Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-03-29

TERMS. 92 90 per Annum
NO. 81.
THE MISSING EX-MAYOR.
What Has Became Of A. Oakley Hanl
It is now ten days since A. Oakley
Hall, ex-Mayor Of New York djsap-
peared. The detectives are at q loss
to account FOR this mystery, and admit
themselves beaten. The World pub
fishes a lengthy and circumstantial
theory to the effect that ex.Mayor
Hall had been murdered in Brooklyn,
while there on Friday night hunting
up witnesses for divorce case. For
some time back. it was stated, Mr.. Hall
had transacted business for a lady of
wealth and Of great personal attrac.
tions. He went to New Jersey and
personally conducted a suit for this
lady, involving large amount of real
estate, in which he was successful. On
the 10th of March this lady visited Mr..
Hall at his Office ,and held a consultation
with him. When she left he said that
he had been retained as counsel to
bring an action for divorce against her
husband. Tho suit was to be brought
in Kings county, and Mr.. Hall further
stated that he had to 60 to Brooklyn
next Friday evening and ''see detec-
tives and detective" this own words),
which implies that there were several
to be employed, and to examine wit
ness. TO add to this testimony a slip
Of paper was found which had been
left by Mr.. Hall on his desk, and on
which were number of memorandas
in his own handwriting, among which
was the following: March 10. Consul.
tatiOn with Mr.. -- as to divorce,
and to see detectives and detective,
and examining witness in Brooklyn
1t was further stated that a short
time ago, in conversation, Mr.. John A.
Duff, well known as lessee and man.
ager of the New York theatres said
that he had spoken with Mr.. Hall in
reference to proceedings for divorce
which Miss Kate Claxton had com.
menced against her husband, Dave
Lyon, and that Mr.. Hall, who was Miss
Claxton's counsel, had said that he did
not like divorce cases; that he was dis.
inclined to take any more of them land,
further, that he had been recently
obliged to go to Brooklyn to hunt up
some witnesses, and he had been forced
to go into slums of the city to do it.
''The neighborhood," added Mr.. Hall,
'swas disreputable in the extreme, and
dangerous, in fact," he said. st was
damnable, and what is more, I have
got to 90 again." He further remark
ed that he had never before been in SC
abandoned neighborh0od. This state
ment is freely amplitied by the news
paper in question.
Mr.. John A. Duff denies the state
ment that he was in the confidence OF
Mr.. Hall as to any professional bust
ness outside Of his own, and he placed
little faith in the statement made by
the World. 1t Gun do no harm now
and may possibly tend to throw some
light on the mystery of Mr.. Halls dis
appearance, to mention peculiarly
noticeable in him during his recent
visit to the courts. For some time
past he showed signs of absent-mind
edness, and would sometimes wall
slowly and moodily up to the thirt
floor of the new courthouse, when HI
meant to visit the court on the secon<
floor. Sometimes he would lool
around for his hat, saying "What dit
l do with my hat! Where did leav'
it," and then suddenly recollect tina
he left it in another court. On on'
occasion he muttered to himself, in
puzzled way, "Where the am
going? I am getting myself all mixet
up to-day. Oh j.! now know"
| At late hour the Oath information
was gained that leaves but little doub
that Oakley Hail left the country b,
one of the steamers sailing from New
Yerk or Boston. on Saturday last
Efforts have been made by his conf
dental clerks who had access to hi
legal diary to convey the impression
that he has been murdered, but ther
is no actual evidence to sustain the ex
aggerated stories published at thei
jnstigation, The thorough inquiry in
stituted indicates that the idea frs
suggested by it that Mr.. Hall had lef
the country to avoid appearing as wit
ness against Peter B. Sweeny, was ia
removed from the truth, but revela
tions shortly to be made in legal form
indicate that Mr.. Hall was fearful o
again being charged with participa
tion in the frauds of the ring, and O
being confronted with inculpatOr
evidence given on oath by all his ol
associates in the ring, except, possibly
Peter B. SWeeny.