Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-30
SHOT AT REV. DIR. HALL.
A Crank Fires Three Bullets at the Venerable
Clergyman.

Clergyman.
As Dr.. John Hall, pastor of the Fifth Avenue
| Presbyterian Church Of New York. was passing
from the church to the parsonage, adjoining
just after the close of the morning service yes
terday. man named John g. Roth, a German
sixty five years old, stepped from behind q
wagon on the opposite side of the avenue and
fired three shots in quick succession at the
reverend gentleman as he was about ascending
the steps Of his residence. The first shot
struck the store stoop OF the doctors house
the second perforated one of the glass panels
of the front door and the third hattened itself
| against the side Of the house. The shooter
cooiiy put the pistol, five-chambered re-
volver OF the pattern known as THE Young
| America" in his pocket while Mr.. A. Z. Digit
| a member of DIR Halls church, and the sexton
jumped upon him and held him until the arrival
! OF an officer, He made no resistance whatever
and was led away to the 51st street station
| house and locked up Shortly afterward DIR.
| Hall went to the police station and preferred a
complaint against The prisoner.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
Rath is heavy. well-built man, with whsk-
ers and mustache. we'll dressed, and bears the
appearance of a well-to-do business man. He
gave his business as that of "A real estate dealer.
great crowd was present when the shooting
occurred and for while the most intense ex-
element prevailed. About fifty people followed
the officer to the station and that the prs
oner was safely landed behind the bars 1t was
an emnently respectable crowd. composed
mostly of church gel ing people. many OF whom
were members of DR. Halt church, hence there
was no attempt at rescue nor threats of lynch
ing.
The prisoner was evidently not in his right
mind. lie muttered about conspiracy which
he imagined existed against him and papers
found Oh his person showed the bias of his
imagination. There were two of these docu-
ments, one In manuscript and the other
printed. Tut both were substantially the same.
lhe printed paper was more clrcumstantial in
the history OF the alleged conspiracy to drive the
writer to suicide n crime II stated that agents
III the hands Of wealthy and influential people
were doing al III heir power to Prevent him.
from Using III Business we're watching all OF
bis steps and making it impossible for him 10
OBTAIN Justice His tormertors too, he SAID
mixed his food With obnoxious stuff. thereby
causing him intense distress. The conspiracy
the statement says. irauSurated in 1879
and has nc equal in human history
The statement goes on in this sort of style at
great length, all of which shows that the
author was man Of unbalanced mind. The
document intlmates that DR.. Hall, DIR Potter
and Judge Hilton were the chief conspiratOrs:
MIS- a. L. Stewart was, it Ia intimated a good
friend OF his. The prisoner stated after his
arrest. that DIR. Hall chief among those
conspirinS to do him bodily and mental harm
this IN explanation of his action.
Inquiry at the address given discovered a
cheap restaurant and lodging house, Andrew
Grenner, proprietor. 1t Is located in the tene-
ment-house quarters of the city and is patron
lied by transient class Of very poor people,
mostly foreigners. The landlord said that
Rath had occupied room there for about four
months; had been in this country about twenty
years and had acquired fair knowledge of the
English language. Grenner also said that Ra tn
had lately been employed in an incubating es-
adjustment in Brooklyn. He had noticed GER
tain peculiarities in Rath's conduct which
seemed to indicate that he was mentally I'M
sound. He often paced his room at night and
talked lncoherently. Still he had no. thought
LIE Was b dangerous man.
WHAT DIR. HALL SAYS.
DR.. Hall was seen at his home shortly after
the shooting He manifested no apparent ner-
vousness IN consequence of his narrow escape.
but he declined positively to converse upon
the topic. He admitted that he had known
Hath Tor some time and had received letters
from him, but he declined to say what was the
nature OF the matter written to HIM or whether
1t was replied to. 1t is not known whether any
threats had been thus conveyed or not. The
prisoner was reticent. and though outwardy
calm seemed 70 DC laboring under suppressed
eAcItemept lie paced nervously up aud down
his cell and paid little attention to his sur
roundinSs. The police declined to permit the
reporter to talk with the prisoner. He will be
arraigncd In the lorkyIle police court today