A woman's vengeance
Frank Hall shot and instantly killed by Amanda Olsen. Seduction her justification. She gives herself up but refuses to converse.In the fall of 1890, Salt Lake City was in the thrall of a sensational murder case and a young woman was put on trial for her life. Utah was still a territory struggling to become a state, and frontier justice was not far in the past despite the growing sophistication of the city.
The story of that trial came to light during research for the book "Through Our Eyes," which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Deseret News. It is excerpted and reprinted here just as it was written, with some abridgments and explanations.It is a fascinating look at society 109 years ago, at the Territorial judicial system and at journalism as it was then practiced. We offer it as a reading bonus.
Deseret News, Sept. 30, 1890
At half-past six September 29th at the corner of C and First Streets, in the Eighteenth Ward, Amanda Olson shot a sporting character of this city named Frank Hall, the shot being instantly mortal.
Hall was walking down the street with Mrs. Ann Hart, who lives at No. 277 C Street; as the two passed a tree, Miss Olson was observed standing behind it, and she made a remark the terms of which were not distinguished. As the couple reached the railway track in the centre of the street, and only a few feet from where the girl was standing, she drew a revolver and fired, the bullet entering Hall's forehead and passing entirely through his head, came out behind the left ear. He dropped to the ground, exclaiming "Oh dear!" and expired without a groan.
She immediately proceeded to the police station, announcing what had taken place; and stating that she wished to be placed in custody, was taken to the county jail. She was quite uncommunicative, only saying that Hall had seduced her and that she did not wish to talk about it until she had consulted with her attorney.
Some months since (before) Hall went east. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Hart sold her home in the Eighteenth Ward and left the city also, leaving the impression behind her that she was going to California to visit relatives. She did not, however, go westward, as recent developments proved. She returned from the east quite recently, bringing Hall's children with her, and he followed a day or two afterwards. Mrs. Hart was stopping with her mother, and it appears that Hall must have been visiting Mrs. Hart there immediately previous to the tragedy that ended his career.
It seems from all accounts that Hall was a married man but was not living with his wife. He was thirty-eight years old and had two children, of whom he was taking care. He had lived with Mrs. Hart for over two years, and she had introduced him into the Olson family. The acquaintance thus formed grew and seemed to be mutually pleasing for a time, Hall's conduct up to a certain point giving out no indication of any such damnable design as he is charged with.
But his acquaintanceship, while properly restrained as related to the other members of the household, was not so as to the girl, and he soon began to make protestations of love. The impediment in the way of a marriage with Miss Olson, that is his living and undivorced wife, he proposed to remove as soon as possible by obtaining a legal separation.
The old familiar story of man's treachery and woman's weakness, in all its shades of light and darkness, with all the customary details, seems to have never been more exactly repeated than in the instance of which we write. She yielded in spite of her parents' opposition and promised to become his wife; but the submission to his wishes meant one thing to her and another and vastly different thing to him . . . .
Miss Olson's father . . . was on his way home from the shop when he was attracted by the crowd which had gathered at the place of the shooting. The dead body of Hall was lying upon the ground, and upon his being informed by Mrs. Hart that it was his daughter who had slain the man, he was completely overcome and swooned, being then conveyed to his residence . . . .
Miss Olson is 23 years of age, has a petite figure and is quite good looking. She has been employed for some time in the knitting factory conducted by Mr. Pearson on West Temple Street, between South Temple and First South. The gentleman bears abundant testimony to her worth and reputation, there being nothing whatever against her except her intimacy with Hall . . . .
Deseret News, Oct. 1, 1890
A Dramatic Scene
Probably the whole world of dramatic literature does not contain a scene portraying more intense emotion, or a more striking exhibition of certain qualities of human nature, suffering, strength and weakness, than were witnessed during the few moments that immediately succeeded the entrance into the City Hall of Miss Olson, when she came there to surrender herself to the officers after having shot Frank Hall.
After firing the avenging shot, Miss Olson walked deliberately from the spot towards police headquarters. . . . She passed through the main hall of the building as if familiar with the premises, paused an instant at, and then entered, the door which bears the card, "Police Headquarters" and as she did so, she emitted with each breath a sound which was a mingling of a groan and a gasp, indicative of overpowering emotion and tremendous efforts to suppress the same.
