The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-30
FIRED AT REV. DIR. HALL.
A Midday Scene on Crowded Fifth
Avenue, New York.
THREE BULLETS MISSED HIM.
John George Roth, a Former Attendant
at the Church, the Would BE MUIR
derer--He Fancied He Had Grievance
The Man Locked Up.

NEW YORK, Nov. 3o.-The Rev. Dr. John
terian Church, narrowly escaped death
yesterday at the hands of an assassin.
Three shots were fred at him as he came
out of the church after the morning SER
vice. Happily all of them missed their
mark. John George Roth, the man who
tried to kill Dr. Hall, a crazed creature
with fanciful grievance, is now pris-
oner in the hands of the police.
DIR. Hall, as usual preached to u crowd
ed congregation this morning. The con
gregation had gone out and the sexton
was about to close the doors when Dr.
Hall walked out of the Fifth avenue door
There were few people on the avenue. On
the opposite side of the street stood "a tall,
well-dressed, finely-built, handsome man,
with "A flowing beard and moustache. For
nearly half an hour he had paced restlessly
up and down, with his eyes fixed on the
door of the church. AS DIR. Hall appeared
in the church porch, the man stopped his
walk. He took step forward, and his
hand darted to his right overcoat pocket.
DR.. Hall reached the stoop OF his house
and began TO mount the step, when pis-
tol shot rang ont. DR. Hall wheeled
and gazed confusedly about him.
The man who fired the shot stood still
for an instant. Then he darted across the
avenue until he was within half a dozen
yards of the doctor. Again his arm was
raised and second shot rang out. DR.
Hall had seen the man rush toward him
and realized that il was he at whom the
bullets had been aimed. Instinctively he
darted up the steps of the stoop. The
assassin followed close behind him. DIR.
Hall pulled open the storm door and got
between that and the front door Of the
house His pursuer dragged open the
storm door, and standing on the lower
step, raised his revolver for the third time
fired This last shot was at clos quarters,
and DR.. Hall felt the whiZz OF the bullet as
il flew past him and embedded itself In the
wainscoting of the door. As the third
shot was fired the man wheeled around
and ran down the steps.
A. II. Dick of No. So West Twenty
second street was walking along the west
side of the avenue when he heard the first
shot. AS the assassin ran back across the
avenue Mr.. Dick dashed after him. The
sexton of the church joined in the pursuit
and soon caught the fugitive.
His pockets were promptly searched,
and there on the right side of the overcoat
was found a 32-calibre, double-action, five
chambered revolver. Three chambers had
been discharged.
At the police station the prisoner said
"I am John George Roth, AZ years old,
ana came from hneHlSu hussld Ia lofl. L
live at No 29S Avenue A." Being asked
why he had tried to kill DR.. Hall, the
prisoner answered: 81 will tell nothing
until tomorrow, when the Court shall
know"
The articles found in the prisoners pos
session go to prove that DR.. Hall was the
intended victim of madman. Roth's de-
lusion is that DIR. Hall has for thirteen
years been the head centre of a gang OF
consprators formed to bar his progress in
life and destroy his happiness and peace OF
mind. Roth says that DIR. Potter, or
Bishop Potter, has been DIR. Halls chief
aid in the conspiracy.
For many years Roth was a member OF
DR.. Halls congregation. but for the last
twelve months had not been near the
church. He appealed to DR.. Hall for as
sistance on several occasions, and wrote
several letters to his benefactor. Dr. Hall
had several times assisted him, in the be-
lief that he was deserving object of
charity.
All that is known of Roth where he
lodged confirms the general impression
that the authorities would have been JUS
titled in lodging him safely in lunatic
asylum at any time during the last ten
wears,