The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-24
Gloomy Opinions Gaining Ground Among
Mr.. Halls Friends.
Is TT SUICIDE OR MURDER?
Waits and Strays Of Hope-The Brooklyn
Divorce Story.


tho Now York Post Oice but the siugu lar faulty
which led TWO individuals, who emphatic Ia say
Ing they wero not mistaken in his .dcntity, to allow
Tho gentleman TO pass out OF sight In that busy thor
sughfarc without making any attempt to solve the
mystery Is almost incomprehensibe. 1t is highly
probable they mistaken Outside the momentary
relief such waits OF hope Afforded must admitted
that the general impression among those most inter-
the search after the Mayor of tho most
gloomy character. Until the arrival OF the out
going steamers Of last Saturday. on the other
sido Of tho Atlantic sets one set of specula
lions at rest, those who hold to q theory
Of suicide murder will not have the field OF n.y.
pothess to themselves. Every hour, however brings
recruits TO the side OF those who fear the Ono
OF the most perplexing features OF the pre-.
sented by the various statements OF tho day which
Mr.. Hall was last in this cy--an important ele-
ment in the Mr. Halls memorandum In what
Is called "his diary' tbut which is scarcely
anything than of random jottngs
In reference to business engagemcnts), fixing tho
date OF his Wis to the Tombs Friday, and not Satur
day, was cause OF considerable ANA cement to the
parties who, as quoted in yesterdays HERALD, wero
so positive their conviction that they Mr.
Hall on Saturday, ana Friday, and whose belief
strongly fortified by the circumstance that OF
the keepers away at the ST. Patrck's parade
(which Saturday, and that his substitute re-
mcmbcrcd letting Thomas out that day. Yesterday
Mr.. vanderpocl received the following letter.
k WAS HALL SEEN ON SATURDAY.
OFFICE OF T. +. GIBBONS, }
. ATTORNEY AND CoUNsELLoR-AT-LAw.}
a'ssy s' 20"
m any wy st Try Ss0 Which RSsy s @
.a ss K .n %sss rSn al dfs"ta
%ens o"ass
10 ss M IA Il, wS g: v @ y. him nna well as
overcoat and high silk hat. and carried umbrella
c CORY 'a"ls y' +. GIBBONS A.
The writer called on the above parties and fou nd
that they were apparently trustworthy persons, who
seemed to have known Mr. Hall well, and who con-
hrmed tho statements made in the above letter.
BROOKLYN MURDER STORY
But how could their story be reconcilod with the
rumor which seemed to rest some crcumsantial
evidence that Mr.. Hall had been seen talking to two
suspicious looking individuals in the Tribune lager
beer saloon ON Friday evening, between six seven
that no then started to Brooklyn to client OF his
a lady who had retained him in divorce
case, and that he never returned from this errand
being probably foully dealt with during his nocturnal
expedition in Brooklyn? The latter story contained
some curious contradictions. It was limited that Mr.
Hall, In the pursuit of testimony in this case
visited dangerous, low Brooklyn locality corre-
that fatal Friday night having $500
and valuable gold watch and chain on his
person But was it likely that experienced vet
Gran lawyer like Mr. Hail. ex-Dslrict Attorney,
should visit snch dangerous locality at highland
there was bad snow storm on Friday nght-without
being accompanied by Il detective? This was ques-
ton TINT naturally occurred to many, and it seemed
scarcely reasonable to It in the Affirmative
without FIRST assuming that Mr. Hall was very rccl.
less In such matters, that his mind was couded
at the time-both assumptions which his most init
mate friends repeL
ArrENps AT SECRECY.
Inquiry yesterday, for the purpose of unraveiug
the mystery was greatly impedod by tho foolish
notion OF some OF the parties who working up tho
that publicity would be dangerous success and
that the newspapers must DO left in complete igno-
rance OF any clews leading possibly to any definite re-
suit. These parties had evidently forgotten the TACT
that In mysterious cases like this-as conclu-
svcy shown in the Katie Ried case, for instance-it
always the newspaper reporters who discover and
pursue every clew with and tn detectives
who generally mako great show and fuss and develop
facts whatever For the detectives in this case to
pretend that only through the utter ignorance of the
press they unrave the puzzle the height of pur
blind and foolish presumption, and Mr. Halls friends
who encourage them this iussy pretcnce of secrecy
make gricvous error, for they trine with the public
which knows that II they receive solution 1t
Will probably from the press before it comes from
the detectives.
MR.. HALLS MYSTERIOUS LADY CLIENT.
An illustration OF this policy OF nJudicious secrecy
was given BY Mr.. vanderpoel and Mr. Niemann the
former having taken charge OF Mr. Halls business and
papers, and tho latter, Mr. Halls confidential clerk
having hitherto retained charge of Mr.. Halls Office
II was Of the first importance learn from these gen.
lady clicpt OF Mr. Hail. whom he is supposed TO
have visited in BROOKLYN on Friday evening, or at
least In whose behalf no - supposed to
gone there Mr.. Niemann FIRST denied
knowing anything about tho address OF tho
lady. He knew nothing whatever; that was all he
could say Mr. vandcrpoe being applied to said that
Mr. Nemann had the dary." while latter declared
that Mr.. vanderpool had It, At last tho met taco
10 TACO In Mr.. vandcrpoels Office, and that gentleman
asked that young Nemann should show him the diary
Mr.. NIEMASS--I haven't got It,
Mr.. vAYpERroxI.--I saw such entry among Mr..
Halls memoranda This gentleman pointing at the
reporterj wants the name
Mr.. Ncmann whispers to Mr.. vauderpocl.
Mr. vASpERroEL-well Mr.. Nicmauu says that tho
detectives who working up the case don't want to
have tho name given out to anybody.
Mr.. NIgxAsS ito tho writer)-I told you that didn't
know anything about it,
1t was OF no avail TO assure these gentlemen that
the names ana addresses would not DO published n
they did desire IT, aud only wanted In order
that the story might be vigorously investigated by tho
HERALD. "The detcctives'' would not allow this IN
formation TO DO given out, and u be sup
pressed and tho bung!ins detectives be suffered
to mystify Mr. Halls friends and the public stu
longer
WHAT JUDGE BRADY KNOWS
ad toi m
that he knew oil no Brooklyn engagement on Friday
last, and shat had Mr. Hall such an engagement no
(young Nicmann) would probably have known II. Mr.
vandcrpocl had told tho Judge that he did be.
liovc In the Brooklyn murder story, although do
tcctvcs were working It up now. Judge Brady was
ulso informed that Mr.. Halls memorandum
OF his Brooklyn engagement ON Friday last