The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1902-12-17
JAMES MATsOH ARRESTED
On a Charge Of Abducting His
Niece.
The Parties Live In Richie County
MatsOn Taken to Parkersburg sand
( Bound for Hearing.


The Petersburg Sentinel tells
the following story of some Richie
county people: James Matson a
prominent grocer Of Gertie p. o.,
Richie county, near the Writ coun-
" line, was brought here last night
from that place by Constable Perry
Nolan and placed in the county Jail
on the charge OF abducting his niece
Cora Valentine who resides on Sey-
enth street in this city, warrant
having been sworn out by James
Valentine the father Of the girl on
Wednesday morning.
The disappearance of the girl
which was exclusively mentioned in
the Seminal on Wednesday was
learned of near the time of going to
press, too late to secure many OF the
details in the case which have since
been learned. The girl who had
been working for a family in the
White City returned home the latter
part of the week. On Monday she
was accompanied by her father te
the home of Lou Barker at st. Maryf
avenue where she had secured pc
sition.
They were accompanied by Mat
son who had arrived in the city in
the morning and had taken dinner
with the family. 1t is alleged BY
Barker that the same man who had
come to his house with the father
and daughter again called there on
Tuesday morning and asked for the
girl. After holding a short CONVEX
sation she came in the house a3d
finished washing the dishes and
then left with the man who waited
for her on the veranda.
To Sentinel reporter Mrs. Val
entine this morning stated that al
though she never suspected that
Matson who is her orother-ln- law
would take her daughter away, from
many things she can recall now, she
thinks that he and the girl had act
ed in such manner as was not be
coming to an uncle and neice, such
as holding whispered conversations
together many times. She also says
that she is confident that this affail
has been planned for some time. al
Matson recently sold his stock and
farming utensils, and had been max
ing a strong effort to sell his store
Another indication that the glri'i
action was premeditated is that in
stead of bringing her clothes home
when she left the family in the
White City she had them taken te
another place.
The constable was accompanied to
Richie county by Roy Valentine az
uncle Of the girl so there would be nf
trouble In locating their man, thu
latter being familiar with that Sec
tion OF the country. While being
brought to the city Matson told Val
entine that he would swear that the
girl was alive, although be strenuous
ly denied having any connection with
her disappearance. He is about 81
years old and has wife aud ST,
children.
The girl is believed to be at a GER
tain house in town and it is possible
that search warrant may be secured
TO search the place.
Matson denies emphatically all the
charges made against him, and says
he has not the slightest idea where
the girl is located He says his wife
received a letter from her recently, iu
which she stated that she could no
stand the abuse of the family, ant
proposed to leave, and rather thar
return home she would commit sui
eide He saws that he started Valen-
tine In business here, but the latter
nearly wrecked the store and he, Mat
son, came in and got the goods that
remained. From what he intimate'
there will be some interesting testi
mony when the case comes to trial