West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-03-26
A SENSATION
CAUSED ny THE ARREST OF A
PARKERSBURG MAN.
ACCUSED OF COUNTERFEITIRG


Aceomplice. but the Theory Is That
IL Is "a Case or Spite-The FreeIand
WOman's Notorious Career Raised
Two Dollar Bills to Twenties.
! PARKERsBURG, w. VA, March
l9.-1esterdaY evening United
States Deputy Marshals Ed. l..
Nash and Gran. Stout arrested Jos.
Hawks, we'll known travelling man
sells goods for the j. n. Murdock
Drug Company, of this city, and
brought him here, arriving at 1910
O'Clock on tie Ohio River train last
night. The officers turned their
charge over to Marshal Charles r.
Wells, who took Hawks to his room
at the Blennerhassett hotel and kept
him there instead Of taking him to
Jail.
Hawks arrest was made upon the
statement of Mrs. Belle Freelaad.
who has beeH in jail at Clarksburg
since March 10, charged with pass
ing greenbacks raised from 50 to
$50. Mrs. Freeland and u small
child were brought to this city last
evening by Chief Clerk Berrie l..
Prlddy. She is rather a nice ap.
pearing woman. fairly we'll dressed,
but has keen, mischievous eyes.
She claims that the money passed
was gwen TO her by Hawks. This is
not the first scrape in which Belle
treeland has been implicated. She
is a notorious woman with an inter.
esting history. She was arrested
IN Chicago in December, 1898, to-
gether with her husband. charged
with passing greenbacks which had
been raised.
They were tried in March, 1894,
and were sentenced to three years
each in the Illinois state prison ut
Joliet, but Mrs. Freeand was par.
doned by President Cleveland in
Decem IN Der, 1894, and came to Terra
Alta, this state. where she resided
until her arrest last week. On
March 8, Mrs. Freela.d was arrest
ed 10y "a United States detective
named Barker, who is at present IN
Parkersburg. She had passed three
bills IN Grafton and Fairmont.
raised from 50 to $50. She was
taken To Clarksburg and lodged in
Jail for hearing. She told the
story Of her crime and implicated
Hawks. He was accordingly arrest
ed last night at Gallipolis Ferry.
Mrs. Freeland's husband IS still
confined in Joliet prison, but his
term will expire next March. The
arrest Of Hawks has created big
sensation in this city, where he is
well known and is well liked. lie
is related to several very prominent
families residing here. HIS Park
e!sburg friends are not ready to be
lieve him guilty. They think be
has had trouble with the woman and
/ she has chosen to get even with him
by this method.
Hawks says that his arrest was
like a thunder clap out of a clear
sky TO him. lie never suspected
such job. lie will not be given a
hearing until April z, the govern
ment not being ready. He was re-
leased upon bond Of 50. 600. with
j. N. Murdock, Clark Murdock
and w. /. Boremn as security.
Hawks makes his home in this city.
He is a nephew Of Col. w. N.
Chancellor.
A story is a6oat to the effect that
Hawks was at one time very iDti
mate with the woman aud they dis
agreed, and that she is DOW pursu-
ing bin through spite. The story
is generally believed.
The case was worked up By Secret
Service Agent Barker, assisted by
] the marshaPs force.
Hawks demanded = hearing. and
was taken before United States
I Commissioner l.. n. Tavonner.
The affair has created a great
sensation here, where the defend
ant, who is we'll known. resides.
I Tie is unmarried
a later account given out next
I day gives some more mysterious in
formation In connection with this
case as follows
The sensational arrest Yesterday
OF Joseph Hawks has brought to
/ light some queer actions oil Hawks.
Abont ten years ago, while a
seemingly prosperous liquor dealer
OF this city, he disappeared sudden.
/ ly. Ho bad announced that be was
I going east on business. and after
be was traced to Grafton. his where.
abouts we're never learned. and it
was supposed be bad been foulIy
deals with. The Valley river a.
/ Grafton was dragged. Ills grin
aud several small articles we're
found ia a hotel at Grafton. Capt.
J. 4. Mehen later traced him to