The Topeka State Daily Journal Monday June 3, 1918 J.M. Hale Is Killed. Former Topekan Meets Death in Auto Accident in California. Miss Alberta HALE, city treasurer and Mrs. J.A. McLEAN of Topeka received word of the death of their brother, John M. HALE, who was killed in an automobile accident at Bakersfield, Cal. No particulars are given. Mr. Hale was well known In Topeka. He was reared here as a young man and for many years was a traveling salesman out of this city. He left Topeka for the west about 10 years ago.