The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-24
ARREST OF HON. T. b. WETMORE.

ARREST OF HON. T. b. WETMORE.
Hon r.. B. Wetmore, Chairman of the
Do7nocratic and Conservative Executive Com
mittee for Sumpter county, is now under ar
rest. and will have an examination tnls morn
inc before United States Commissioner Gill
Iette. of Mobile. Mr.. Wetmore Is lawyer OF
Sumnter county. He was the attorney for the
Jafanse in a certain case which arose before
TTn;ted States Commissioner Wayne, at Liv-
;noston. Harsh words passed between him
and United States post Office detective,
named Hester, during the trial, and out
of this grew the complaint that
Mr.. Wetmore conspired with some
one else to intimidate or deter
United States officer in the discharge of his
duty. We refrain from commenting upon the
facts as they have been narrated to us by re-
liable persons, but content ourselves with
simply saying, for the present, that the arrest
of this distinguished gentleman appears to be
from political malice, and not because he has
violated ony provisions of the Enforcement
acts He was arrested not as Citizen Wet
more, a malefactor against Federal lew, but rs
the Chairman Of the Democratic and Conserva-
tive party of Sumter county. We fail to under
stand why it was thought necessary to bring
him to Mobile for examination before United
States Commissioner Gillette, when Commits
sioner Wayne was then sitting at Living ton.
1t seems that a meeting of the Democratic
and Conservative party had been called by
Col Wetmore, as chairman of the Executive
Committee of his party in Sumter county,
for the purpose Of hearing addresses from
Gen. Pettus and Judge Brooks, which they
were to deliver by appointment on Saturday
last, the 18th inst. As Gen. Pettus and Col.
Wetmore were proceeding to the meeting
they were met by the Deputy United States
Marshal, who handed the latter q warrant OF
arrest
The character of Mr.. Wetmore is that of
most conservative, orderly and law-abiding
gentleman. He was for many years citizen
Of Selma. The Selma Times says of him:
"This gentleman is well known in Selma,
having resided here number of years. and
such is his character that there is not q man
in Selma Radical or Democrat, having ordi-
nary common sense, that will believe for one
moment, in the absence of unimpeachable
evidence that he is guilty Of the charge laid
at his door,"
The high eulogies passed upon this gentle
man by those who know him forbid the belief
that he is guilty of any offense which should
induce the Federal authorities to drag him
hundreds of miles from home and consign
him to prison for an indefinite time. Event
ually, Of course, he will be acquitted and re-
leased. We are glad to know that the special
correspondent of the New York Tribune is in
Mobile, and will report the proceedings in the
examination of Mr.. Wetmore. That report
will be fair and honest Let it go forth to the
people of the North The verdict is not
with Com missioner Gillette, nor with the
negro juries which Gen. Healy can pack at
the final trial. 1t is with the people of the
North at the November elections. Mobile
Register, 22d inst.
RoBBERY-Thursday last, Mr.. B. F. Wat
ley, q planter from Mooringsport neighbor-
hood, while in the city on business hired a
negro named Ben Williams to drive his bug
gy Not being satisfied with the remunera-
ton rendered him, Ben went through his en-
ployer's pockets and finding there S63S wor tn
Of greenbacks, lying around loose, made fast
to it and levanted. Mr.. Watley, instead of
applying to the circumlocution Office, hired
two freedmen and put them in chase of Benny.
That picker up of unconsidered ''trifies" had
somehow fallen foul of somebody's watch, and
the freedmen employed by MIR. Watley were
after him FOR that.
They found their man at the railroad depot,
but were detained by white man named
Shelby until Williams hastily vacated and
struck out for the wildwood shades. The i'm
promptu myrmidoms of the law gave chase
and soon overhauled the fugitive, who owned
to the watch and said Shelby had it in bis pos
session, which proved to be the case. The
negro Williams was put in Jail and warrant
counts, had not been recovered, but was sup
posed to be in sight-in the dim distance
Shreveport Comet, 1911 inst.