The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-08

David H. Hill, a contractor who has been largely instrumental in building up Princeton Place in West End, has been missing since last Friday morning and the circumstances of his disappearance seem to point to foul play. His wife is on the verge of nervous prostration and has been watching anxously for two days at the window of their home in Princeton Place for the return of her husband The matter was reported to the police Saturday morning about 10 o'clock.
 Friday morning MT. Hill went to the building and loan company with which he has had extensive dealings and se- cured about s200 with which to pay off his laborers. He had a large amount on his person at the time making in all about $500 and it Is supposed that he was dealt with foully in order to secure this sum He was seen last at the corner of Twentieth street and Second avenue about noon Friday and since that time there has been no traces of him.
 Any idea that he may have run away with the money is secuted by his friends, who claim that he had too much real estate and other investments to make 1t could have easily realized a sum many times that large by mortgaging his property and those who know him state positively that he would never do any thing of the kind.
 Ia of Sober Habits.
 so I, I,ta iFa states that he never leaves home with out telling her where he is going She states that he does not drink, gamble or do any similar things which would lead him to forsake her and his home. She firmly believes that he has been foully dealt with.
 Several men with whom he has had numerous dealings state that he IS one of the most honest and straightforward men they have ever done business with and they all believe he has been made away with for his money.
 Saturday morning Mrs Hill went to the residence of Mrs. DuBose on Twenty fourth street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues and telephoned from there for policeman, to whom she re- ported her husbands absence and gave a description of him to the police, who have begun an investigation.
 Was Strictly Business.
 Hill came to Birmingham several years ago without money and commenced working with a building company. He would erect a house and finish it well inside and in a short time he would sell it at a handsome profit, people seem ing to always take a great fancy to any house he built.
 There are now several handsome houses in Princeton which bear testimony to his skill. He was an expert in planning and executing interior decorations. It is stat ed that he realized from $4O0 to nearly 5000 on each of the houses he sold
 Hill is from the north and attended strictly to business at all times. One of the men with whom he has been dealing for some time said yesterday that al- though MT. Hill owed him a small amount of money that he would trust him with sum five times as large and never feel any fear of his not returning it at the time promised.
 What has become of him and in what direction to look is the mystery which is confronting the police. Detectives will be placed on his trail where he was last seen, and it is hoped that it will be pos sible to trace him.
 One of the theories advanced is that he went to pay some of his hands and that learning of the large sum he had on his person some one knocked him on the head and robbed him, disposing of his body in some place where 1t is still lying.
 Another theory which has been ad- Vanced but which is not credited by those who know the man, is that he is suffering from mental alteration and has wandered in to the woods.
 There is considerable excitement over the matter in the neighborhood in which he lives. and the people are wrought up over the matter. They unanimously state it is foul play and that there is no other plausible explanation of the disappear ance.