Police Justice Laney, Mr. Stewart, clerk of the police court, Desk Sergeant McCurdy and City Marshal Young were in the apartment across which extends a railing, having a gate opposite the door. Justice Laney was in the act of saying "Good night Marshal," and passing out of the gate in the railing, when Miss Olson stepped within the door of the room, squarely confronting him, and holding a pistol and a letter in her left hand, which was extended in front of her.
To get out of range of the pistol, Justice Laney stepped quickly aside, and Miss Olson continued to move straight within the gate, all the time uttering the sound described. As she did so she said in a tone, deep and husky from the terrific excitement under which she was laboring, "Take it! take it," meaning the pistol, and pointed it towards Mr. Stewart.
"What's the matter?" asked Justice Laney.
"I've shot Frank -- my betrayer," were the words uttered in reply.
"Who?" asked Justice Laney.
"Frank Hall," replied the young woman.
Mr. Stewart did not comprehend why the pistol was being extended towards him, and somewhat lacking in presence of mind, he cut a unique figure in attempting to escape what appeared to him the danger of being shot. He moved around and dodged, Miss Olson continuing to extend the weapon towards him, until she stood with her back toward Marshal Young, who stepped close to her and gently took the pistol from her hand.
As he did so, Miss Olson exclaimed: "Won't they kill me? Won't they kill me?" Marshal Young endeavored to assure her that no one would harm her, and asked: "What did you do it for?"
"This will explain all!" replied Miss Olson, flourishing the letter with a dramatic effect seldom witnessed on the mimic stage. Marshal Young took the letter and, as he did so, remarked: "She shot him, sure enough; one of the chambers is empty."
Justice Laney: Oh, she may have fired the pistol, but she probably didn't hit him.
Miss Olson: Yes, yes, I did! I was so close -- close as I am to you! And he fell -- fell with his face down! And the woman ran!
Deseret News, Oct. 1, 1890
The Coroner's Inquest
Following is the letter which Amanda Olson had on her person at the time she slew Frank Hall. If anything had been wanting to show premeditation, and such premeditation as comes of a foul and deadly wrong which nothing could entirely obliterate, this letter supplies it:
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 29, 1890.
Gentlemen. -- I, Amanda Olson, write this to relieve me of a public explanation, which I know I will be called upon to do. I will not have the nerve. It is hereby understood that I have shot Frank Hall, my betrayer, for this reason: Two years ago last June I was introduced to him by Mrs. Hart, a lady neighbor whom I have known since I was a mere child . . . .
He met me coming from my work, begging me to let him have a conversation with me, but I refused him time and time again, but he gave me no peace. I asked the advice of my parents and they said there was no harm in speaking to him. And it was the old story. I refused him; he then asked my parents if he could visit at our house and they thought he was an honest man and said he could come and see me a few times and acted the gentleman in every way. But he soon carried out evil purpose to me and blighted my life; with his smooth tongue he gained my promise to keep quiet and would marry me, but he was afraid that I would not, and he left the city and been away for ten months.
Saturday I seeked an explanation from him but he was so hard and cruel to me and only laughed when I spoke to him, and though it was a public place we were conversed he even then dared try to assault and so that I had to push him over the chair to get away from him, and he told me then he never had any intention to marry me. Then I swore vengeance. That is all.
AMANDA OLSON
The coroner's jury of three men from Salt Lake County, Territory of Utah, found that Frank C. Hall, "there lying dead," had been killed by a gunshot wound at the hands of Amanda Olson A day later, at her preliminary examination, she had retained a formidable attorney: O. W. Powers. In the 1880s he was appointed to the federal bench in Utah as an associate justice where he earned a reputation handling cases involving disputes between the LDS Church and the federal government. By 1890 he was in private practice in the same courtroom, where he was still referred to as Judge Powers.
Deseret News, Oct. 2, 1890
At 3:15 Miss Olson entered the court room and took a seat beside Judge Powers.
She is of petite stature, of a slight, frail looking form, and her age is given as twenty-three. She has rather a large, but well formed head, which is covered with an abundant growth of brown hair. Her features are expressive and mobile, and her eyes are large, blue and beautiful, and indicate a tender and affectionate nature. The size and form of the nose indicate force of character, but the mouth is the feature which most shows determination. As she sat down her lips closed with an expression of marked resolution, called up by the ordeal she was facing. Her demeanor was perfectly calm and composed . . . .
On Oct. 7, the paper reported that she had been indicted on the charge of murder in the first degree, to which she pleaded not guilty, and was released on $5,000 bail.