Robert Hall, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Robert Hall
THE HALL MURDER.
Two Men Fight Over a Girl and one of Them Goes to the Great Beyond While the Other is a Candidate for the Gallows.
Michigan City Dispatch:
Deputy Coroner Ohming, of this city, assisted by Dr. V. Riper, of New Carlisle, held an inquest over the remains of Robert Hall, the victim of a tragedy at Hudson lake, this county, Friday night. Hall, the murdered man, was 56 years old, and a man of powerful physique, standing more than six feet in height. He was recently divorced from his wife and resided with his son-in-law, James Cornelius, near the lake. The old man did not bear a very good reputation in the neighborhood. He had been paying his attentions to a nineteen-year-old girl, Sarah Mell, in the community. Byron Landon, a rather tough character of the community, was his rival. Landon is about 35 years old. Before the tragedy the two men had been drinking. About 5 o'clock Landon started out to escort the girl home. It was necessary to row her across the lake and he started with her. Just as they launched out Hall came up in a furious mood and began to hurl vile epithets at the pair. Langdon rowed back to the shore and landed with the avowed intention of whipping Hall. The men commenced to fight in the vicinity of a summer hotel and they clinched, both men going down. Hall's head struck against the gunwale of the boar and he was badly hurt. He started to rise, however, with a labored effort, and was on his hands and knees when Landon said with an oath, "I'll give you another," and struck the old man in the back of his neck. There were bystanders who testified that the blow was delivered with the fist only. Hall rolled over dead. His neck was broken. Landon at first thought that his victim was merely badly injurred and he sent for a New Carlisle doctor, but when he found out to a certainty that the old man was dead he ran away and no one attempted to stop him. A telegram was sent to Sheriff Reed, but he being at Longansport, Deputy Sheriff McCormick boarded the 6:30 train for Hudson lake, where he took a rig and followed Landon, taking the course he had gone toward the Michigan line. The murderer had three hours' start and could only be heard from occasionally, and McCormick got on the wrong track and went several miles out of his way. Turning back he found where Landon had worked for a man two or three weeks before, and going to the place he learned that the murderer had not been there, but got a clew to another place, where it was thought he had perhaps gone. Arriving at the house where they expected to find Landon, McCormick learned that he had left there only fifteen minutes before, but he was advised to be very careful, as the pursued was armed with a revolver and was said to be desperate. In his haste to depart Mr. McCormick had not armed himself, and the two men who had accompanied the deputy were likewise unarmed. Mr. McCormick was determine to catch the man at all hazard and they proceeded on the chase undaunted. After driving about a mile they saw a man climb a fence and cross the road about twenty rods ahead of them and enter a clump of bushes by the roadside. The trio drove past, chatting pleasantly about the weather, the crops, etc., until, when a short distance past the bushes, McCormick and one of the men got out of the vehicle and went carefully back to the bushes where Landon had secreted himself. Approaching the hiding place McCormick got out his pocket knife which he held in his hand, allowing it to project beyond his thumb and fingers, thinking it would be mistaken for a pistol as it glistened in the moonlight. The bluff worked admirably. Landon threw up his hands and surrendered. When searched a pocketknife was found. He had dropped his revolver in the clump of bushes and one of the men found it. Only one chamber was loaded.
Landon was brought to Laporte and lodged in jail. It was evident that he was making an effort to get to relatives in Michigan. It is said that Landon's murderous disposition is inherited, as his father killed his man. Landon, the younger, was at one time an employe of the Haskell & Barker car works of this city.
Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: June 26, 1891
Volume Number: 8
Issue Number: 11
Page: 1
Column(s): 6
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook