Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-28
ALL FOR LOVE.
One Of Chattanooga Merchants in a
Very Tight Place.

He Deserts His Family and AbseOnds
with an Old Flame-sOmebOdy EIse's
Money missIng-The RunaWays Cap
tured I'm 81. Louis.
1t was nearly midnight on Wednesday
night when a sheriff and detective went
to the Lindell hotel, st. Louis, and asked
to be conducted TO the room Of W. B. Hill.
Their request was complied with, and in
repOnse to their knock Sir. W. B. Hill ap-
peared. They told him he was "wanted, y
which he seemed not slow to appreciate,
and he was compelled TO fOrsake the beau
tiful little woman who, the register said,
was his wife, and exchange his luxurious
quarters for a acOld and cherries cell. Con
WINGED that the game was up, ne told his
story.
W. B. Hills real name is ". 5. Bell.
He is a cOmely young man, and has been a
gay one. Several years ago he was en-
gagged in a small business in a Georgia
town, when he met and won the affections
of a Miss Bently, a daughter Of the Presi-
dent of female college in the place. She
was pretty, well-fOrmed and graceful, and
was very intelligent, and as a natural re-
suit OF like causes, they were engaged TO
be married. Their relations were Of an
intimate character, but some circumstances
occurred which separated them, and the
marriage was not eOnsummated. Some
time afterWard Bell established a commits
sion business at Chattanooga, in which be
pTOspered. He married q lady Of that
place, and a little over one year ago a child
was born to them. Recently he met with
some reverses which greatly dis
couraged him, and which were a
part Of the cause Of his later
misfortune. On a visit to Memphis, not
long since, he met his former fiancee, look
ing as beautiful as ever. Probably as a re-
suit Of her disappointment, she had left her
home in Georgia, and was now living a fast
life. There were perhaps some tears and
regrets at the sad meeting, and the affection
Of either for the other seemed not TO have
lost strength by separation. But wnat was
the use? Bell INDUCED in some appropriate
reflections on ''might have been, and then
tore himself away and went to his home.
He was followed by his old love, and for
three or four weeks she renamed in Chat
tanOOga, where he visited her constantly.
Some Of his enemies became possessed
Of his secret, and a fear Of a dread
full exposure weakened his re-
solve to again strive to
build up his ruined business. Being q
moral coward, he determined to find a
way out of his dilemma through two
crimes. Three weeks AGO, a. X. SeagO, q
large wholesale grocer at Atlanta, tele-
graphed to the firm Of W. 5. Bell x Co,
instructing them TO ship several carloads
of corn, and telling them 10 draw for the
amount as sOOD as the corn was shipped.
The order was executed. and as soon as
the corn was sent, Bell drew upon SeagO
for $500 more than the value Of the ship
ment. He got the draft caShed al the
Bank Of Chattanooga, where he did his
banking business, and the same
night be left his home, his
wife and child, and started northward
in company with Miss Bently. The
bank received intelligence Of the fraud a
day or two afterward, and by some means /
learned that the runaway couple had gone
to Cairo. The Sheriff there was telegraphed |
to arrest them, and proceeding to the st.
Charles Hotel, he found that they had |
been stopping there, but had just left for |
st. Louis. He Immediately started in |
pursuit, and arriving there, be, with the as
sistance Of a detective, spotted his game, !
comfortably dOmesiicated at the Lindell |
Hotel.
Bell confessed his guilt, and expressed |
deep repentance. He waived any requisi |
tion, and started for Chattanooga in charge |
Of the Sheriff, passing through this city yes
terday.
The Bently woman was left to shift for
herself.