The Omaha guide., 1943-02-13
Georgia Has First
Of 1o43
SHERIFF BLAMED IN MID
NIGHT ABDUCTION;
DEATH OF MAN

ALBANY. Feb. p amp After an
absence Of two years the state OF
Georgia swung back into the lynch
column, earning with the brutal
beating to death Of youthful Rob-
ert Hall the dubious distinction Of
providing the first illegal execat-
ion Of 1913. it was learned this
week.
Behind the death of Hall was a
story Of white hot hatred, the mis-
use Of police authority, the forg-
ing of a warrant. a midnight alb
duction and a fictionIike conspir-
acy to take the life Of a human
being, that is 50 often told in the
south.
Hall was arrested Friday, Jan.
29, after he had been forced out of
bed on automobile theft charges
in a fake warrant served by She--
if Claude Screws of Baker COUNTY
accompanied by Policeman Frank
Jones.
Positive proof that the warrant
was a fake came to light this week
with the testimony Of John q.
Derm, owner of the truck from
which the tire was allegedly stoI-
en-. hat no tire had been removed
from the vehicle and that he had
preferred no charges against
young Hall. Dermss testimony was
corroborated by his brother George
G. Derm, both OF whom denied
that they had signed any warrant.
Placed under arrest after the
midnight visit by the minions Ct
the law, Hall was at first thought
to have been lodged in the Baker
county jail.
It was not until 2:3O O'Clock sat
urday morning. Jan. 80, that what
had really happened to Hall came
to light It was at that hour that
employees Of an Albany funeral
home received an ambulance call
TO come to Newton. Ca, about Is
miles away and get a niger /
had to beat up"
The call relayed from a hospital
in Albany was reported to have
been sent by Sheriff Screws. The
ambulance attendants got the bad
" battered and bruised man from
the Jail where the jailer asserted
that he had not been touched since
his arrival. and that the victim
was brought to the Jail in the con-
dition in which he was found.
Hall, rushed to an Albany hos
pital died a few minutes after he
had been admitted.
The body bore 21 abrasions ard
Commissions and deep cuts in the
wrists, lending Observers to b.
lieve that he had been tied behind
an automobile and dragged over
rough ground
The back OF his head had been
beaten so badly. il was described
as being as soft as a ripe tomato
The clothes were torn to shreds
and the entire body was covered
with dirt, further evidence that he
had been dragged behind q speed
ing car.
Motive for the attack was suppl
led by Several white Baker county
residents after they had viewed
the youths remains. Sheriff
Screws. It was disclosed. had be-
come angry with Hall after The
lynch victim had appeared before
the grand jury seeking to recover
a pistol which had been removed
from the pocket Of his car By sher-
if Screws.
An expert mechanic, Hall enjoy.
ed the respect of both races of cit
liens in Baker county. He helped
repair all of the tractors and farm
implements in this section.
At the funeral was his brother.
Pvt. Howard Hail. who Obtained
Leave from the army fighting for
democracy to attend. His father
a farmer. and land owner. sai
grief stricken throughout the ser
vices held ednesday. Feb. 3.
Besides his parents. the victim
Is survived by his widow. a young
son, three sisters and four broth
ers. all of whom reside in Baker
county.
Thus far no charges have been
filed against Sheriff Screws. win
for several days was strangely alb
sent from the community. Re-