Evening journal., 1893-12-20
A MARRIAGE MYSTERY.
Hal Banks Friends Say He Was
Forced to Wed.
THE BRIDEGROOM DISAPPEARS.
The Bride a Beautiful Descendant OF the
sleepy Hollow Van Tassens aud the
Groom Rich Young Man--Mr. Van ras-
sell Denies the Revolver story.

Groom a Rich Young Man--Mr. Van ras-
sell Denies the Revolver story.
WHITE PLAINS, n. ", Dec. 20.-with the
announcement that young Hal Banks and
Miss Mabel Van Tassell were married on
Saturday night there came another am
nouucement that Hal Banks had disap-
peared on Sunday morning. Then Banks
chum went about town and told everybody
that his friend had been invited to the
home of the Van Tassells, where Mr. Van
Tassell, the father Of Miss Mabel after
placing pistol upon the mantelpiece, had
suggested to Hal that he marry his daugh-
ter
j. Harold Banks, whom everybody in
town calls Hal, 20 years old, short, well
built, good looking and extremely good
natured, is the son of William J.. Banks
real estate dealer The latter Is one Of the
wealthiest men in town. He lives in big
stone house on Broadway and owns con-
siderable real estate. The son is "A law stu
dent in the Office of Wilson Brown. Jr.
An Aristocratlc Bride.
Miss Mabel Van Tassel is beautiful
She has a dark complexion, with big brown
eyes, red lips, nose just aquiline enough
TO give an air of haughtiness 10 her fea-
I
her nineteenth year and Is very clever.
Her father, Wesley Van Tassell, descend
ant Of the Van Tassells Of Sleepy Hollow,
is a building contractor, with comfort
able Income and an eye full of determina-
tion. He is u man of few words Last
winter the residents of this town gossiped
a great deal over the fact that Miss Van
Iasseil was often seen in the company Of
| Edward j.. Rohey, the assistant postmaster.
Mr.. kobey once went out west and stud
led for the priesthood. He gave itup, how
ever, and came back to White Plains. The
gossips began Co say that he was almost as
gay as a New y orker, aud therefore his as
sociations with Miss Van Tassell interest
ed them very much.
Throughout the winter these two were
frequently seen together, and even during
the summer their friendship seemed TO
continue, and the question was often asked,
when are they going TO be marriedfn
That Hal Banks was wooing Miss Van
Tassell no one knew or suspected or would
have believed. And that was how things
stood on Saturday night.
On that night Hal was an usher at a lee
ture in the opera house. During the lee
ture Mr.. Van Tassell came to him and
said:
Hal, we'd like to have you come around
3 to the house tonight
"All right, said HAL
What Hats Friends Say.
Now here is the story which Hal s friends
tell "Whcn Hal went to the house, Mr.
Van Tassell took him aside into room
laid a revolver on the mantelpicce and told
him he would have t0mafry his daughter
Hal saw that there was nothing else iol
him to do. so he said, All right; IN do IT,.
Then a minister was sent for, and they
were married.
"Mabel was already dressed for the cere.
, mouy. When il was over, Hal went home
! and the next morning he told his father
/ about It. Mr. Banks was very angry over
the whole thing and said lac would have
q the marriage annulled If he could. That
same morning Hal disappeared"
/ Mr.. Van Tassell tells a different story.
. "Hal had promised to mary Mabel " he
said, "and when he came here he knew
that the marriage was going to take place
There was no force or coercion used by me
= or any one else. The Rev. DR.. Osbon Of the
/ Memorial church performed the ceremony
D and everything went smoothly.
"Hal said that his parents were opposed
y to the marriage, but he was determined
( that that should not prevent him from
[ marrying my daughter. / think he ha.
gone away merely to wait until hi.
parents get over their anger. / have beer
to see them, but-well, that doesn't mat
, ter any way.n
q The peculiar feature Of Mr.. Van Tassell'i
l. story is that be admits going to the Opera
4 house to see Hal. 1t would seem from hii
}, story that he went there TO invite Hal {,
e come and be married. Then, again, Ha
has not written 20 his bride, and she IL
still waiting nc her fathers house for hin
TO return Aud then Robey seems to b.
, left out oft entirely.