The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-20
HE FEARED A SCANDAL
This and Not Apoplexy Was
the Cause of Pastor
Halliday's Illness.

BROOKLYN, Sept. 20. 1s93.-The Rev
Samuel Byron Halliday. the aged pastor
of the Bsscher Memorial Church on
Ocean Hill, who was taken suddenly Ill
yesterday afternoon at a reception In the
parlor OF Plymouth Church, wanted to
get up to shave this morning.
DR.. Hugh NJ. Smith of No. IS Orange
street. his physician. advised him to lie
in he'd today, but promised him thut he
should take his accustomed shave tomor-
row morning.
"Dr. Halliday is not seriously i'll at nil, y
said DR.. Smith this morning. II just
came from his bedside. He didn't have q
down with paralysis. He Is Il vigorous
old gentleman. He simply hrd a faiuting
spell, brought on by a little mental disc
lress and nai Digestion"
Miss Amy Halliday, as we'll as tbs
Doctor, admitted that the mental distress
referred TO was caused by the suicide OF
Robert Hanna, aged thirty-ive. of Pacific
street. mar S%Rcknhau, who was president
Of tue Board Of Trustees Of DR.. Hailiday's
church.
1t was not the suicide either, wholly
bus discoveries made BY the aged
preacher-dlscoveries that no doubt led
Mr. Hanna TO take his own lie.
HANEA'S DEATH.
Mr.. Hanna's death has been something
of a mystery. The cause OF his suicide,
IL WAS reported yesterday, was disap-
pointment in love. The young lady,
rumor said, was the daughter of Mr..
Halliday. This morning Miss Amy Hal
iiday said
1.-The story Of Mr.. Hanna's engagement
with my sister is false. He was neyer
any more than a friend to any member
or the family"
Miss Mile Halliday, the other dsugn :
ter. gefusea TO be seen She was troubled
because of the way her pane had been
connected with that of the suicide.
THE SUICIDES INFATUATION.
Pastor Halliday has been SO troubled
about the death OF Mr.: Hanna that he
has talked TO several of his friends about
the matter.
Toone of them he confided the fact that
1t was Mr. Hauna infatuatiou for q
married woman in the Beech er
Memorial Church that had been
troubling him. When he dis
covered the alleged infatuation
he went to Mr.. Hsuua to admouish nIni.
On. Sunday morning. after the pastor
and the trustees a this interview. tile
suicide occurred. This would furnish u
cause as we'll as explain the curious re-
mark that Mr.. Hanna is alleged to have
made to bis mother just before he drank
the carbolic acid.
will you forgive me. mother" he
said suddenly.
"Wny, you have done nothing, Rob
ert." camle the alleged reply.
well, mother" he said, anyhow,
forgive me Tor all the wrong I lave ever
done"
He drank the poison a few minutes
after this last interview with his mother.
The brooklyn Dulice say that they do net
now doubt that Mr.. Hanna killed him
self because he feared the scandal would
become public.
PASTOR HALLIDAY GRIEvED.
or course. Pastor Halliday did not
want his church to be Involved in any
scandal so, after the suicide. he ~Qrieved
more over his discoveries thar before.
He feared the death would result in the
whole matter becoming public.
DIR. Halliday lives at No. II Hicks
street. he IL eighty-one years old. He
IS noted us al organizer OF Sunday
schools and Missions He was for years
assistant pastor of the Plymouth Cnurcn.
After Lyman Abbott became pastor DIR.
Halliday. with the aid of Mr.. Hanna an /
others. organized the Memorial Church.
Mr.. Hanna was ;hirty-fve years old.
He was bachelor, He lived with his
mother, a brother aud two sisters.