Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-29
SHE TOOK FLIGHT.
A PARKHRSBURG WOMAN RUNS AWAY FROM
A BRUTAL HUSBAND.
And Comes to Wheeling, Where She is Detained to
Await Der Other Half in Pursuit-Ths
Story Of the Flight.

Await Der Other Hall IN fursul1-iIe
Story Of the Flight
AT nine o'clock last night the follow
ing telegram from Parkersburg was re-
ceived at this office: ,
"Mrs. Hill, wife Of John w. Hill,
well-known citizen OF Belpre, Ohio, OPP
posite here ran away from home to-day
taking with her their four-year-old BOY.
The woman took the noon train Tor
Wheeling. Captain Mehen telegraphed
TO Wheeling officials TO stop and hoid
her. Mr.. Hill took the afternoon train
in pursuit"
A reporter for the REGISTER, armed
with the above information, posted at
once TO Police Headquarters. All that
was contained In the dispatch was con-
firmed, and the subsequent proceed
ines made a very interesting story.
/ non the arrival OF the Ohio river
train Officer Lukens, who had
been detailed to hold the
woman and child if identi-
fed. was on hand. He had only a lew
moments to wait. The lady with
bright little boy at her heels, stepped
off the train, and "Wally" at once
politely accosted her. She did not
seek to hide her identity, but when In
formed of the officers business, she
readily accompanied him to headquar-
tiers, where she was detained until
further developments.
Mrs. Hill seemed to think her deten-
tIon was high-handed piece of bust
ness at first, but upon explanation being
made to her that it was an imperative
duty to hold persons on telegram from
an officer in another city until proper
investigation could be made, she APP
peared satisfied. Everything was done
to make the prisoner comfortable while
awaiting further developments. Chief
Delbrugge wired Chief Meehen at Par
kersburg what had been done, and
asked for further instructions. Meehen
wired back that the husband would be
here on S o'clock train.
On the arrival OF the husband, who
demanded possession OF the child,
nolenS volens, and without any legal
authority, and didn't care a snap what
became OF the wife. the Chief At once
took in the situation and dismissed
further consideration OF the case, taking
care, however, TO secure hotel FOR the
night for Mrs. Hill where the husband
would not disturb her, and subsequently
sending Mr.. Hill about his business.
This ended the legal phase Of the
matter. Officer Lukens saw the lady
safe to her hotel while the reporter
FASTENED 10 interview the principals
upon their grievance.
THE wIFE'> STORY.
Mrs. Hnls story to the REGISTER
scribe, in brief is as follows:
Her husband treated her brutally. He
did not provide for her and her child
properly, and In order to get the ordi
nary comforts of life she had 10 work
herself as a canvaSSer or book agent.
She had endured his abuse and i'll
treatment as long as she could
bear, and on Monday night
he talked so shamefuly, telling her
among other things he did not care how
soon she left him and the sooner she
went the better. She made up her mind
to take her boy and return to her people
who live at Chatauqua, New York. In
the morning she packed up her personal
effects, went over to ParkerSburg and
bought ticket for New York.
She was very much worried at her
detention and fears that her husband
will detain her the same way at Pitts
burg when she arrives there, and also
resort to some terrible means TO capture
her boy, as the child is all he wants, she
says.
TIE HUSBANDS STORY.
After the reporter had heard the
wife's statement he called on the hus-
band, who was stopping at Mrs. Old
| hams, on Main street. He was 10th to
talk but finally said that II his wlfe's
story was to be published he would
state his case as follows:
He had been married some
fifteen years. One child was
the fruit of the union. He was a
poor man, paper hanger by trade, and
his wife was too eXtravagant and not
contented with his mode OF living. She
would act as book agent contrary to
his wishes, be gone all day and neglect
her household and motherly duties. He
was dead opposed TO that mode OF life
and could not stand IT.. He loved his
little boy and desired TO keep pos
session Of him. As for his wife he did
not care whether she returned or stayed
away. All he wanted was his little
boy.
When he came home from work at
noon he found the house all torn up,
some of the carpets and furniture re-
moved, the silver gone, and things in
such state Of confusion that he mis-
trusted what had happened. He hustled
over TO Parkersburg, and with the aid
OF Chief Mechen, soon learned his wife
had taken the noon train for Wheeling.
He ordered her detention, and followed
on the next train. He did not know
whether he would follow his wife or
not, in order to get the child,
he rather thought he would. He
was much incenSed at his
alleged unfair treatment at the
hands Of the police. While he was be-
seeching the authorities for an inter
view with his recalci.rant wife they
spirited her off and he did not know
whore she was. Altogether he seemed
very much ratified individual.
Mrs. Hill appears to be a woman Of
thirty odd years, is above the average in
size, has good figure and is not unpre-
possessing. She was dressed neatly in
black talks well and is very ladylke. She
seems terribly worked up over the stu
alton, but is determined to get as far
away from her husband as possible and
keep possession Of the boy.
The husband is a tall, spare person
about six feet in height, has bright
look, and seems to be an inofTenSive
sort OF man. His age is somewhere
near forty, perhaps over. He hasn't a
single good word for his wife. So that
one fact is patent from the statements
Of the two; namely, the couple must be
very incompatible, and a monkey and
parrot time must have been the ruling
condition In that household.