Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-09
AN ALLEGED DESERTER
HAROLD H HALL HELD BY MILL
TARY AUTHORITIES.
Thought He Was "oficially Dead
Makes Threat Against Alleged
Informer-His Career.

Harold H. Hall, eighteen years of age,
who left note in his glove at the navy
yard last June giving the information that
he contemplated suicide. and who was ar
rested Wednesday night by the police of
the fourth precinct as an alleged deserter,
was turned over to the military authorities
last night by the police. He was turned
over to an officer at the navy yard and
was placed in the guard house. The date
of his court-martial has not yet been de-
termined. Hall expects he will be sent to
the military prison at Boston for a period
of about four years.
The finding of the note left by Hall gave
his friends the impression that he had
jumped overheard, and the Eastern branch
was dragged for his body. He was carried
on the rolls of the Marine Corps as de-
serter and not as being dead, however, and
he was greatly disappointed when he found
that he was not Officially dead In such
an event he thought he could only be tried
for fraudulent enlistment and not for de-
sertion.
Utters a Threat
AT the time he deserted he had a gov
eminent revolver in his possession. He is
understood to have said he put it away and
that he will use it for the purpose OF
shooting off the head of Clarence o. NJ.
Strader, q member of the Hospital Corps,
who gave the police the information upon
which he was arrested. He had a fight
with Strader not long ago, he says, and
the latter has been threatening to get
even with him
He's even, all right" Hall said, but
there is another day coming l expect /
will get about four years in the military
prison at Boston, but L can keep track Of
Strader while / am there and viii get
him when i get out.
1t Is likely that charges of a serious ma
ture will be preferred against him, as he
deserted post of duty and carried away
the revolver belonging to the government.
Hall says he lived near Princeton, Frank
lin county, KAN, during his younger days.
After the death of his parents a guardian
left home for the purpose of accepting a
position on a farm about ten miles from
his home. He never reached his prospec-
tive place of employment, but went to San
Francisco instead. Leaving that city, he
says, he sailed the bark Don Donal,
going to Bristol After reaching England
he enlisted in the British army as a MEM
Der of the Royal Footguard and was sent
miles from London. There he became in
volved in trouble with Sergt. Gent the
middlewefght champion boxer, the trouble
growing out of his having reported a cor
poral.
Jumped Over the Wall
Realizing 1 could not get the better of
the DEAL said Hall. II jumped over the
wall one fine morning about the middle of
June with a sentry looking at me-
He says he remained In London a short
time and then went to farmer near East
Grimstead and found employment. While
working there he managed to get change
of clothing and later he made his way to
Cardiff Wales. From Cardiff he worked
his passage back to this country on the
steamer Hypatia, arriving in New York in
the fall. In October, 1904, he enlisted at
Philadelphia and was sent TO Newport
News to be stationed upon the cruiser
Maryland. For being absent thirty-seven
days without leave he was given ten days
in double irons and lecture Later he
was stationed here
What made you remain away so long at
that timer" he was asked.
Somebody said something about my be-
ing afraid TO run away he answered, land
! wouldn't take a dare.
Had Special Reasons.
At the time he deserted his post he said,
he had special reasons for wanting to go.
He said he would not divulge the reason
at this time for fear he might be turned
over to the civil instead OF the military au-
thorities. lie said he went where he had
intended going and afterward went to the
vicinity of Shrewsbury and Admire Pa
working near the latter place for a farmer
named Nyman. The It'll OF last December
he turned up at Harrisburg, Pa, and en-
listed under the name of Douglass Bruce
Gordon. After he had spent some time in
the cavalry service at Fort Slocum, n. Y,
he asked to be transferred to the Hospital
Corps He and Strader were chun1s at the
fort and both w~lted to go to the Hospital
Corps together. When Hail. or Douglass.
as he was then known, learned that he was
to be sent here he asked that the order be
changed, knowing his identity would prob
ably be revealed and that he would get IN
trouble He then wanted to be sent to New
Rochelle but his request for the change
came too Late The order, he was told, had
been made out and could not be changed.
Met His Old Cronies.
Feeling certain he could not escape arrest
IL he came here, the young man thought
he would do his best to quiet his old COM
panions. He reached here the 18th of jan
uary, and soon met some of his friends.
They associated together and were on the
best of terms. Strader ascertained the facts
regarding his companion, but showed no
disposition to turn against him until after
they had engaged in a row. Then, it is
saSd he .ought the police and arranged
with Lieu Mathews to show him the de-
serter Wednesday night Hall was about
the city on an all-night pass, and 1t was
about IL 80 when he returned to the ar
senaal. Policeman Hurney of the fourth
precinct was there to greet him. and he
was placed under arrest He states that
Strader was angry with him because he
(Ha1l) had come out ahead of his class IN
a recent examination. Strader, he said,
had made an effort to lead his class, but
had failed. The result of the examination,
he said. placed him In line fer an early
promotion.
Weslev Patrick Bellirerent.