MURDER AT GREEN SPRINGS The True Story of the Hall Case, Firestorm of Prejudices

Hardback. Since its founding in 1874, misfortunes plagued everyone who had ever run that store at Green Springs Depot. The Hall family was no exception. Their troubles seemed over until the early hours of April 15, 1914, when Victor Hall was shot in his store. The shooting occurred just hours after his chief competitor's business burned to the ground. Later that morning a posse recaptured an escaped convict. Who killed Victor Hall? Local officials had arrived at the scene shortly before the victim died. The arson-murder occurred on a main railroad and invoked state jurisdictions. An array of detectives arrived to solve the mystery. The family hired their own Pinkerton detective. Many thought the friendly, young rural merchant did not have an enemy in the world. Others knew differently and kept silent. At least a dozen men had viable motives. Victor Hall was the only male in his household. There were 5 women living there : his wife, two teenage stepdaughters, and two young school teachers. The widow was 13yrs. older than her husband. Gossip abounded. The victim owned a pistol of the same lethal calibre. It held a spent cartridge. Attentions focused on the widow. The depot area was the roughest and poorest in Louisa County and bordered one of the richest communities in Virginia: ironically both were known as Green Springs. Concerned citizens from opposite ends of the social spectrum worked cabal against the hapless widow. The case became a media sensation from the first day, creating a courtroom circus. Ultimately, political entanglements crowned the event as a total embarrassment to everyone, and an entire generation shunned its remembrance. Did she do it? The truth is revealed here at last. Illus., Endnotes, Bibliog. and Index. 497pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. in Nr. F. dw. A heavy book which will require additional postage, particularly if shipped overseas.