River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-11
A BORDER VENDETTA.
Fathers Death Avenged-A Feud which
Begun with the Late Var.

Begun with the Late War.
William c. Fletcher, passing through Little
Rock en- route to the Texas border, where he
has been for moro than ten years past engaged
in the cattle business, gave q correspondent
history Of tragic event which occurred re-
Gently on the border Of the Lone Star State,
the particulars Of which haze never before
been made public. At the beginning OF the late
civil war Abraham Hall lived in one OF the
thinly settled border counties. He was seven
ty years old and reputed to be wealthy, owning
! large tract of land, great herds OF cattle, and
q large bnt by no means costly residence de
had q family comprising one boy, aged ten,
and four girls ranging from eight to sixteen
years. Though the State was in tumult, the
old man claimed TO be neutral, and while his
neighbors were buckling on the aTmor Hall re-
manned at home. The South called for every
man capable of bearing arms. Texas was
occurred. Hall was called on to volunteer, but
declined. One night party of twelve
persons rode mp TO the house, and repeated
the demand for volunteers. The old man said
he preferred death He was taken from the
house to little ravine 200 Yards away, a rope
put around his neck, the end of which was
thrown over limb of tree, and Hall was
once more asked TO reconsider his refusal. The
old man declined, whereupon he was drawn up
and let down senseless. Reviving, again he
refused, and again he WAS drawn up
This horrible scene was continued until the
victim ceased to breathe and the party rode
away. The son Of Hall had followed the party
when they dragged his father from the house.
and, hiding himself behind elump of bushes,
the lad was a silent and Mortified spectator. He
saw everything, and, more, he recognized every
actor In that cruel affair. When the men gal
loped away he ran from his hiding place, cut
down the body. and, finging himself upon il,
REGISTERED AN OATH
to slsy every man who had taken part in his
fathers death Time passed; tho war ended.
young Hall managed his fathers estate and
prospered. His sisters aided him in the work.
Almost their nearest neighbor was Frank Par
ker, who led the band that hung old Hall in
1855 Twenty miles east lived John and
Thomas Mantooth, two members of the party
The remainder were scattered throughout the
State
One day in 0etni1ar $40, sss.s,s,- II-ii l..l~
his sisters goodbye forevea, saying: THE
time for revenge has come" and, without fur
Their explanation, he mounted his horse and
rode swiftly away. An hour later he drew
rein in front of Frank Parkers dwelling
Parker was in the yard. ~ come to ask you
Why you killed my father" Hall said TO him.
Parker gave the reason, adding that his con-
science had troubled him ever since. Hall
asked him if he was armed, and when the man
drew pistol Hall did likewise, and fired
Parker dropped in the agonies of death. The
next day Hall visited the Mantooths. John
Mantooth he shot dead on the open prairie,
after explaining the object of his visit
Thomas Mantooth met similar fate on the
public highway. Before spring another Of the
twelve had been sain Hall
KILLING HIS MAN IN SALOON BRAwL
in San Antonio. By this time the remaining
members of the band had become alarmed. and
Hall suddenly paused in his career OF blood
| shed. For more than q year nothing was heard
of him, and the surviving objects of his hatred
were beginning to think he had persisted, when
| ne suddenly reappeared This time his victim
wac named Kindred Rose, one of the twelve,
| but he died only after desperate struggle.
| Tho men met one afternoon il the winter OF
| 1880 in a little village on the Mexican border.
| A street fight ensued, and Rose was killed,
| falling from his horse and dying on the street,
| while Hall, though wounded in three places,
put spurs to his horse and dashed away. The
| friends of Rose pursued him into Texas. The
pursuit was continued three days, friends OF
| his former victims joining in the chase Hall
| at last was run 10 cover, in sight of his home,
| and near the spot whore sixteen years before
the father had met his death. Here Hall turned
on the pursuing party and fought until he was
riddled with bullets His eldest sister was
Mortified spectator of the tragic end of her
| brother. 4 year after she met one of the
| party in a neighboripg town; she was in COM
| pany with female friend, and despite the en-
| treaties of her companion, called the man e
| her, slipping her hand into the pocket of her
| dress as she did so. "Capt Davis" said she,
when the man came up, "You helped to kill
nv brother: take thatl' aud, drawing re-
yolver she fired at him. Davis WAS seriously
wounded, and in the confusion the girl ESCAPED.
| This act alarmed all who had taken part in
death Of young Hall. and they resolved upon
the determination of the entire family OF Halls,
| Of whom only three were living--the eldest
girl and two sisters. One night, after Davis
| life had been attempted. the Hall homestead
was surrounded by masked men. The barred
doors were broken down, and the three girls
we're nereilessly murdered. The assassins
then fred the house and disappeared. The
tragedy caused a sensation, but the explana-
lion was made by interested parties that In
1ians or greasers had murdered the girls,
plundered the house, aud then set it afire
This was generally accepted, and only lately
| have the facts in the case leaked out