The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-10
SEVERAL THOUSAND OUT.
DUPE OF A CLEVER SWINDLER OR
THE PARTNER OF AN
IDIOT.
ODD CASE OF j. HARDCAsTLE HALL
Details in the story of the Man Who
Suddenly Forgot His Debts and
Friends.

the victim of a clever, calculating
swindler, or was unfortunate enough to
fern business alliance with an insane
man. Likewise there are number of
doctors, clergymen and students OF
psychical science in Mankato, Mimi,
who are bordering deeply on the same
subject
All that Mr. Blanchard knows is
that he is out of pocket several thous-
ands of dollars, with a possibility that
he VIII lose as much more. Mrs
blanchard, Womanlike, has quite made
up her mind that both she and her
husband have been deceived by a sin
her in the guise of saint. Here are
the facts for another Sherlock Holmes
or Robert Louis Stevenson to deal
with by their different processes:
In January Mr.. Blanchard advertised
that he had complete saw mill outfit,
and would enter into the manufacture
OF lumber with a practical man of
means. The advertisement was ans
Wered IN person by a man giving his
name as John Hardcastle Hall, who
was plainly an Englishman. He
Claimed that he had been in the lumber
business in North Carolina and Texas,
and brought with him letters of recon-
mendation from prominent men in
those states. He proved, too, that he
lii Alabama. Mr.. Blanchard agreed to
put his machinery and a sum Of money
against Mr.. Halls timber possessions,
form a corporation, build a mill in Ala :.
hama and manufacture lumber. The
plan was carried out
When Hall arrived in Chicago he was
without dollar, and his coat was much
faded. His collar and cuff buttons were
OF bone, and his shoes were much worm
But his poverty was of the genteel kind
He was pleasing in his personality,
MS tastes were refined and his habits
were above reproach. Mr.. Blanchard
mad no fear in turning over to him
the mill machinery and $1,000 with
which to build the mill of the Fruit
dale Lumber company, which the new
corporation was called. From month to
month Hall mailed statements back to
his partner showing in what manner
he was disposing of the cash. In June
they ceased, for Hall disappeared from
FTu1tdale in most peculiar manner
Where he went or what his motive
was for leaving [ never have been able
to ascertain" said Mr.. Blanchard. 81
went to Fruitdale and found myself
IN a most embarrassing position. Hall
had falsif1ed the books. Instead of pay
ing the mill men in cash, he had OBJ
tanned about $4,000 worth Of merchan-
0lSe on credit from merchants in Mo-
bile-forty miles distant-and paid the
men partially with those goods I learn
ed that one day Hall started for the
train and was intercepted at the depot
py the men and their foreman, who
demanded money. Hall took a package
from his pocket, which proved TO he
wrapping paper with bill around it.
ana handed it to the foreman, with
instructions to pay off the men. He
jumped on the train and that was the
last they ever saw of him. At Mobile
! l subsequently learned he borrowed
@4VV from a friend. L was at loss to
understand why Hall left so unceremo-
| nlously, for the mill was ready to start
up and business prospects were ex
cellent. But his departure left me in
| a decidedly bad fix, and with law suits
on hand
During October man, apparently so
years OF age, whose only baggage was
a prayer book and an umbrSlIa. arrived
in Mankato, Mimi, and calling on the
episcopal minister. declared he had
forgotten all about himself. He did
not remember his name, he said. where
he belonged, or where he had been
travelling. He recounted various in
cldents In his life where he had done
good to his fellow men, but nothing
else could he think Of The mans case
excited a great deal of attention. He
was taken to a hospital and visited nv
| ministers, doctors and newspaper men
The Society for Psychical Research. of
Mankato, found in the stranger a rare
subject for study, and many meetings
were held to discuss the mans pecu-
liarities. On October 20 the man wrote
a letter to Mr.. Blanchard, in which he
said -
| am in Mankato and have lost NV memory
! your name came to my mind today. 1t seems
that we have been associated together in Soma
way and have yentured to write YOU TO sea
If you cannot establish my identity.
On the margin of the letter was a de-
! scr1pt1on of the writer made out by the
hospital physicians. 1t tailed with
Hall, and Mr.. Blanchard set out for
Mankato few days later Mr.. Blanch-
ards account of his visit to Hall is in
teresting.
Il first called on DR.. Andrews, who
Informed me there that experts on in
sanity from the state asylums and To-
| cal physicians had examined Hall and
were divided as to his sanity, although
the majority believed he was sham
| ming. Then, with a lot of ministers
and doctors and the president of the
psychical society, called on Hall. who
unfortunately had been notified of nv
| intended visit. When he saw me he
| stretched out his hands and said:
You're Blanchard; you can tell me my
| name. Its John Hardcastle Hail. I
| replied. That sounds right; yes. Won
are correct he answered. For two
hours I questioned him. continued Mr..
| Blanchard, but not a thing could I
| get out of him in the presence of any
| one except that he had been lay-read-
| er in church and a Sunday school
| teacher. Hall, when in Chicago, had
been a great story teller. and had a pc
culiar chuckle. His attendants de-
| clared that neither of those character
istics had displayed itself Later I
saw Hall alone. I believed he had been
| shamming. I promised him that if he
would clear UP certain matters and be
| truthful as to his whereabouts, I would
| not prosecute him, and that on the
| other hand I would buy him a ticket
| to Chicago or Boston. He broke down
and cried, but said: Tt is impossible
I do not remember"