The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-27
REV. JONATHAN BELL
MRS. HALL HOLDS HIM RESPONSIBLE
FOR HER DAUGHTERS DEATH.
Whereabouts of the English Preacher
and Alfred Taylor Begun.

LONDON, April 26.-Additional inquiries
regarding the Rev. Jonathan Bell, of Old
bury. near Birmingham, who is suspected
of having been concerned in the death, in a
hospital at Detroit, of an English girl
named Emily Hall. show that in his adj
dresses to his congregation after his return
from the United States he stated that he
had stayed wilhelm America with his broth
er-in-law. a Congregational minister at st.
Clair, Mich. 1t is thought probable the
father of the dead girl and some of her
friends will go to the United States. as they
are anxious to make a complete investiga-
ton of the circumstances attending her
death. For some weeks past the Rev. Mr..
Bell has been selling the contents of his
library on the plea of disposing OF his sur
plus books. The Sheffield Gazette says the
police have begun to take action in the mat
ter at the request of Mr.. Hall, father of the
dead girl.
A dispatch received here from Oldbury
says that Rev. Jonathan Bell was not in
America from 1886 to 1891. 1t is added that
he only visited America at the end of the
year 1894. Emma Hall is described as hav-
ing been an exceedingly good singer and
%reciter. Her connection with Mr.. Bell was
frequently noticed at Oldbury. Since his
return from America Mr.. Bell has been ques-
toned respecting the whereabouts of Miss
Hall, DuL mas always Oeon unWllilnG 10 re-
ply. A relative of Mr.. Hall. the dead girls
father, says that he received a letter from
her early in January last, in which she
stated that she was about to leave England,
as Mr.. Bell had given her a steamship pas
sage to America. Mrs. Bell is greatly dis
tressed at the scandal. Emma Hall was the
eldest of thirteen children. The people OF
Oldbury are greatly excited, and ask why
motion here. in view of the fact that one of
the principals in the ragedy is in England.
Mrs. Hall this afternoon said that in the
last letter from her daughter dated Ian IL
the deceased thanked her for sending a
warm shawl and added that she had written
to, her cousin, telling her what was the mat
ter with her. Miss Hall also said that she
could not write to her mother, because the
children would have to read a letter sent
to her. Mrs. Hall declares she has sufficient
evidence to convict Rev. Jonathan Bell,
death. Emma, in the letter to her cousin.
said that the Rev. Mr.. Bell had sent her to
America and wished her to go when he
went. Emma then declined the invitation.
mind later and to have made use of a pass
given her by the Rev. Mr.. Bell. Mrs. Hall,
in January last, received a return letter,
which came from America. addressed to the
Mrs. Hall. In this letter Emma said that
Bell knew what was the matter with her
and that he must help her through her
trouble.
Mrs. Bell, wife of the missing pastor.
says she does not know whether her hus-
band is dead or alive, as she has heard
nothing from him since Tuesday, when he
said good-by, adding that he would be away
for a few lays. The members of the Rev.
Mr.. Bells congregation consider his guilt
to be fully established. Bell was formerly a
printer. His salary here was $3.50 per
week. A report has been circulated that
Bell fled to Scarborough, but an investiga-
ton of the story shows that no trace can
be found of him there.