The Washington times., 1903-11-26

Robert F. Hale Kills His
Wife and Himself at
His Home.
A STARTLING SEQUEL
Responsibility for His Con-
nection With Case Estab-
lished by His Letters.

neCtlOn With case EStab-
lished by His Letters.
Robert +. Hale forty-five years old,
OF 80 I Street northeast, today shot his
wife and then. committed suicide at his
home. He had posed as the cousin of
Margaret Hale. the young department.
clerk who died at sanitarium In Brent
wood. Nd. last Monday.
Letters written by Hale and found in
his house leave no room for doubt as to
his responsibility in connection with that
case.
Events Follow Quickly.
The sequence OF events has been rapid
since the case first ;Decame public. On
Monday Margaret Hale died in the
Brentmar Sanitarium, at Brentwood
Tuesday DR.. Joseph c. OhIendort. head
of the sanitariumA gave a certificate of
death from heart disease.
Wednesday Major Sylvester was ask
ed to investigate the death. Deputy
Coroner Glazebrook, at the request of
the Maryland authorities. performed an
autopsy, which showed death due to
criminal operation. That night Detec-
tives Baur and Evans. of this city. un-
der direction of States Attorney Levin,
of Prince George county. Nd, arrested
DR.. Ohlendorf. who was held by JUS
tice Of the Peace Arthur Carr. of Hy-
attsville, on the charge of murder,
without bail.
This morning the Hale double tragedy
occurred and this afternoon the inquest
over the body of the young woman is IN
progress in HyattsViile
Hale's Record Here.
The latest tragedy in this series was
a complete one. Robert Hale came to
this city fifteen years ago frc-sa seran i
ton. Pa. and went to work IN the GoV-l
ernment Printing Office. where be has
since been employed. accommodating prop
erty until he owned the 5ouse IN which
he lived. another mousse two doors away.
and a third on r Street.
It was Hale's custom to arise about
$50 in the morning. Today, about that
time or a little later. James Ray. a
roomer in the house. heard two reports
which he then took 10 be the slamminR
of door. Ray arose about $50 and
went out for breakfast. Returning an
hour later, he noticed the curtains IA the
room occupied by the Hales were down.
an unusual circumstance. and heard the
howling of "Bijou," the family dog.
The Bodies Found.
Becoming uneasy he went to the room
OF the Hales and knocked. Receiving
no response. he opened the unlocked
door and started back from the sight.
Mrs. Hale lay dead on the right side OF
the bed. with bullethole in her left
temple. Hale was lying over the Iert
edge of the bed. his head almost in the
great pool OF blood which covered the
floor He had>lkilled hiself by a shot in
the right temple. The police and Coro-
ner hewitt were then notified.
The motive for Hale's action was sur
missed even before the discovery OF the
letters he left. When Detectives Evans
and Baur were called upon to penetrate
the mystery surrounding the death of
Miss Hale, they found that, since com
ing to Washington, two years ago. and
accepting a position as bookbinder in
the Government Printing once. she
had occupied rooms at 400 G Street
northwest During her residence there
she had received but one caller. Robert
Hale She had introduced him as her
cousin. and had been on terms of inti-
macy with him. Il was also learned
that twice she had called at the house
of her supposed cousin.
Tracing Past Clues.
Several weeks ago Miss HaIe's health
failed her. and she gave up her posi-
ton at the printing office and re-
turned TO her home in Marietta, Ohio
on November she returned to Wash
ington and five days after her return
packed a suit case. left her trunk. and
said she was going to visit friends in
Mount Pleasant and lexington.
Nothing more was heard from her
until the announcement of her death.
Then il was learned that, just after
leaving her boarding house. she had
gone TO the Brentwood Sanitarium, and
entered as a patient Her death fol-
lowed, and a certificate was given of
death by heart disease. which was
countersigned by George NJ. Suit, of the
Hvattsville board of health. The body
was removed to the undertaking estab-
lishment of Adolph J. Schippert, at zoos
l Street northwest.
IT was the telegram from Nellie Hale.
a sister of the dead girl. asking that
the body be sent TO Ohio. and the cir
cunstances of her death investigated.
that brought the knowledge of her death
to her Washington friends. The inves-
tigation showed. among the first things
discovered. the relations existing be-
tween Hale and the dead girl. Before
the autopsy had Been performed, which
showed the cause of death, the detect
ives had called Hale from his bed. at l
O'Clock in the morning. and had faced
him with the facts. He admitted he
knew the woman. bat denied the rela-
tions alleged. The oitectives continued
their Investigations. which resulted in
tie arrest of DIR. Ohlendorf. and the
i,,ouest was fixed for this afternoon.
Read of Details.
After the discovery Of the bodies of
Hale and his wire it was learned that
he had gotten up this morning early
enough 70 get the morning paper before
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