The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-27
Addressed Large Audience in the
7. N. e. A. Building.
BALTIMORE DETECTIVE CHIEF.
His Grammar Not Exactly Correct. bur
His Matter Is Excellent --Iutcrcsted His
Hearers from the Besinnine-In.
tcrcsting "reminiscences.

day afternoon he addressed an aud
ience of several hundred men and boys
who nearly filled the auditorium, and
when the address was ended few real
lied that they had been listening an
hour and ten minutes to a man who
for twenty years has been a noted
hunter Of criminals and who for seven
teen years has been Christian.
Chief Hall is tifty-seven years old
and rose to his present responsible
position in the Baltimore police depart
ment by gradual promotion from the
patrolman's rank. His demeanor and
gesture while making speech might
remind one of a successful travelling
salesman using persuasive argument,
"reminiscences and wit while trying to
make sale. The only difference is
that Chief Hall is talking religion and
trying to influence any number of his
hearers to acknowledge Jesus Christ as
their savior His opening comment
that he felt more at ease and freer to
talk in the presence of men was eX-
planned later by the frequent but per-
fectly natural use of police slang, which
was stripped of its harshness by the
perfect ease of the speaker and the
sincerity and earnestness which ac-
companied every word.
Must Obey SupcriOrs.
He began by saying that as men obey
and respect their superiors i'm business
life, they should obey and respect their
superior in heaven. and that men fire.
quently are careless of their spiritual
W. Il fn rs, ha.nuoa thay ca nnof or will not
comprehend the peace and contented-
ness that come with acknowledging al
legiance to Chist.
I'm going to tell of Jesus Christ If
get my mouth slapped every time
open it," he said: I'm going to tell
about Christ to every man collar, and
I'm going to tell him, too, what dirty
whelp the devil Is"
Chief Hall said 1t was his custom to
talk religion to every criminal he came
in contact with. provided the opportun-
ity were offered. He preached SER
mon 300 miles long to a forger while en-
route from Boston. where he had been
to Baltimore. The prisoner
had been a druggist, but was ruined
at poker by doctor and detective,
and to obtain money had forged checks
and escaped. Chief Halls long talk on
the train converted the man. who.
the formers influence, was
saved a penitentiary sentence, but was
a year and u half in Jail. ON
his release he joined his wife. whom ne
had deserted. and Is now a respected
citizen in Il Virginia town. This was
one of several similar episodes related.
while I'll always be easy on the fel-
low who think repents his sins. I'll
do the professional every time; locked
up, less injury will be done to them
selves and the community"
lie Converted u FOrgerer.
OF an intelligent and well connected
man who became forger and was
through his efforts, Chief
Hall said, Instead of monkeyin his
life and everybody else's away. he's
now givin' his neighbors and friends
the straight thing. 1t will be the same
with any of you; you've got to be men
and have all your buttons on or yOu'll
get left.
ITS SON and not sin "he continued,
that concerns us today. Christ was
here once and did perfect job even to
death on the cross as
of our forefathers' sins--it was
/ complete piece of work In every de-
all. He was given seat on the throne
If God and set there to pass judgment
IN the world. So. l say. it's more son
han sin that we ought to be thinking
about; it's Him who does the business
I ~, Tx,,
1efore ! took tumble to myself.
1.-THE devil said 1 couldn't be be-
lever and detective. He's liar and
/ fraud, and I've been proving this for
seventeen years. When ] have u job
% do ] ask the Lord to help me-then
ook out. I've held position this long
md guess the Lord and l do good
work. If we didn't get along right well
together, then there would be trouble
md I'd lose my job. ! don't hold it by
one day and pandering to
hose in high office the next, either
After my conversion I did as near right
rs l could and looked only to my i'm
mediate superior officer. / let those
higher up think as they pleased of me.
md now you see it has come out all
light"
The Efficacy OF Prayer.
The detective chief related an inter- |
,sting incident illustrating the efficacy
If prayer and which happened soon af- |
.er his conversion and while he was a |
He owed SIS on note due |
/ well-to-do broker whose conversion |
vas brought about at the same time as
vas Halls. On the day before payment |
was due he was practically penniless. |
His inability to cancel the note trou- |
oled him greatly, not because the holder |
would be unwilling to extend the paper.
out because Hall disliked breaking his |
word and was averse to asking the favor. |
Before leaving home on the day before |
payment was due he prayed for help. |
It was at family prayer. and his wife !
prayed with him. That day he was de- |
Jailed to patrol, as he did one week in |
svery fifteen, the bank and broker dis.
rict. On a certain corner he met the |
son of the man who held the note. The |
sons conduct had for long time wor-
led the parent. and Hall for an hour or
more pleaded with the young man to
'eform. That night while Hall was at |
upper and worrying about the note, the
'ather of the young man called. He