New-York tribune., 1901-01-18
DEATH REVEALED HER SEX
MURRAY HALL MASQUERADED ALL HER
LIFE AS A MAN.
SHE MADE A FORTUNE AS A PROFESSIONAL
BONDsMAN AND POLITICIAN. AND
WAS WIDELY KNOWN.

There was horn in the lower West Side of the
city about forty-two years ago a child whose
surname was Hall. The little one was girl
Whether or not the parents christened her Mary
Hall or Elizabeth Hall is not known by any
living person now, far could be learned
last night. When the child grew to wOmanhood
she had a hard time to exc out a scanty hveli-
hood so she decided to mems clothes. and
to make the public believe that she was really
man. She took the name of Murray Hail.
That was many years ago-at least fifteen, if
not more than twenty. years. She died yester-
day at No. 145 SXth-ave., where she Is said to
have managed employment agency. She was
not only we'll known in the street in which she
lived and died. but she had large number OF
political friends. She familiar figure in the
jefferson Market police court, as she almost
daily appeared in court to furnish BONDS Tor
prisoners there. She known as profess
siOnal bondsman and this fact alone gained Tor
her considerably nOtOriety.
She had great political influence in the dis
trict in which she lived, but it could not be
learned last night if she had ever cast vote for
any candidate for public office. Though she
moved about freely in the society of men. she
disguised herself so we'll that none of her scores
of friends and acquaintances suspected that she
a BY masquerading man she
succeeded in obtaining the ambition of her life
valued at thousands of dollars. Her death was
due to a
The death of Murray Hall reported to
the Coroners office by DR.. William C. Gallagher.
of No. BOZ West Twelfth-st. He told the Coro-
ner that the dead person was woman.
Some friends of Murray Hall spoke freely last
night to a Tribune reporter about the life of the
dead person. One of them said that Hall had
been twice married, and that her first wife died
about seven years ago The home of the first
wife said to have been in Connecticut When
she died her body was sent to that State for
burial According to another person. who sald
he had known Hall for many years, Halls sec
Ond wife died about two years ago. This same
person said that Hall had adopted daughter.
II was also learned that Murray Hall lived for
many years in Sixteenth-st., between Seventh
and Eighth aves., in which street she had
store and employed number of men as helpers.
The house No 14J Sixth-ave is three story
brick building. occupied mostly by offices y
woman. who said she was Mrs Esther Reynolds.
when asked about the death OF Murray Han
said she knew the whole family She said she
could not understand why so many people
should make inquiries about the death of Mr.. y
Hall. She refused to say anything about the
person So far as she knew Mr. Hall was a
man.
but he declined to say anything about Murray
Hall. He added that whatever statement ne
had TO make would be made to the proper au-
thorities.
Soon after the notice OF the death OF Murray
Hall received az the Coroners office, Coroner
yucca was at the Colonial Hotel at Eighth
ave and One-hundred- -and-tWenty-nfth ana
/, sail.
Murray Hall was woman about forty-two
years old, and had dressed as a male In order 10
help her business along.
! Murray Hall was about five feet tall She was
smooth shaven. She was always neatly dressed
4 person in speaking about Hall last night said
Hall and l very well acquainted. He
came into my place often 10 read novels.
Another person. who said he had known Muir
raw Hall for long time SAID. InlS man han
lost his wife by death about two years ago last
July. and since then Mr.. Hall had been COM
planning of his grief in the saloons. have
known him for about ten years. and know of no
reason why I should question his sex
This same person also said that Hall was ar
rested about a year ago for defaulting some
bonds on the building No. 145 SiXth-ave- is a
sign, with the inscription. Mrs. Halls Employ
/ ment Agency"