The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-01-24
Avenging q Fathers Death.


this place to-day en- route to the Texss
border, where he has been for more
than ten years past engaged in the cattle
business. From him the Times repre-
sentative learned of q tragic event |
which recently occurred on the border
of the "T.one Star" State, the particu-
lars Of which have 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 seventy years old and reputed to
be wealthy owning large tract of land,
great herds of cattle, and large but by
no means costly residence. He had
family comprising one boy, aged ten,
and four girls ranging from eight to six.
teen years. Though the State was in a
tumult, the old man claimed TO be neu-
tral, and while his neighbors were
buckling on the armor Hall remained
at home. The South called for every
man capable Of bearing arms. Texas
was secured. Hall was called on to
volunteer, but declined. One night o
party OF twelve persons rode up to the
house and repeated the demand for vol
unteers. The old man said he preferred
death. He was taken from the house to
little ravine two hundred yards away,
a rope put round his neck. the end Of
which was thrown over the limb of n
tree, and Hall was once more asked to
reconsider his refusal. The old man de-
clned, 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 clump Of bushes, the
lad was a silent and Mortified spectator.
He saw everything, and, more, he rec
ognized every actor in that cruel affair.
When the men galloped away he ran
from his hiding-place, cat down the
body, and, finging himself upon it, reg
istered an oath to slay every man who
had taken part in his fathers death.
Time passed; the war ended; young
Hall managed his fathers estate and
prospered. His sisters aided him iE ;he
work. Almost their nearest neighbor
was Frank Parker, who led the band
that hung old Hall in 1865. Twenty
miles east lived John and Thomas Man
tooth, two members of the party. The
remainder were scattered throughout
the State.
One day in October, 1878, young Hall
bade his sisters good-by forever, saying,
"The time for revenge has come," and,
without further explanation, he mounted
his horse and rode swiftly away. An
hour later he drew rein in front Of Frank
Parker's dwelling. Parker was in the
yard. 81 come to ask you why you
killed my father" Hall said to him.
Parker gave the reason, adding that his
conscience 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 Man.
tooth hc shot dead on the open prairie
after explaining the object of his visit
Thomas Mantooth met q similar fate on
the public highway. Before spring an.
other of the twelve had been slain, Hal
killing his man in saloon brawl in Sar
Antonio. BY this time the remaining
members OF the band had become
alarmed, and Hall suddenly paused in
his career of bloodshed. For more than
| a year nothing was heard of him, and
4 tho surviving objects of his hatred
we're beginning to think he hat
( perished, when he suddenly reap
peared. This time his victim wa
s named Kindred Rose, one of the twelve
o but he died only after desperate strug
gle. The men met one afternoon in th
. winter of 1880 in little village on th
. Mexican border. A street fight ensued
: and Rose was killed, falling from hi
s horse and dying on the street, Will
Hall, though wounded in three places
D put spurs to his horse and dashed away
0 The friends of Rose pursued him int
! Texas. The pursuit was continued lhre
} DAYS, friends of his former victims join
, ing in the chase. Hall at last was rul
! to cover, in sight of his home, and nea
the spot where sixteen years before tn,
. father had met his death. Here Hal
! turned on the pursuing party and Tough
until he was riddled with bullets. Hi
= eldest sister was Mortified spectator o
the tragic end of her brother. A yea
!. after she met one of the party in
= neighboring town; she was in comran
o with female friend, and, despite IN
y entreaties of her companion, called u
" man to her, slipping her hand into u
pocket of her dress as she did &C. "Cal
Davis" said she, when the man can
up, "you helped to kill my brother; Ia
4. that" and drawing revolver, she fir
at him. Davis was seriously wounde
and in the confusion the girl escape
70 This act alarmed all who had taken pf
th in the death of young Hall, and they
IN solved upon the determination OF
y. entire family of Halls, of whom OF
at three were living-the eldest girl o
he two sisters. Ono night, after Dav
III life had been attempted, the Hall hon
~ u stead was surrounded by masked mt
y. u. The barred doors were broken dow
VI and the three girls were merclles'
ne murdered. The assassins then fred
10 house and disappeared. The ,trage,
caused a sensation, but the explanat,,
m wac made by interested parties that
or dams or greasers had murdered !
ch rirls. Numbered the house, and then
ne L afire. This was generally accepte
or OF and only lately have the facts in the ca c'
OF leaked out.-Eatle Rock (Ars) spec
n. ia TO CHICAGO Times.
m
NJ yyhife man not long SlnCc Sue'