Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-10-16
CAPTAIN HALL DEATH.
Was II Murder?-Who was the Mur-
derer?

Was II a Murder?-Who was the Mur-
derer?
The following statement is made
by the Dundee correspondent of the
New York Herald, in regard to the
death of Captain Hail:
had an interview with Morton,
the second mate, who was Halls ia
vorite attendant during his Last
sickness. The statements he made
he bade me not disclose. They
were, however, of so startling ma
ture that felt 1t my duty to give
them to-day to the Vice Consul to
aid him in the investigation he was
prosecuting. I accordingly yesterday
waited on the Vice consul and gave
him my information that he might
get it officially from Morton. He
at once told me he had already had
these statements from Morton. /
further ascertained the testimony
of certain others was cOrroborative
SO Ear of Morton's and l am salts
fed that the Vice Consul, who is =
lawyer, leans to 4 theory seriously
duplicating DIR. Bessel.
Morton says Hall and Bessel
were not on good terms. Hall re-
turned from the journey which pre-
ceded his fatal illness in perfect
health, and was only short time
in the cabin when, after taking some
coffee, he became sick and vomited.
He solemnly affirms that the doctor
told him or the second day after
Captain Halls illness that it would
be fatal. Hall complained to Nor
ton that 'theywere poisoning him"
Bessell gave Hall injections, ostensi-
bly, of qulnine, but it is limited that
morphine was used. Morton appar-
emily believes that Bessel killed
Hall in order that he might rob him
of the honor of discovering the
North Pole. Bessel believed that
the expedition was sure to be sue
cessful. With regard to Budding
ton, Morton affirms that Buddinton
was loose in his habits and gave Of
fence to Hall, who on more than
one occasion showed his marked
disapproval. He, however, scouts
the idea that Buddington killed Hall
A former document now given up
written few days before his death,
expressed perfect confidence in Bud
dington. The crew aver that the
sailing master drank, but never was
absolutely intoxicated. Morton
charges Buddington with showing
the white feather as to proceeding
north through the ice, At consul
tations with Hall and his brother
officers he called him a perfect cow
ard; yet withal man too timid to
crush a mosquito were it under his
foot. The carpenter, Mr.. Coffin
who made the bier for Hall, speaks
of the face of the corpse as having
been the most natural of all the
the many dead faces he has seen.
1t was perfectly calm, devoid Of all
contortions or expressions of pain
and particularly fresh in color.
Postmortem rigidity alone bespoke
the presence of death. Budding
ton ard the DR.. are not friendly.
The farmer gives out that he knows
a great deal which he would say to
any one save to the Consul or the
U. S. authorities. The common
seamen refuse to say anything, and
generally plead ignorance of what
was done in the cabin. The only
conclusion we can come to on the
whole testimony is, that either Nor
ton speaks the truth or labors un-
der hallucinlation, which is shared in
by the Captain, or that both of them
have formed damnabie conspiracy
against an innocent man. The
Captain and Morton roomed in one
hotel, with the exception of the DR..
who roomed at the Royal Hotel,
where he was very great favorite
with all the guests and won golden
opinions by his exceedingly frank,
pleasant manner. His reticence as
to the details of the Captains
illness was IN consequence of a de-
liberate resolution to which he per-
sistently and successfully adhered,
despite all the endeavors of mem
bers of the press to secure informa
tion from him. Both Buddington
and the doctor are prepared for ar
rest Immediately on their arrival at
New York. All wi o have enjoyed
DIR. BessePs acquaintance pray God
that the dark accusations may prove
utterly greundless. DR.. Bessel and
the other officers and members
of the crew cannot be said to be
very friendly. Buddington has been
drinking slightly during his stay in
Dundee.
1t is certain that he is In a state
of considerable trepidation and anx-
iety about something. Probably he
anticipates severe overhauling
from the Navy Department. So far
as the charges of poisoning against
Buddigton goes, it is negatived by
Bessel, who affirms so stoutly that
Hall died natural death. His con-
duct on shipboard is vindicated by
formal paper left by Hall.
With the crew generally Budding
ton is on capitol terms. The most
singular feature of the whole matter
is that Teson's party made charge
of foul play and that the same
charge is reiterated by certain mem
bers of Buddington's party, but
against another individual. ~
NiSG0vERY