The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-19
TraveIeru' Guide.
GhegntelEiqfn
Our WetzeI COnespOndence.'

Our Wetzel Correspondence.
Tho STATE Of Society in Me Inslrim-A
Matrimonial Confidence MGn-The Proc.
tor MaSOnS-CArtouS DiScIOSArss..
PINE GROVE. W. Va, Aug. II.
Editions Of IntellIgencsr.
Something like two years ago an cue
tioneer, by the name Of G. L. Rockwell,
came to this county to speculate on the
ignorance and credulitY of It's citizens;
and since that time he has been in our
midst, every month or 30, OF different
points. Finding that we dwelt quiet, Sc
cure, and In q careless manner, he con.
cludcd he could do pretty much as he
pleased. ! guess for the greater part Of
that time he succeeded admirably to bis
own satisfaction and the disgust Of Q ma
jorlty Of the citizens. Among other
things he married young lady Of respeC.
table family in the county. Afler living
with her Tor some time he left her and
took up with the vilest piece OF woman
hesh that ever disgraced Wetzel county.
he carried her from point TO point, pass
ing her oil for his wife, and when neces-
sary showing a certificate OF their mar
risge. Finally his lawful wife swore out
warrant for his arrest Her brothers,
acting under the authority OF the con-
stable, arrested him. He was tried for CO.
habiting with another woman as man and
wife. Nearly everybody Tor FIVE miles
around, was present at the trial, myself
among the number. BE acknowledged
the first marriage, and they proved at dill
ierent places and by divers witnesses, that
he used the second woman as his wife to
oil intents and purposes; yet the Justice
discharged him because "the proof was
by reputation and no fact can DO proven
by reputation" 1t was just such Teputa-
ton as would have sent the horse-thief 10
the penitentiary or the murderer to the
gallows.
SEVERAL WEEKS AFTERWARDS
he returned to the county taking good
care to leave all his property in Ohio, ex.
cept the horse he rode. After coming
hero he swore out warrent for the arrest
Of the boys that captured him, got con-
stable to arrest them, brought them be-
fore q justice, summoned that Justice as q
witness. Between the parties there were
about fifty witnesses summoned. Bysome
arrangement they were taken 10 another
office, and when everything was in readi.
ness for the trial no prosecutor appeared.
The boys were discharged, costs counted,
amounting TO over fifty dollars, and three
parties, in as many different ways, were
sent out with the faint hope Of overhaul
ing him to get the cost out Of the poor
old horse he rode. Rockwell was too
sharp for that, he gathered up the girl
and having three hours start they made
good time TO the Ohio and crossed the
river never TO return, we trust, to Wetzel
county.
HAVE CITED THIS Gaze
to show how blind Justice is in Wetzel
county. Law Is, generally considered, q
terror TO evil doors, but here 1t is terror
to those who do well. We have men and
women too who will swear any thing you
want them Tor the witness fee.
Besides, old reliable citizens tell me 1t
Ia next TO impossible to get q criminal
convicted In the Justice, county, or circuit
courts. The fact ia there Is an association
known as the Proctor MasoHs, bound to-
geIher for the purpose Of defeating justice.
| do not wish 10 be understood as dispar-
aging the If. A. N. In my remarks as |
entertain great respect for them as be.
nevolent order, and believe they are 8
power for good IN our land. The Proctor
Masons are organized -a
TO PROTECT EVIL DOORS.
Several years ago they were very
strong in this county. A great many
good men were drawn into Ii, thinking It
was a bona .tldG Masonic order. They
never became chartered institution,
though they talked strongly Of applying
for ono while organizing, until they sue.
ceeded In getting q large number who
would not have Joined II they had not
thought everything was all right.
The order seemed TO have gone down
for several years past, until within the
last nine months they have been actively
engaged In recognizing, and from al
appearances they are ready to take DOS
session Of US, socially, judicially and polit.
ically. Their manner Of operating Ia
very simple; the system Is not bit COM
plicated with intricate machinery. They
arc expected to oppose every good move,
ment and encourage everything Of ar
evil character in their respective neigh
borhoods Then, respecting the law, q
few Of the justices being members, 1t Il
an easy matter, II you arc Q Proctor Ma
son, to be tried by one pledged 10 dis
charge you. On the other hand, II the
case 10 before the County or Circuit Court
Lam safe in saying there Is seldom jury
impanneled without 1t contains at leas
one, and sometimes more than one, l !
PROCTOR MASON.
Politically they can and do elect th(
man they want, l do not mean by thil
assertion that all men elected In thi
county are Proctor Masons; but / do meal
they will elect the man that suits them
and they can elect good, bad, or indiifer,
emit; In fact any one they please. ~
1have made these statements that thl
public may understand why our laws ar
not enforced and why the state Of societ,
Is so Indifferent. We are crushed by thi
association; the laws are parAlyzed; an
matters are going from bad to worse W
have this to console Us though, viz-tha
things must change, and with that chang
We expect this order TO DO devoted to d.
atruction never more TO be resurrected.
II had time would like to write {
the agencies now being employed to oyel
come this pernicious influence; but re
membering that he that prepares for th
battle should not boast Of the victor
gained; 80 We will say, wait development
Wetzel county will come out Of the terri
bio ordeal as gold seven times tried b