Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-04-09
From the Ironton Register.
A Great Outrage.
IRoNToN, O., March 81, 1868


E. s. WILSON, Ed. Register:
John Wells, a citizen of Lawrence
county, who lives on his farm in Wind
sor township, and is a highly respect
ed honest Union man, was last night
dragged from his home, run over the
river and handed over to the rebel au-
thorities of Kentucky, to be tried and
convicted by the rebels at Paintsville,
for an act of which he has been acquit-
ted by an Ohio court.
The history Of the case is briefly as
follows Mr.. Wells was a citizen of
johnson county, KY, one of the JUS
tees of the peace of the county, and a
Union man. Zephaniah Meeks was
rebel; was away with the rebel army,
had come back in 1864, and established
store on the border in johnson county,
where rebels and rebel bushwhackers
were getting supplies of ammunitions,
DC. A squad of Union soldiers came
to Mr.. Wells house, demanded sup
per, and forced him to go with them as
guide, as they said, to search Meeks'
otvro for aruInunitiUn. Mr. Wells lived
on the border, where Guerrillas were
raiding. Four Union soldiers, escap-
ing from Saltville had been captured
by the Guerrillas at his house few
nights before. No citizen dare disobey
what the scouts demanded, and Mr.
Wells, under duress, went with them
unarmed, and with their consent, TAX
ing young son with him. They gut
ted Mr.. Zephaniah Meek's store, but
by the persuasion of Mr.. Wells did not
burn it or commit other damage. Mr..
Wells took no part in it, and as soon as
permitted, returned home. He was
finally driven out of Kentucky and set
tied in Ohio.
This Zephaniah Meeks brought suit
in our court of Common Pleas, charged
Wells with the act of robbery and lar
ceny of his goods. A large amount of
testimony was taken in Johnson county.
The case was tried before his honor,
Judge johnson, and Mr.. Wells was
acquitted without hesitation. Indeed
there was no testimony against him,
except of two or three of the lowest
characters that could be raked up on
Big Sandy; and they were utterly i'm
peached by large number of good
citizens in Johnson county.
But the sympathizing lawyers of
their brother Meeks conceive another
plan; one of them is elevated to high
place at Columbus. If they can get
their victim back into the rebel hands
in johnson county, to be tried by a
rebel Judge and sheriff and jury, broth
er Meeks may yet wreak his vengeance
on his Union victim. So they got the
loyal governor of loyal Kentucky, to
demand of Gen. R. B. Hays, Union
governor of Ohio, that Mr.. Wells be
dragged from Ohio. where he has been
acquitted, and be handed over hand
cuffed to brother Meeks,. confined in
rehel jail at Paintsville till his mock
trial, and then sent to rebel peniten-
tiary. And this, Governor Hays does,
without consulting any responsible par
ties here, at the request of Governor
of Kentucky, and Mr..
Meeks' democratic sympathizing law
yers. A Union governor of Ohio, who
had been an officer in the army during
the war, and should know something
of rebel craft and spite, sends his war
rant hastily to brother Meeks, who has
it clandestinely executed, and Mr..
Wells is in the Paintsville jail. Mr..
Wells will stand as much chance for
justice and personal safety in rebels
hands in Johnson county, as among
Feejee Islanders. He went there to |
take dispositions in his case with Meeks
in our court, and was hunted down and
driven out. 1t is astonishing and
alarnling that Governor HAYS should |
be used or lend himself to such work.
It finds no excuse in law or justice.
He has right, it is his duty, to know
what he is doing.
Thus another victim is made to suffer
from the iendishness of rebellion.
-'lt G. G.. HAwLEY.