The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-30
DR.. HALLS ESCAPE
A Crazy German Fires Three
Shots at Him.
NARROWLY MISSED THE DIVINE.
He Took Deliberate Aim, but His Weak
Eyesight Prevented a Murder

John George Roth, who Tmagiues Or.
Hail Has Ruined His Business, At
tempts to Kill the Preacher as He Was
Coming from Church--The Nyould-bs
Murderer Arrested Story OF His Hal
luoinatiCn.
New YORK, Nov. 80. John George
Roth, a crazy German of middle age, at
tempted to kill the Rev. John Hall,
d, D., pastor of the Fifth Avenue Pres
byterian Church, after the morning ser
vice yesterday. None Of the shots took
effect. The would-be assassin was inn
mediately arrested and lodged in jail.
DR.. Hall had just reached the steps Of
his house when Roth, who was close be-
hind, fired the first shot. The Doctor
turned round, and then, seeing his dan
ger, quictened his pace up the steps.
He had just reached the landing when
the man fred again. The Doctor then
hurriedly opened the door and entered
the house. He was not moment too
soon, for rs the door closed, third
Shot rang out and bullet entered the
easement of the door
There were but few persons on the
avenue during the shooting and the un-
usual spectacle they were witnesses of
seemed to paralyze their powers for
time. When DR.. Hall had, however,
safely escaped inside the house, several
gentlemen sprang forward and quickly
disarmol the would-be murderer. He
offered no resistance.
Roth was undoubtedly man Of mo re
than ordinary intelligence before his
misfortunes drove him insane. In his
insanity he has attributed these mis-
fortunes to the Vaccinations of power
full enemies, among whom he counted
the Rev. John Hall.
H. has busted himself in writing out
his grievances, real and fancied, and in
his pockets was found a printed cap
peal to the Public"
After delivering himself of the text:
ooh, Human Justice tear the bandage
from your eyes and cover your face for
shame" Roth begins;
agents in the service OF wealthy and
influential people who do all in their
power to prevent me from rising again
in business are continually watching all
my steps and make it impossible for me
to obtain justice.
Furthermore, day and night am
bodily and mentally tormented; my
with some obnoxious stuff, causing me
the severest distress; to keep a watch on
me, and to molest me with mean, inn
moral talk. 1t is conspiracy which was
inaugurated against me in 1879, and
has no equal in human history.
THE most sacred rights of an Ameri-
can citizen who never harmed anybody
are trodden down. My business has
been ruined, and efforts are being made
to ruin my health and drive me mad by
tampering with my meals and drink"
The writer then says that through the
Vaccinations Of these unseen and un-
| known enemies he was forced to flee the
| country and return to Germany. Here
also the hallucination bothered him and
| ne determined to return to New York
aud publish book exposing the acts OF
the conspirators. He worked his way
| back on the steamship Denmark in
| 1885
According to his printed circular he
then spent some years in writing his
| book and substantiating his allegations
as to the acts OF tine conspirators. He
processes to have had many interviews
| with Judge Hilton and Mrs. A. Il. Stew.
art both Of whom, he declares, took an
| interest in his case. He also says that
his appeals to the mem bers of Grace
! Church and the Fifth Avenue Presbyte-
| rlun Church were not futile.
| Many Of the members were in favor
| of appropriating various sums OF money
for his immediate necessities and 10
produce his book. Others, however,
the appeal says, objected to such appro-
I priation being made He mention.
Bishop Potter DR.. Hall, Judge Hilton
Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Bowdoin, Trustee b.
B. Sherman, Sexton Gilman and many
others.
According to the appeal it was sug-
gested in the fest place that he should
receive 81, 500 for the publication of
his book, but certain churchmen OBJ
jected to this. Then he declares other
meetings were held, at which it was
voted to give him s., OO0 $25, 900, $50,
600, and finally $500, 900, but there
were always ohiectors, of whom the
chief was the Rev. Dr. John Hall.