Ex-Judge William M. Hall died at his home on Juliana street, Bedford, Sunday morning at 2.15 o'clock. Hon. William Maclay Hall was born at Lewistown November 3, 1828, and was a son of Rev. William Maclay Hall, a Presbyterian minister. The deceased moved to Bedford, with his parents, in October, 1844, his father at that time taking charge of the Presbyterian church at this place. Judge Hall was graduated from Marshall college, Mercersburg, in July, 1846, delivering the valedictory oration—the highest honor of his class. He was appointed judge advocate, with the rank of major, by President Lincoln in January, 1865, and served one year. During this term, as inspector of military prisons and camps, he was engaged, under the special direction of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, in examining the cases of military prisoners with a view to their being pardoned by the president when it could be done without prejudice to the service or injury to the country. In 1868 the judge served on a commission to revise the statutes of the state of Pennsylvania with Judge Derrickson and Hon. Wayne MacVeagh. After the death of Judge Alexander King, in January, 1871, he was appointed by Governor Geary president judge of the Sixteenth Judicial district, then comprising the counties of Bedford, Somerset, Franklin and Fulton — now consisting of Bedford and Somerset counties. At the next election, in the fall of 1871, as the candidate of the Republican party, he was elected to the same office. Judge Hall retired from the bench on the first of January, 1882. Hon. William M. Hall was a man of scholarly attainments; he had a logical mind and was an eloquent, forceful speaker. His long and successful practice at the bar prepared him to fill the position of president judge in an able manner. During his administration very few reversals of his decisions were made by the supreme court. After leaving the bench, Judge Hall did not actively engage in the practice of the law, but devoted himself to literary pursuits. He has written several books and has contributed many articles of historic interest to the press.In 1859 the judge was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Rowan Cramer, of Cumberland, Md., who, with the following children, survives him: Miss Julia Katharine, Miss Eleanor Maclay and Richard Cecil Hall, at home; William Maclay Hall, Esq., of Pittsburg; Mrs. Charles G. Brown, of Huntingdon, and George Louis Hall, of Brooklyn, N. Y. He is also survived by three sisters — Mrs. Francis Jordan, of Harrisburg; Mrs. N. B. Hogg, of Pittsburg, and Mrs. J. H. Grossman, of Steelton. Source: The Bedford Gazette, Friday, 15 September 1899