The Piano Salesman Who Vanished With the Money

CENTRALIA, June 27 — Special. — William Hale, a sewing machine, piano and organ dealer, has left town suddenly, leaving a wife and two small children destitute. Hale left here at least two weeks ago for Castle Rock, ostensibly to sell a sewing machine. He was to return the next day, bringing back a horse belonging to Mr. O. Woodruff. A day or two after leaving, Hale wrote to Woodruff saying that he had concluded to continue his trip to Portland and possibly to Idaho, and that in case he did not hear from him again he had better send for his horse. He did not write or send any word to his family.

The next thing heard of Hale was from Redding, Cal., from which point he again wrote to Mr. Woodruff. In the letter, after describing the place and its business, he winds up by saying: "If you think Centralia will ever breathe again, stay with it. I start tomorrow for the Sandwich Islands. Will take about six weeks to make the trip." Since then nothing has been heard from Hale, either by his family or Mr. Woodruff.

Hale is supposed to have had several hundred dollars in his possession when he left. He had recently sold a piece of property and had sold most of his effects, in addition to which he is thought to have had a part of the money he received from insurance after the fire which destroyed the residence he was living in about a year ago.

Since Hale's departure some queer stories are being told about him. It is alleged that he was a gay Lothario and that his wife has discovered a bunch of thirty tender epistles which he had hidden away in his desk from one of the ladies upon whom he had bestowed his affections. Also that he had boasted of obtaining a considerable sum of "hush money" from a gentleman who formerly officiated in the capacity of pastor of a church of this city. Whether there is any truth or not in the stories, certain it is that Hale was recently expelled from membership in the church.

When the McDonald building, in which the Hales resided, burned down last July, there were many who thought the circumstances connected with it rather suspicious, and who now, in the light of subsequent events, confirm their suspicions and think Hale could throw a great deal of light on the origin of the fire if he would. Hale received $700 insurance on household goods which were said to be worth very much less. Dr. McDonald had no insurance on the building and tried to get the insurance companies interested to investigate the matter, but they preferred to stand the loss without inquiring into the matter.