Evening star., 1896-04-09
gle thing of any value to take away with
him.

gle thing of any value to take away with
him.
Police Confident.
The police are confident that sooner or
Later the mystery will be cleared up, for
they think that the murderer is not man
sharp enough to keep his secret for long.
Sergt Montgomery Is Of the opinion that
Halls assailants numbered two, possibly
three, instead Of one, as is generally be-
lieved. He bases this on the theory that
one man working alone would not have had
the nerve to stay in the room with the MUIR
dered man for such length of time. If
there was more than one the chances of
discovery would naturally be increased, for
a secret shared is hard one to keep, and
men of the caiiber that Halls murderer
is presumed to have been are very likely to
"sQuear' when "pinched'
Until they have something more definite
to work on the police are sedulously pur-
suing the drag-net method. and are bring
ing in every man who for any reason Is
liable to suspicion. The result Of this
method is that today they have seven men
behind the bars at the eighth. There is
nothing in the way of proof against any OF
them, but they are all men who were more
or less intimate with Hall. Lacey, for in
stance. holds to the opinion that one of
them, Laurence Banks, knows more than
he is willing to tell. Banks has kept his
mouth tight shut ever since he was locked
up, and If he really does know anything
about the murder he conceals it we'll. He
is not in the least disturbed by his arrest,
and his Indifference Is SO complete as to
seem studied.
Conflicting Stories.
The most important arrest yet made is
that of Eugene Alexander, young colored
man, who was taken into custody last
night. Alexander is the fellow who was
only recently released from the reform
school, where he was sent On the, testimony
Of Hall, and who is, therefore, thought to
have entertained grudge against the old
man. Alexander has 4 bad reputation in
the precinct and is the man whom Police
man Voc arrested q couple of years ago for
housebreaking. Yoe caught him in bed
room of the house adjoining his own on 7th
street extended, while in the very act of
ransacking the room, with a pistol in his
hand.
Since his arrest Alexander has told sew
eral conflicting stories as to his where
abouts last Tuesday night. He claimed
that he spent the night with his girl, who
who lives in an alley several squares west
of the scene of the murder. When first
questioned the girl said that he left her
house at an early hour, but when she
learned Of the predicament he was in she
said that he was telling the truth, and that
she had lied for fear of being prosecuted for
violation of the Edmunds act. On the
other hand Alexander's brother and sister,
in-law, with whom he lives on 9th street
ABOVE the 6CSHS Ol tu6 uluFUeT, luSlSC LnaC
he was home that night and slept there as
usual. The woman says that when he came
home she tossed the door key to him from
her bed room window as she always did
when he was out late.
Another Man.
The police this afternoon have been chas-
ing up clue that seems more promising
than any Of the others. They are looking
for q colored man, who, for reasons that
they are keeping quiet, they think is deserv-
ing of suspicion. He is the owner Of about
as bad a reputation as any man in the
neighborhood, nd is regarded as an all
around tough; He was seen in South Wash
ington yesterday, and is understood to have
been acting In very suspicious manner
and to have let drop some remarks that
made it look as though he could throw some
light on the mystery If he wanted to.
Detective Lacey said today that If he
had known this mans name yesterday he
could have secured him then, but he was
misled through confusion in names.
This man, whose name the police decline
to divulge today, is said to have appeared
yesterday in clothing altogether different
from what he had been wearing lately. He
acted in nervous and excited manner, and
when questioned about 1t he said that he
was feeling sick and intended to get out
of town as soon as he could
The police are also keeping a pretty close
watch on Frances Trusty, the colored wo-
mdn VINO HrSt discovered the dead body.
It Is said that she was on terms OF con-
siderable intimacy with Hall.
Inquest Resumed.
When the coroner's inquest was resumed
this afternoon there was really no new evil
dence to put before the jury.
The hrst witness called was Frances
Tfusty, and she was questioned as to her
relations with Hall. She said that she was
friend of is, but denied that she was