The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-11-13
JOHN HARDCASTLE HALL HAS A
FRIEND.
A Letter Received from Secretary
w. p. Stuart, of the fruitdale Land
Company-Says that Hall was in
Prosperous Way Before he Disap-
peared-Hall was an Honorable llan
and has been much WrOnged.

Several days ago, Hall, the man of
fragile memory, recalled the name of
w. P. Stuart, of Fruitdale, in whose
office he had desk room. In looking
over the map he found Fruitdale and
it recalled certain memories. DR..
Andrews wrote to Mr.. Stuart, describ-
ing Halls condition, and also enclos-
ing letter from Mr.. Hall. Saturday
mornings mail brought reply to DR..
Andrews, also enclosing a letter to
Mr.. Hall. The letter to Mr.. Hall is
couched in the most friendly terms.
Mr.. Blanchard yesterday said that
Mr.. Stuart would make the air blue
when he heard of Hall, but in this he
was mistaken. Mr.. Stuart addresses
Mr. Hall as "dear old friend" writes
cordial letter. invites him to return
to Fruitdale in the hope of being able
to save some of his property, and in
closing sends Mrs. Stuart's regards.
The letter to DR.. Andrews is as
follows:
FRUITDALE, ALA, Nov. 4, 1896.
j. w. ANDREWS, M. D.,
DEAR DOCTOR.-I am in receipt of
yours Of Oct. 81, enclosing letter from
John Harrison, whom l am fully sat-
listed is no other person than John
Hardcastle Hall, whose name appears
above as J. H. Hall, treasurer. Mr.. Hall
was in a prosperous way here, just
starting very fine saw mill, box fac
tory, etc., probably all told an outlay
of S15, 900. OF course man carrying
on such an undertaking these close
times for mOney,he became somewhat
involved, but not so much in my Opin-
ion but what he could have pulled
through, but as soon as he turned up
missing then it was signal for all his
creditors to pOunce down upon his
property here, involving much litiga-
tiOn and destruction of his property.
l have done all | could to see that all
attachment cases put up good bond.
Christian q CrOfts, merchants of Mo-
bile, in my judgment, have had no Just
cause for an attachment, but by some
hook or crook got an order of court to
take possession of all the mill machin-
cry, which they have taken from the
mill and loaded it on cars aud shipped
the last car away yesterday, Hall was
interested with Chicago parties, who
have suffered from this absence of
Hall. l have sent them copies of your
and Mr.. Halls letters and you may
see some of them in your town soon.
Try and impress upon Hall the inn
pOrtance of not doing any business
trasactiOnwith anyone until he has a
talk with me. l deem it important
that he should come here at once or
at least after he consults with his
Chicago people, whom l am satisfied
you will hear from or see soon. Will
feel pleased to hear from you and Mr..
John Hardcastle Hall upon receipt of
this. AS say, am about the only
one who has stood up for him through
thick and thin, for am convinced he
is an honorable man, and has been
very much wronged in his business
affairs here since his departure
Yours resp'y,
w. P. STUART,
Sec'y Fruitdale Land Co.
This letter is written upon station
cry of the Fruitdale Canning Co.; in
corporated 1896, with general Office at
Fruitdale, Washington county, Ala
bama, "a miles north of Mobile on the
Mobile & Ohio railroad The officers
of the company are G. K. Keill presi
dent, W. P. Stuart vice PRESIDENT, J.
n. Hall treasurer, H. D. Wing secre-
tary.
DIR. Andrews will write to Mr..
Stuart and ask that he forward money
for transportation of Hall to Fruit
dale, and also to pay his hospital ex-
DenSeS here