The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-24
Though Hall Was a Convict
Mrs. Vanderbilt Was Stsadtasl
ONCE ESCAPED FROM SING SING
Later He Was Recapursd and Compelled
10 Serve for Eighteen Years First
Accused in 1873.

New York Feb. 2I.-Charlcs r. Han,
formerly OF Dannemora prison, anu the
bride who waited for hirn twenty years
are in this city. IIc was married at Troy
on Friday 90 Mrs. Emily Vanderbilt. Hall
says that his wife Is a member OF New
Jersey family and Is not related to Mrs.
Jacob IL. Vanderbilt. who is living in this
city.
His courtship Of his present wife goes
back more than twenty years. lie says
that he has known her for thirty years.
His career has been a chcckered one. in
Guiding an escape from Sing Slug prison
in 1877. lie was accused In 1879 OF hypoth-
ecating certain bonds, and for three years
during the reign OF the Tweed ring he en-
ioyed immunity.
lie then returned to Wall street and was
engaged In speculation. thinking that the
incident of the bonds had been forgotten.
ITc was arrested and convicted. lie cs-
capped from Sing Sing prison. went down
the Hudson IN a sloop ana then FASTENED
To the West, but was rearrested.
He served extra time for taking his de-
parture from prison. and for the last eigh-
teen years he has been continuously an
inmate OF penal institutions. lie was
transferred 10 Dannemora prison four
years ago, for the physicians thought that
his health might he benefited. He was at
that time threatened with consumption.
While in the prison he devoted his time
to printing and bookbinding. and became
an expert in those vocations.
TELLS OF his WIFE.
"she who is nprs my WIFE, said Hall.
would have married me twenty years
ago but for the fact that she believed
that | was doing wrong. When I had con-
vinced her that ] intended To reform and
TO lead a better life she consented to be
my wife. We were married on the night
OF my release from Dannemora prison.
~ now intend To devote my time 10
placing upon the market an invention up
on which | have worked for years. In
| addition TO the Invention ] have my
trades as printer and bookbinder. which
think will be OF great value In enabling
me TO make a living. e
MY wife has believed in and has en-
couraged me in my reformation. There
are few women who would have done
what she has DONE and owing 10 her de-
votion ! expect TO be able to make .
new start in life.
USELESS FOR ONE MAN TO FIGHT.
"All the trouble which ] have passed
throught has taught me that IL is useless
for any one man to fight against society.
T. have tried and have failed. In the old
days of the Tweed ring life here was diff
ferent from what 1t is now. III one knew
the right person he could do almost any
thing.
Il thought that 7 could. but when l
came back to Wall street | found that |
was mistaken, for / was told by certain
persons that / had, gone too FAR. that
wanted too much ana that L had no right
to return after what had happened. That
is where | made a mistake.
Those days are over L have turned my
back on all the past / am now arranging
TO get permanent employment and think
that | shall succeed. / wish above all
things that at this time full justice shall,
be done to the woman whom l married
and that she may be confused with no
one else of a similar name. 1t will be my
object 10 live life beyond reproach and
10 show that l can be worthy of the con-
fidence which she has placed I'm me-"
Charles i. Hall was convicted under
the name of Charles ID. Williamson. es-
capped from prison in 1877 and in 1884 was
recaptured n st. Louis, where he was en-
gagged In business.