Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-10-21
Newspaper Quarrel and Street Fight.

WHEELING, OcToBEH 16-J. j. Swee
ney, candidate for the Legislature, assaulted
and beat o. s Long, editor Of the Register,
for an abusive article published in yesterday
mornings paper This morning Is issue cons
tanned further reflections on Sweeney's char
Sacter.- About Ii O CLOCK Sweene g;met Lewis
Baker. proprietor, and j s. Clarkson, local
editor of the Register, and !; after some words.
all three drew their revolvers and commenced
firing. Baker was slightly wounded, and
Clarkson had his arm brok en-
ffSpivins."1 inthellecal columns Of Fridays
Register. gives the following account of the
above affair:
Yesterday abouttwelve o clock Lewis Baker
of the Register and onrself started in Street
Car No. 4. toirides to- the Eighth ward polls.
When. near Squire Schultz's off ce a German,
who was in the car, and the only other pas.
senger. pointed. to q buggy Just behind the
street carand asked "isn't that Sweeny in that
buggy" MI. Baker replied he believed it
was and paid no more attention to it. We
talked about the Ohio election and Ohio news.
papers until We got to the Eighth ward switch,
when the buggy in which were seated Mr..
Sweeney and his friend had stoppedSw we saw
Sweeney jump from his seat and run TO the
rear end of the carin which the Two of US
were seated, the German having left at the
upper corner; As he came towards the car
he drew navy revolver. We said to Mr..
Baker 'jump, Baker. he is after you" As
Mr.. Baker rose to his feet Sweeney shot into
the car, the bullet coming closer to our head
than we are fond of having them come. Mr.
Baker left the car by the front door as a second
bullet came crashing through the window of
the car. AS We got off the car we received
bullet through the right shoulder that
ruined the sleeve Of our best coat. Just here
1t occurred tous that we we're personally inter-
ested in the fight and we did our level hest TO
get even. After Sweeney emptied his first re,
volver at Mr.. Baker having put a hole
through the latser's coat he drew second one
and biazed away most recklessly and .indis>
criminately. one. ball passing our ear and caus-
ing deafness and another striking and splnter-
ing the canerwe held in our hand. Some
twelve or fifteen shots were exchanged with.
ont particular damage except to that good coat
of ours
MIR. Bakers weapon proving worthless he
ran into store next to Bixson's barber shon
to avoid Sweenev's balls AS he started in
the door Mr.. Sweeney drew his weapon to
shoot him in the back, and inst at the mo-
ment officer Adam Wcrnie rushed in with a
drawn revolver and caught Sweenev's arm he.
fore the weanon was discharged, taking him
prisoner. Mr. Wernig deserves the highest
praise for the insrepi,litv of his conduct He
has got the "sand" to do his duty We feel
that it is to his efforts that the encounter did
not result fatally.
All the combatants were arrested and taken
before Squire Johnston where they waived
an examination and gave bail for their ap-
pearance before the Circuit Court.
Why we were attacked We can't conceive.
Mr. Sweeney aud his friends all know tina
we are not the political editor of this papcr.
and his shooting at us was mere wantonness.
His grievance, if ho had any did not come
from our side of the paper We have heard
that he said he intended to ssclcan out the
Regis'er office" While he did not succeed
in executing his threat he gave US right
livey time