The herald., 1898-11-25
OAkEY HALLS ROMANCE

The death of Oakley Hall, once mayor of
New York, and for many years the London
correspondent of the New York Herald,
has passed almost unnoticed, but to those
who knew him there has passed away Il
wonderfully brilliant old man, kindly ma
ture, generous opponent and a sincere
friend. Oakley Hall was accused, tried and
acquitted for participation in the Boss
Tweed frauds, and it was in the early seven
ties that he left his house one morning in
New York to walk down to his office and
was seen and heard of no more-for time.
The newspaper press of America set up ii
sensational howl; tome asserted that he
had been foully murdered; some that he
had absconded in view of future prosecu-
tion; some that we'll known actress was
in the case All were more or less wrong.
London newspaper detectives, representing
nearly every journalistic interest in Amer
lea were on the qui vive as to who should be
the Christopher Columbus for the abscond-
ing attorney. For weeks and weeks and
weeks every Atlantic liner was secured; but
telegram from the New York World to its
London representative to watch certain
boat at Liverpool was the last resource.
The enterprising journalist went to Liver
pool, bundled off TO a hotel at night without
even a change of linen or a top coat, and
stayed in the city on the Mersey, going out
in the middle of the night at all hours and
securing every incoming ship for period
of fourteen days.
Tired and tagged at the unsuccessful fruits
of the justifable journalistic espionage, on
the suggestion of a hotel waiter he visited
the docks and watched the arrival of II
freight boat from Boston, subsidized the
dock policeman with sovereign and was
allowed to sleep on a cotton bale all night.
| The boat having arrived at 2 o'clock in the
morning, he boarded her and questioned the
steward, but Cleaned there was only one
passenger on board, gentleman who was
originally clean shaven but who had let his
beard grow on the voyage, did not wear gold
spectacles Oakley Hall did), but to quote
the steward: Jolly good company and one
of the finest 'punsters l ever heard" The
journalist in question had been on a club
committee with Oakley Hall in New York,
and knowing his failing for punning, sud
denly recognized in him the fugitive mayor
of Manhattan.
Hall had retired for rest for the night
and the journalist returned to his bale OF
cotton. In the morning the steward repent
ed of the information he had given to the
volunteer detective, but on assurance that
the matter was not one of criminal intent,
informed the journalist that the stranger,
whose name was Mr.. Garbut, was in the
saloon at breakfast with the captain. The
journalist approached the till then missing
man, and addressed him: Good morning
Mr.. Garbut, presumed" "Yes, sir" was
the quick reply; the journalist continuing,
Good morning, Mr.. Oakley Hail. Mr.. Hall
repudiated the identity, suggesting that il
business was meant it should be done in his
private cabin, and, when it was reached, in
formed the journalist that he was Mr.. Gar
but, merchant, of Boston, bound for Bris-
tol, where he might be followed if any one
liked.
"But who are you?" he said to the journal.
list. 81 am an American journalist, sir, and
your wife and children are very much con-
cerned as to your safety; for that reason
only have l come to seek you out, and if
necessary 1 will follow you to Bristol Fur
ther pourparlers led to nothing. Hall land
ed, went to Lime street station, took tick
ct for Euston and was followed by his pur-
surer. Completely covered on arrival at
Euston by previously advised emisary of
the interviewer, he was traced by the I'm
derground railway to a house at Noting
hill, where all attempts to interview him
on behalf of the American papers only end
ed in failure. At last he consented to be
seen by another gentleman, whom he had
already known in New York, which COM
pleted the Identification and at once cleared
up all mystifying contradictions in the po
litcal organs in America.
O o O
1 met Hall good deal myself (says the
writer of the foregoing paragraphs) some
years ago, when he was located in Danes
Inn. He was passionately fond of collie
dog which followed me eeeverywhere, and
when l went away for any period of time
| always found note from the old man
underneath the door, somewhat in this
strain:
Where have you been, my Irish friend,
Where is your collie dog gone,
Your gentle step. his faithful bark,
l miss from ten till one?
1t was generally between these hours that
l came home at night Hall remained here
for many years, and was intimately mixed
up in the "Willfred Murray Hurlbut" case,
after which he returned to New York.
NJ. A. d.
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