The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-11
DID HALBERT MURDER HooB1ER7
He Has Disappeared ana 10 A~ccussd-Acid
Used to XIII tho Victim.

CINCINNATI. Nov. 10.-No trace has been found
yet OF the murderer Of Capt. T. b. Hoobler. who
was killed at Vanceburg. KY, on the night Of
Nov, Q. Capt. Hoobler was called to tho door of
his residence by o sharp ring of the door bell,
and a man with heavy whiskers stepped quickly
inside. Without a word, the man dealt Hoob-
Ter a blow with a large bottle. Telling him to
tho floor. Then the assailant. bending over,
poured in the mans face liquids from two
bottles. which he had held from tho first.
Then tho murderer pried open the mouth Of
the partly unconscious victim and poured
q quantity OF the fluid down his throat. While
struggling over Hoobler on the floor, the son,
aged l6. and daughter, Mrs. Wilson. attempted
to protect Capt. Hoobler, and the whiskers worn
by the assail4nt were disarranged, showing
that they were false. Mrs. Wilson says that
she then recognized the man as II. d. HalGert. q
former business partner of her father, and moro
recently his bitter enemy.
After suffering for ten hours Capt. Hoobler
died. The fluid that had blinded and dislgurcd
his face AM been forced down his throat was
found TO DO ~vitriol. 1t Is also said that another
and even moro powerful acid was also used.
Halbcrt, tho man accused by Mrs. Wilson. is
about 80 years old. and belongs to a well.known
family of that region, "A brother being the County
Prosecuting Attorney. Halbert Is a successful
contractor Mt stone work. q chemist, a college
graduate, an athlete, and n society man. lie was
eccentric in his habits. and some say that he il
insane. A favorito retreat with him was the
cellar OF his residence. where he spent hours at
a time experimenting with chemicals. 1t is said
he would go in swimming In the river in winter.
He would go around out of doors in his shirt
sleeves the coolest days and often wear u heavy
oyercopt Oh hot summer days. In conversation,
however, on almost any subject and in the con
duct of his business and all every day affairs ho
showed q mind that was well ordered and prac.
teal.
About a year ago Halbert eloped to Cincin.
natl with q young woman name Alice Arm.
strong. lie did not marry the girl. and IN u
short time deserted her. Almost Immediately
thereafter he married a young woman OF Vance
burg, of refinement and excellent family, On
commit suicide at the Palace Hotel here. Re-
covering, she sued Halbert for $50, 900 for breach
of promise to marry. She attached several
thousand dollars lie had on deposit in a bank
here. Tying uu this money crippled HRlbert's
business seriously. lie fought the suit vigor.
ously. lie tried to engage Senator Foraker as
counsel, but the Senator said he had not tho
bert TO the attorneys he finally secured. Hal
bert said that he had already treated the girl
He also vehemently asserted that the girl
would not have troubled him at all but for Capt.
HoObler, who constantly urged her on in the
matter. Since the murder Of Hoobler the case
las peen compromised, Miss Armstrong receiv-
her intention of starting a millinery store.
HalD rt's brother represented him In tho settle-
Hilbert az er his disappearance here was re.
ported ON his way TO Colorado to accept q place
as mining engineer.