The Republican., 1925-11-26
HALL, WOUNDED NEGRO,
is HELPLESS IMBECILE
Practically Blind And Helpless
Hall Remains in Custody of
Government at Cumberland
Cumberland Evening Times)

Cumberland Evening Times)
Hopelessly paralyzed, with one eye
gone and helpless and speechless,
from the effects of bullet wound in
the brain, Henderson Hall, a Jamai-
can negro, held as q Federal prisoner
awaiting trial for attempted robbery
of the Swanton, Maryland. postoffice,
in September, lies on his cot in a cell
in the Allegany county Jail apparent
ly in state of imbecility.
Physicians say he cannot recover
and that he may also live for years,
on account of his youth. His plight
is the most tragic and pathetic of any
prisoner ever confined in the county
prison. Sometimes Hall in his help
lessness will slump over and slide
from his cot to his knees on his cell
floor with face and body bowed over
as if imploring Heaven to relieve him
of his distressing existence.
He may live for years in this help
less condition, doctors say, because
he eats and still has an appetite.
The Jail officials are good to him
and his fellow prisoners are kind
and sympathetic and minister to his
wants. They feed him, bathe him.
carry him from his cell and endeavor
to make his prison lot comfortable
Hall lies on his cot in a semi-otupor
most of the time and appears more
like the phantom OF d human being
existing between the borderland of
life and death.
His fellow prisoners and jailors
think that Hall can understand at
times when spoken to, as he endeav-
ors by grimances and mumbling
sounds to answer.
DR.. W F. Williams. county physi-
clan, who visits the sick in jail, as
well as other surgeons who have
examined him, are of the opinion
that he will never regain sufficient
physical strength to stand trial The
burden of his keep and maintenance,
is a problem on the Jail officials and
has aroused much comment, as they
feel the Federal Government should
take him to one of its institutions for
such cases.
Medical men assert that the ordi-
nary man would have succumbed to
the wounds Hall sustained. He was
shot in the head and another bullet
entered his abdomen. Hall being
young and of strong build and health,
his vitality has amazed the physic-
ians and nurses who cared for him
while in the Western Maryland Hos
pital. He underwent two operations.
one of the abdomen and a trepanning
of the skull, A portion of the brain
was removed and it is said the sur
geons could not locate the bullet.
On the night of September II, Hall,
in company with young white man
named Anderson, attempted to rob
the store and post office at Swanton,
Nd. They had gotten off &. & o.
freight train. Joseph Friend, the
postmaster, awakened by the noise,
surprised Hall in the storeroom and a
pistol battle ensued in the darkness.
Friend shot at Hall and wounded him
in the head and abdomen. In the
alteration, Hall struck Friend with
his pistol butt, fracturing his jaw and
injuring his eye. Friend was brought
to Cumberland to the Western Mary
land Hospital, that day.
1t was found necessary later to re-
move one of Friends eyes. Hall was
captured some hours afterwards,
seriously wounded, hidden in the
woods near Swanton. 1t is said he
endeavored to kill members of the
posse under Sheriff Yutzy of Oak
land, searching for him, but he was
overpowered He was brought under
guard to the hospital here. Hall told
his captors that he was a native of
Jamaica and a sailor and that while
beating his way west, he became hun
CRY and he and Anderson determined
to rob the store, for money and food.
Hall was given hearing in the hos
pital and held for Federal court un-
der heavy bond His condition was
critical but he was kept under guard
at the hospital until his removal
month later TO the county Jail
Anderson was taken to Baltimore
jail for trial. Fe is said to have ai-
mitted being an accompiice Of Hall
and acted as lookout" lie ran when
the shooting began hut was captured
a day later near Grafton, W Va, by
the B. & .. police officers.