidence was
in, and rebuttal opened.
Hall testified as to details OF the
shooting on the night when HUDSON
and Raymond Shackleford. ms com
panon were mortally wounded dur
ing a suspected whisky-running Jour,
ney, near Winchester. Va He declared
that he had not a doubt that his Dull
lets caused the death of both, II you
want to know the truth.
Firm Under Prosecutior'x Fire.
For man under the strain OF
murder charge for more than SIN
months. Hall stood the fire of the
prosecution firmly.
Attorney l.. O. Wendenberg,. chief
counsel for the defense, led him
easily over the ground in a series OF
simple questions. The testimony OF
that of the former witnesses Tor the
defense.
He admitted that he had hoped on
the "bootleggerS' car after waiting
until about am. for them, at a small
bridge across Tumbling run, where ne
had blocked the road with his auto
m obile He declared that the boot
leggers. clearing his car, had attempt
ed to escape down a side road, When
he hoped on the running board. and
Shac kleford fired. After Shacklefords S
first shot he said, he fired twice. and
was drawn into the car by Hudson,
who struck him across the head with
whisky bottle, holding around the
neck with the other arm. Hall then
admitted that he turned his revolver
on Hudson and fired. When question
ed as to whether he thought his shots
caused both deaths. he spoke up open
ly after Il slight deliberation and de-
clared he did not doubt that he had
caused both deaths, adding, frankly,
eff YOU want to know the truth.
The expected grillimg of Hall did
not materialize. on cross-eXamina-
ton he was raked over details, as to
when the shots were fired. and the
strongest point made against the wit
ness was that he had fired after
had shot only once.
Another Agent on stand.
J. H. Sullivan. one of the three
agents jointly indicted with Hall. tes-
titled as to his part in the shooting.
declaring that he had tried to fire at
the tank on the rear of the car. in or
der to stop progress within short
distance.
The prosecution in croSS-examlna-
ton asked if he had fired into the
car at the driver when he knew that
Hall was in close proximity to that
bot h. haI
not
Witness Reput tntfon Called Bad.
The rebuttal was the scene of in
PRODUCTION of testimony tending to
impeach the evidence presented by
Joe Williams, who acted as chauf-
feur for the dry agents on the night
of the shooting
He is under indictment now,
charged with the killing of his wife.
Viola Bebout and b. w. Bebout. tes-
tilted as to Williams reputation for
veracity.
"He wouldn't tell the truth" de-
clared Mr.. Bebout. Nobody who
knows him well would believe him on
cath -.
"Bad." was the simple answer of
his sister in law. regarding his repu-
Williams YVES the only witness intro.
duced for the defense who claimed Ito
have seen the shooting, and yet was
unarmed and not participant in 1t:
Character witnesses against Hall
were introduced by the prosecution,
including John NJ. Brown of Danville.
Va. the uncle of hudson. who is fur
nishing funds for specia! assistance
of the prosecution, ana MRS. oilVer'
sister of Hudson. When Brown took
the stand he was cross-quest1oned
regarding the fact as to whether he
was in the liquor business He de-
MED it.
,nnroached him. but he had refused
the money for the PROSECUTION paying
for expert legal COUNSEL out or his
own pocket.
He was asked if it was not true that
he had 1,2OO cases of whisky at pres
ent. He replied that he had never
had 800 cases of whisky. but added
that he had certificates for twenty
five barrels. now in bond at Baltimore.
which would be FIVE years old on
January 1.