Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-26
OCEAN GROVE SCANDAL
Rev. Dr.. Aaron Ballard ArOuSeS In
dignatiOn Of His Followers.
TAR AND FEATHERS THREATENED
Els Wife Forced to Provide a New Hons for
herself and Fight with Hs Reverend
Husband ior the Possession Of Der
Child-A KidnAppsr.

Ocean Grove, \. J., are aroused 10 the
highest pitch Of excitement over the
actions Of their postmaster, the Rev.
DR.. Aaron Ballard, vice-presldent OF
the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Asso-
ciatlon, and threats Of treating him to
a coat Of tar and feathers have been
made by the ladies of that town. They
have had their anger aroused by Mr..
Bauard's actions toward his wife,
very estimable and highly respected
woman.
About three weeks ago he created
sensation by forcing his wife TO leave
his house and seek a home OF her own,
where she forced him TO come and live.
The latest scandal is over his alleged
attempt 10 kidnap mis- two-and-a-half
wear old child and take it to his daugh-
fer's house at Plttman Grove, n. j.
Through the timely interference or
strangers, who advised the wife OF her
husbands actions, his plans were frus-
trated, and the child, pretty golden
haired girl, Is now safe In its mothers
arms, while the postmaster Is at Pltt-
man Grove, where he is perfecting ar
rangements for the opening OF the reg
Mar season of the Pittman Grove Camp
Meeting Association, OF which Organiza-
tlon Postmaster Ballard is president.
HIS SECOND MARRIAGE
Mr.. Ballard is upward Of seventy
wears of age, and has been member OF
the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Assoei-
a,.on for about twenty years. About
four years ago Mr.. Ballard, who had
been widower for several years, mar
RED his present wife, who was then
Mrs. Annie Miller. Mrs. Miller had
been resident Of Ocean Grove for a
number OF years prior to her nuptials to
the Postmaster. She was we'll acqualn-
Ted with the Postmaster and his 1amly
OF grown up children, and before her
marriage exacted a promise from him
that he would provide pleasant home
for her away from his married son,
with whom he had been living.
Immediately after his wedding Mr..
ballard took his bride TO the home OF
his married son and compelled her TO
live there. There never was any love
between young Ballard and herself, and
her marriage to his father did not
strengthen it any. Instead, Mrs Bal
. lard told me. he did all ha possibly
yvuseuly Jne young Drlde would 1mpl0re
her husband 70 procure home for her
away from her stepsOn, but her hus-
band would not listen to any such
change.
Finding that her husband was deter
mined 70 force her to live with her step
son, Mrs. Ballard finally decided TO pro-
vide home for herself. This she did
one afternoon, removing all Of her own
aad her husbands effects to a pretty
cottage on Main avenue. So quickly had
the change been made that the husband
could hardly believe It when word was
sent him by his wife that a change had
been made aud where he could find baby
and herself.
LOST HIS APPETITE.
NIr. Ballard was so excited that he
refused to eat a mouthful all that night
and all next day. He Swore vengence
against the real estate agent who rented
the cottage to his wife and also inform
ed him that be would not be responsi-
bic for the rent OF the house. Soon
after Mrs. Ballard moved into her new
home DR.. Ballard left for Philadelphia
10 visit MS sOn-in-law, DR.. DICKENS.
DIR. Ballard had been in Philadelphia
but few DAYS when he received a tele-
gram from President +. IL. Stokes, Of
the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting AssO-
citation, ordering him TO return home at
once. Mr.. Ballard complied and was
told that IL was best for him TO go TO
his wife's house and remain there. To
stop any further scandal DR.. Ballard
did as ordered, and for about three
weeks lived at the home provided by
his wife, That Is, he slept at the house,
although he refused 10 eat there. All
went along qaiesly between the couple
until Wednesday afternoon, when, at
about six o'clock, while Mrs. Ballard
was preparing the evening meal, a
friend rushed into the house and told
Mrs. Ballard that her husband was
making off with her child.
Mrs. Ballard ran screaming into the
street and following thediTection taken
bv her husband soon overlook him. A
stormy scene followed and then Mr..
Ballard returned 70 the house. There
|another scene occurred and Mrs. Bal
hard fed TO the street and callet for
|helu. Mrs. Gardner. who lives In a
pretty cottage on the opposite sue Ol
the street, answered her cry.
STRUGGLING FOR THE CHILD.
Whom che reached the Ballard house,
she says, Mr.. Ballard had hold Of the
ehnd on one side and Mrs Ballard on
he other. Each was pulling for the
possession OF the little one. Ballard
saled his wife all sorts OF names ana
Od her be would never live with her;
Dir. Ballard surrendered the child and
eit the house.
The news Of the quarrel hsd spread
ke wildfre, and soon crowd hao con-
tregated. Among those whose witness
u the scene between the postmaster
Md his wife was. Mrs. G. Sickler, VIE
u Real Estate Agent Sickler, who Tor
rumber Of years was one Of the members
d the Executive Committee OF the Camp
Getting Association.
Why" said Mrs. Sickler to me, III
FaS an outrage the way that man treat
his wife, and I think il was time tnat
Bmething was done too put stop 70 H.
rs. Ballard is far to good woman 70
subjected to the treatment she mas
Rceived at the hands Of her husband.
Mr.. Sickler, who had also witnessed
quarrel, told me he had seen Mr..
Sllard lift his arm as II TO strike his
ife, but the enraged man did not 90
EAtts else va .slkad II % Ocean