The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-10-25
And Engaged to Marry Something
Less Than a Dozen OF Them,
At the Same Time He is a Married
Man With Two Wives
How He Has Prayed and Mourned
Himself Into the Affections of
Serious Females.
The History Of a WidoW-Maniac
and His Victims

- Louis Po>i-oispstoh.
The Developments growing out Of
the furniture-contract suit of Mrs
Drake against james r. Hall, the
Washington avenue granite merchant,
ey-Congreyaiional minister, are of Il
character that would furnish interest
;ng material for novel of the lola
!iia-picture order. Testimony as To
sLsc character and credibilily If the
ex-mini>ter is being gathered in the
course Of dispositions for the plaintiff.
and some of the most prominent mem
ID the community, clergy, bar and
commerce, will contribute a page TO
he history of the marble merchant.
SIR. Hall first honored this city with
bis presence during the early cOnstruc-
ton of the custom house, being sent
out here as the agent of Gen. Davis
Tilson. of Rockland. Me-. who Wa
interested with the Hurricane Cir n;;e
COMPANY III furnishing the supply of
granite for the new structure. H.
brought letters from Congregations
slists in the east and at once identified
himself with the west end churcn
,i.ment. At Roxbury, Mass, lie lief.
wife and child, but this fact was
unknown to his new friend, and &C
euaintanceS in ST. Louis. About a.
years OF age. of medium height, black
a:.ir, dark grey ewes, black well trim
san.i mustache ana whiskerS, with a
i;e of impressive tenderness, jams
Hall presente pieaS;n: exte ior
which Won HIM friends and admirers
N the west end congregations. and he
aas introduced from one circle to
another until his popularity for sociai
qualities vas thoroughly well establish
Il.
TIL LADIES
spoke of Mr.. Hall as such thorough
y gallant gentleman, always obliging
and agreeable. His buggy was "a;
their disposal at ali times. and BE-
frequently furnished the companr
himself. lie Was foremost in every
ahuYcn movement AMI enterprise of
@haritv; he Was regularly cn hanG
g;th flowers and the deiicite atten-
lions Of facinating vol9g mon when
"ver tue OCCASION oIfcred ii" tir-f
ekAIed i,iru>cit WIKI the Concord
r.,miiY al their residence on Twenty
Eight and Morgan streets. and paid
particular attention Ia he Young laiy
osthe famil'. At ert e .ran;tec ntracr
at the Custom House WAS completed
Mr.. Hall ma.ie UP his mind that ST
k,oulS was Il most Agreeable place, and
he determined to locate here pcrma-
-nentlr. establishing himself In the
marble monument business lie took
steps AFTER ge Ting here to rid himself
u the concealed incumbrance in the
shape Of a wife and family at Roxbu,y.
Mass, an'! a Chicago lawyer was en-
pi0yed to gei divorce in the Salt
Lake City courts. The Utah job Wa
Easily put through, Mr.. Eali maxim
stfi layit Of his intention to come out
snd settle at Salt Lake ana
DECREE WAS GRANTED
aim with letter Of congratulation
apon his intended cau'se. Armed
with this authority, however, Hall
;eiegraphed to Miss Hardw;cke, the
Laughter of 4 prominent MasSachu
setts granite dealer who had previous
" boarded in his family. telling her
that no obstacle was now in the way :;
ne was a free man and he could mar
~ her right away. The young lady
had encouraged an honest affection
Tor him while under his Eastern roof.
and, believing the divorce to be valid,
she packed her property together, in
auding $4,000 in L. S. bonds, and
started for the west, meeting Hall at
Toledo. They were married the fol
sowing day at Detroit by the Rev. Mr.
Williamson, Presbyterian divine.
Miss Hardwicke's money was invested
by Hall in some lots on Grand avenue
and the vicinity after they arrived
here, and the Colcord house was
selected as their abode for a time
Subsequently Mr.. Hall rented No.
Rs04 Lucas avenue and went into
housekeeping. After the birth of a
child Mrs. Hall-or more correctly
speaking, Mis- NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
sroubled in mind respecting her
position, ana as a member of Doc.o!
';anse's con-rega CATION she consulted
,reveral friends among the clergy, re
lating the facts concerning HalFr
Utah divorcerat'. About that limo
time the Congregational council wa:
n session here. and Miss Hardwicke'.