Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-05-24
A SAD CASE.
Once Prominent Man Of Lam
caster i'm Serious Trouble.
sympathy ofthe People with
his Wife.

his Wife.
The entire county was shocked last
week when 1t was learned that Hon.
Howard Hathaway, ex-member OF the
House Of Delegates from Lancaster
and Richmond counties, had made
charges against his wife, and that both
had left for different destinations in the
North.
Public sentiment was at white heat,
and an indignation meeting, unadver-
tised, was held at White Stone on Friday
morning which was attended by hun
dred or more prominent citizens of lower
Lancaster. Sentiment was largely against
the man in the case and It was openly
talked that hr. Hathaway had extorted
written confession OF criminal intimacy
with another for the purpose of getting
rid of his wife. On the other hand Mr..
Hathaway had few warm supporters
mostly connections of his family--who
believed in his innocence. The confess
sion which is claimed to have been ex-
torted was taken by Mr.. Walter E.
Hathaway, brother, aud locked in his
safe, but has since been surrendered to
the family of Mrs. Hathaway-B. H. B.
Hubbard, ST., and DR.. b. Ii. d. Hubbard.
father and brother respectively of the
lady in the case.
Capt. Geo. p. Squires was made chair
man of the indignation meeting and
Messrs. Jno. A. Palmer and w. Nc
Donald Lee, representing the papers of
the county, acted as secretaries. Ex-
pressions were made by DIR. w. ]. New.
bill, G. s. Dunton, A. James, ST., Otis
Davenport, Jno. T. Payne, G. Walton
Hubbard, DR.. II. B. Treskle, r. p. Fox,
Capt. ]. +. Bellows, Geo. w. Sanders
and the chairman. Herbert Henderson,
who was charged with being the third
party In the deplorable affair, was called
upon. He denounced the accusation In
strong language as being false. He also
stated how he had been urged to leave
the county by friend of Mr. Hatha-
ways, whom, he said, was sent 10 him by
Mr.. Hathaway for that purpose.
The meeting seemed imbued with but
one sentiment-that OF coudemna alton
of the man. The temper of the meeting
was to go to any extreme, but few cool
heads prevailed, and when committee,
| composed of Messrs. w. Med. Lee, Jno.
A. Palmer and DR.. II. b. Treakle, ap-
pointed by the meeting, formulated reso-
lutions they were considered extremely
conservative. At first they were not
strong enough for the body of indignan,
people, but short speech by Mr.. Lee
induced them TO accept the resolutions
unaltered and to move carefully In any
steps which the people seemed deter
mined to take. The resolutions, which
were adopted, follow;
Deprecating the distressing conditions
which are disturbing our community, aud
being void of all animus or unseemly
display, we the citizens of this section
have assembled, without call, TO consider
the serious phase of conditions which has
suddenly arisen in our midst. With
the prayer that Divine guidance NAV
control us in reaching conclusions we
call upon the representative people of
this county and our section in general TO
give ear TO our cause. BE il resolved;
j. That, whereas, the sanctity OF our
homes, the fair name OF our women and
the honor OF our people has been tar
nished by most iendish and evidently
preconcerted deed, we are here assem-
Dled to show In no uncertain strain that
the citizens of this section do unreseryed-
ly denounce all such acts as this, which
tend to demoTalize our youth, to blast
the characters OF our daughters and
destroy the most sacred affiliations OF the
fireside.
| 2. That there Is not voice In this as
sembly or In this community that can be
raised in substantiation of the most
dcplorable charges which are laid at the
door OF one OF our sisters by him who
had sworn TO honor, cherish and protect
her; and since he has so basely deserted
his trust and has sought to tarnish her
name, we, the people of this section,
unhesitatingly express our belief that
there Is not scintilla or shadow OF
truth In the foul charge; that she, whom
girlhood into full-blown womanhood
remains pure and unblemished.
3. That we desire to express our
sympathy for her in this her hour of
triai and suffering, and say to her In this
public manner that we do not believe
one word of the slanderous charges made
against her; that we believe she Is abso-
lutely guiltless, and that her girlhood,
her womanhood and her wifehood are
without spot or stain, and so believing
express the hope and wish that she will
return to her family her friends and
acquaintances, who will receive her with
open arms and kindly hearts.
4. That We advise against any violence
whatever, but desire II to be made know n
that we do not look kindly upon the
perpetrator OF this deed, il the attending
circumstances as we learn them be true,
or any of his accomplices, and that
should the instigator of IL seek to return
here to reside we should put our mark of
disapproval upon II; this done for the
honor OF our community and the hitherto
untarnished reputation of our social,
moral and religious stains.
The meeting adjourned with the COM
mon consent that at present no action
should be precipitated against Mr..
Hathaway should he return. On Satur.
day he returned with friends who
had accompanied him to Baltimore. He
went to his home and there was kept
posted as to the feelings of the people.
Notwithstanding the excitement Of poll
tics at court on Monday the status of
this case was an oyerweening subject
OF discourse. Citizens of the county were
notified to meet at White Stone the next
day to take further steps In the matter.
On Monday night Mr.. Hathaway left for
the Buffalo Exposition.
ANOTHER MEETING.
On Tuesday morning the hall at White
Stone was again filed with people. Mr..
p. Eilskov was called to the chair and
Mr.. w. T. Barnett was made secretary.
AS soon as the meeting opened Rev. w.
f. Dunaway, ID. D., read the following
paper,
WHEREAS. certain rumors are afioat
In this community, and the minds of the
people are excited, therefore, we the
undersigned, representing the families
that are most concerned. after full and