Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-19
HALLS HEGIRA.
"R" Reiterates His Relation.
Correspondence of the Register.


existed between the parties, the Enter.
prise's article only furnishes additional
proof of the guilt OF both the principals
in this transaction. Hall and Meeker
probably were not aware that their
movements had been watched for weeks.
As stated in my last letter, Mr.. Ferren,
Halls brother.in-law, followed in close
pursuit, but intending that his presence
on the train should not become known
until it suited his purpose. Mrs. Meeker
bought her ticket here to Columbus and
Hall bought his in Wheeling for Cincin-
natl. Unfortunately for Ferren'S plans,
his presence on the train became known
to Hall and Meeker, and before
leaving Quincy the woman in the case
knew that Ferren was in pursuit. This
caused change in the programme, and
when the train stopped at GAINESVILLE,
both Hall and the woman left the train
and went to the Frazier House. Ferren
followed few minutes afterwards, and,
going to the hotel he caught Hall and
the Meeker woman together in the Fra
zier House parlor. Then an interesting
scene followed. Mr.. Ferren gave them
a piece of his mind, with suitable adjec-
tives thrown in, which he can do in a
very emphatic manner. Ferren hurled
his inveCtiveS at them with wthering
effect. There were some demOnstra-
tons made towards the use OF revolvers,
for all parties were armed, but no shoot
ing occurred. Finally the proprietor of
the hotel interiered and stopped the row.
All parties remained at BaTnesville,
watching each other, until last evening
when Mrs. Meeker resumed her trip
West. Hall is still in GAINESVILLE, and
refuses TO return here. His wife, hear
ing Yesterday that her husband was in
GAINESVILLE, went up to that place on
the evening train. | have not heard
the result OF their meeting. Mr.. Ferren
returned here to-day, leaving his sister
Mrs. Hall. at GAINESVILLE to watch the
movements of her truant husband. |
want to say right here, particularly for
the benefit of the GAINESVILLE Enterprise,
that the people of st. Clairsvilie unani-
mously Justify Mr.. Ferren in following
and frustrating the eloping partys
plans. Mrs. Hall is a lady highly re-
spected, and she has great deal of SYM
pathy in her trouble. Halls intimacy
with Mrs. Meeker had existed some two
months, they meeting on the streets
after night and at the residence OF her
mother and step-father. Il.
In justice to all concerned, We give
the following extract from the article in
the Euteypri~ alluded TO in the above
letter:
"The elopcment terminated at Barnes
vile, and what appeared like a great
sensation at st. Clairsville, dwindled in
to small proportions when it reached
this village IL appears that Farren,
the brother-in-law, met Hall on the
train and followed him through the cars,
preventing an interview with the fair
blonde. At GAINESVILLE Hall left the
cars, and claims that he did not know
that the woman had also got of here un-
til the train had gone. He afterwards
went to the parIor of the Frasier House,
and while engaged in conversation with
the woman, FcrTen appeared upon the
scene. His fury was directed mainly
against the defenceless woman, and to
hear the foul language hurled at her,
any one would have "trembled for her
fate" All sorts Of epithets were used,
and hands thrust threateningly in hs
pockets. There was an excellent chance
Just then for Hall to shoot Farren, or
for Farren to shoot Hall, but neither Of
them were ready for the work. Mrs
Meeker, who is handsome blonde and
a noticeable woman, seems TO have been
pluckier than either of the men, and
bravely met her assailant, and calling
Mr.. Frasier demanded TO be projected
from insult, after stating that she was a
married woman, and that the meeting
was accidental. Mr.. Frasier very quietly
and quickly settled the business by or
dering Farren from the house, but he
refused TO 20 unless accompanied by
Hall, who went out with him. The two
men held interviews during the after
noon and the next day, Farrcn wanting
Hall TO return with him TO It. Clalrs-
vile and Hall refusing to 90. Hall
claims that he was in Wheeling, and
came TO GAINESVILLE to visit his brother
and other relatives. He does not deny
that he expected 10 see Mrs. Meeker on
the train, but insists that her stopping
here was unexpected by him, and
that she expected to see other parties
from a distance on business
matter, and the evidence is rather
strong that she stopped here in good
faith. From a pretty thorough shifting
of the facts, we are satisfied that the
"elopement" feature may as well be
IL 4 la nh al "a
Of crookedness may be in it. Mr..
Meeker went west on the q o'clock train
and Hall and Farren remained here all
day Wednesday, and although each was
supplied with revolver, nothing worse
than talk was exchanged. Viewed in
any light the affair was very unfortun-
ate to all concerned, and the public
washing Of private family linen might as
well have been avoided.
"An Eaterpri~ reporter interviewed
Mr. Ferren, and his statement does not
differ materially from that Of Mr.. Hall.
Hall had not been intimate with the
Meeker woman, though he had been
seen a few times in her company on the
street. His family relations are pleas
ant, and there was no motive for an
elopement. But some one had told
Ferren that be had better "look little
out" for Hall and the woman, and a hint
was enough for him. He told Halls
wife and her mother that he proposed 10
follow them and see if they came to-
gether. Both ladies assured him
that his fears were groundlcss and
tried 10 dissuade him from his wild
goose chase. He says that Hall had no
communication with the woman on the
way up here. But when he saw his
brother-in-law talking with her in the
parlOr oil the Frasier House, II reused
the lion in his breast, and he gave her,
he saws, the worst tongue lashing a
woman ever got. He says that she
made a motion once 70 draw a weapon,
and if she had done 80 he would have
killed her on the spot. Indeed 1t Is a
wonder to him, knowing what b-a-a-d
man he is when angry, that he had not
killed them both. In the language oi
the REGIsTER, "he is man not 10 be
trifed with, and he means business.
He owns TO that himself.
Premature Blast Explosion
NEw YoRK, December lS.-The pre-