Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-10-01
DENIES HIS WIFE.
Herbert Peck Repudiates His
Marriage to Bessie Tapp.

fere-Say Story is Attempt TO Black
Mail-Another Woman in the Case :
| Details of the Affair.
1t has just come to light that
Herbert G. Peck, who was for six
years a student here, and who was
married to Miss Elizabeth Tapp on
the first day of April 1908, has de
serted his wife and child, is DENYING
that he ever married her, and de
claring that the claims of his wife
and her friends form a well organ
lied attempt at black mail The
facts, which have become known in
Morgantown but recently have ex-
cited great indignation against Peck
and profound sympathy for the girl.
Peek's home ia at Philippi. His
father is the Hon. Melville d. Peck,
and the family is the most prominent
in Barbour county. He came here
six years ago and entered the Uni
yersitv. Until last March he con
tInued here as a student. He is now
in Harvard University and his wife
and her baby are here with her
widowed mother. Not only has he
deserted them, but declares most
emphatically that he was never mar
ried TO Miss Tapp.
The story reads like romance in
some particulars, brig ht enough until
the end Peek began to pay marked
attention to Miss Bessie Tapp about
five years ago Both were students
in the University. For the past two
years, it is stated that hardly day
passed when Peek did not call at the
Tapp home
When the girls father died Nov.
l6, 1908, Peck was at the house al
most constantly, taking most Of his
meals there Tor week or two He
had asked Mrs. Tapp for her daugh-
ter some time before this, and re-
peated his request at this time.
Mrs. Tapp consented TO their mar
riage.
Late in March Peek went to his
home at Philippi. 1t was while
there that arrangements were made
for the marriage. Peck sent word
that he would come through Nor.
gaptown on the three o'clock train
Wednesday afternoon Mrs. VIII
Price and Miss Tapp left here on
The nine o'clock train Wednesday
morning, and went to Connellsville,
where they spent the day at the
Marietta Hotel. VIII Price Joined
Peck on the three o clock train, and
they met the ladies at Connellsville.
The whole party went from there to
Greensburg where the ceremony was
TO have taken place Miss Tapp
was not Of age, and although she
had the written permission of her
mother to marry,the ceremony could
not take place, because this vas not
sworn to. Tie party left Greens
burg, and went to Cumberland.
The ceremony that made Herbert
Peck and Bessie Tapp man and wife
was performed in that city on the
first day of April, 1908, by DR..
Moffat, one Of the most prominent
ministers of the Presbyterian church
in the presence of Mr.. and Mrs.
Will Price. The marriage certificate
is in possession of Mrs. Peck s
attorney
The party returned to Connells-
vile together. Peck went to Home
stead, where he was employed by
the Price and Haggerty Mantel
Company. Mrs Peck and Mrs.
Price came to Morgantown. A few
weeks later, Mrs Peck went to Home
stead This was on March 9th.
They had rooms at the home of Mrs.
John M. Campbell, 400, Fourth
Avenue and Mcclure street, and
took their meals just across the
street with Mrs. Mary A. Carncsc.
Mrs. Tapp visited them here, and
was thoroughly satisfied that her
daughter was happy and we'll treat
ed. Mr. and Mrs. Peck lived to.
gether there until July 29th, when
Mrs. Peck came, home. A month
later, ON August 29th, their baby
was born
Mrs. Peck had no intimation that
her husband had deserted her until
q week or two after she came home.
She had written to aim a number of
times, and received no answer.
When Peck left Homestead, he told |
his employer he was coming to
Morgantown. When letter came
for him to Homestead it was for
warded TO Morgantown. One Of
these, in business enyelop, was
opened by his wife. 1t began with /
a verse of poetry, and an address of
endearment, and closed with the
touching subscription, sYour Low
ing Tom Boy" The contents of the
letter are entirely too mushy TO bear
reproduction in print.
The truth OF the situation was
thus bitterly impressed on Mrs.
Peek and her friends. A little IN
vestigation showed that Peck was
making sweeping denial OF all the
circumstance related above, and
insisting that he had never married
the girl at ALL
Steps were taken to bring the
mattnr IN the notiea ri bis naren4c