New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-22
TALK OF JUDGES AND LAWYERS.


JUDGE BRADY AND RECORDER HACKErr PUZZLED
TIE RECORDER EXPECTS MR.. HALLS SPEEDY
RErURN-TnEORIES or FLIGHT OR SUICIDE
GENERALLY RIDlCULED.
The talk of the lawyers yesterday in the
rooms and corridors Of the Courthouse turned largely
the absence of Mr.. Hall Generally those who knew him
the idea of suicide, of late he had seemed IN
good spirits and had important debts the only udg
ment against himOne for of the hcaer in which he
made lis unsuccessful dramatic venture-having been
paid Off Judges the bench were much interested
the bar, and reporters were frequently asked by
messages from the bench if there anything The
murmured conversation OF the courts until late the
afternoon was largely occupied with queries and
lectures on this one theme.
Judge Brady said to TRIBUNE reporter that the
he thought of it the Mr. Hans disappearance puz
zled him He had seemed bril- or than usual during
the week. He not embarrassed pccunarlly. His
professional business large and increasing and hc
was still receiving moneys from MS connection with his
old firm On Friday he had received two fees Ii he bad
been in pecunaIy trouble he has friends who would raise
any amount for him. He had accomplished family
and a mother whom he never failed to each day.
The weight that had rested his mind since the Ring
trials seemed passing away He was man ot temperate
habits. The Ring troubles could not have
led him TO absent himself. lie mad been
Quilted some years before, and people were begin
ming to forget his connection with The Ring politicians
Judse Brady spoke of the way in which Mr.. Hall con.
Quoted his own defense, surprising tine prosecution by
announcing his immediate readiness, only the prose
cutting counsel would in their opening state what he
TO meet Judge Brady presided az this second trial on
which the Jurors disagreed. He spoke Of Mr. Halls
gument in tne Rice most mastery The difficulty
in that case was that he desired impress The jury
theory drawn from facts known to him hut not before
the Jury The speech made at the rendering of the
Diet by Mr. Hail he regarded as merely the elect OF
disappointment and low spirs-eCcentric perhaps, but
nothing more. Among the minutes of things to be
done found IN Mr.. Halls office one Of "A visit TO
Brooklyn.
Recorder Hackett said he did not believe Mr. Hall had
gone away permanently, had committed suicide, or was
suffering from any alteration Of mind Mr.. Hall pos
sessed mental powers of high order, but he had lis
yagaries He did very foolish thing in declaring before
Judge Brady in the Rice murder Trial that he would
never appcar again in homicide just because ne
had failed to impress Iury with the correctness OF
his own belief in the of hs client. For man
who had so large experience and success III such trials
and wncre his opinion OF the innocence oi Rice
could be only his private suppoSton he Thought IT
an exceedingly foolish speech TO make. Mr.. Hal
believed ia spiritual manifestations aud once told him
that he had held converse with the late James T. Brady
since the atteTs death He WAS, he believed member
Of the Swedcnborgan church. OF ~. Halls domestic
ana financial affairs he had nothing 10 say; he did not
interest himself in the private affairs Of others The
abatement asc.iLed to him Mr. Hall had had does &c
trouble OIL Friday morning was altogether false. lie
had said nothing Of the kiud. He well acquainted
with Mrs Hall and the family. Mr. Hall possessed
beautiful house, q wife and five charming daughters