Among many Bendigo stories, one stand-out is the tale of Charles Hall.

One of the three executions that occurred at Bendigo Gaol was of Charles John Hall in 1897. 

A well-known footballer of the Bendigo area, he was committed to trial for the murder of his wife at Eaglehawk.

It was reported his marriage was one of obligation and instead, he associated with a local barmaid named Eva Scott. Together they devised a plan to be together. 

The story goes that Minnie Hall was found by her husband lying over the edge of a tub, a coroner’s inquest deciding it was death by drowning.

However, after much agitation from neighbours and relatives, the body was exhumed and it was discovered she had been choked.

Conversely, in the accused’s own words, it was, "Altogether wrong ... that she was suffocated by violent pressure over the mouth and nose". 

Instead, he gave her a ‘ducking’ in the tub to put a stop to their argument and to cool her temper.

In doing this, her head struck against the edge of the tub and after discovering she was not moving and suspecting she had died, he placed her in the tub to make it appear she had been bathing.

He maintained that while his wife might have met her death through his actions, she was not murdered in a cold-blooded manner.

On March 16, 1897 Charles Hall appeared in the Supreme Court of Bendigo charged with the murder of his wife Minnie Hall on February 11, 1897.

Hall was represented by Dr John Quick and Mr Barkly Hyett of Bendigo.

The closing statement from the trial by His Honour, Mr Justice Hood declared: "The sentence of the court is that you shall be taken to the place from whence you came, and remain there for such time as His Excellency the Governor may decide, and then be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul."

As female relatives burst into tears, Hall was driven away to Castlemaine Gaol and locked in the condemned cell.

The jury was unable to agree - especially given Eva Scott gave numerous contradictory statements - so consequently a second trial was scheduled.

On July 28, 1897 Hall appeared at Castlemaine Assizes.

Eventually it was found that, "Hall's conduct was inconsistent with innocence, his stories were untruthful, and the deceased received injuries before her death struggle which could not have been caused by herself, even if she had purposed committing suicide" (Source: The Argus, Melbourne). 

He was found guilty and was sentenced to death. Upon his sentence, Hall wrote a letter of the incident in his own words.

A copy of this letter was sent to the Premier, the Attorney-General and the Chief Secretary who were in Sydney, for their consideration.

They eventually came to the conclusion that the statement threw no fresh light on the murder and therefore supported the decision of the Executive Council that Hall should be executed.

After full consideration to the statement, it was decided that the law should be allowed to take its course.

On September 13, 1897 Hall was hanged at Bendigo Gaol. Reports indicate that there were very few spectators.

His parents and three-year-old son came to the gaol to say their farewells - his mother needing to be carried away she was so grief stricken.

"I commit my soul to God," were his final words, according to the Barrier Miner newspaper of Broken Hill. 

The bolt was then drawn, and death was instantaneous.

Images of Charles Hall, of Castlemaine Gaol and the original prisoner record book are on display at the Post Office Gallery, 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo.

The exhibition is open until November 30.

Sources: The Argus, Melbourne newspaper and the Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW newspaper and capital case files.