The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-09-11
Monday, Sept. IL, 1879.

Is JAu.-Mr. Val. Wildman, one #
the proprie.ors OF the late Vanity
Fair" or CentenI iAl Lottery in this city
!. nov oonfinsd In the County Jail. there
serving out fine of $50 and costs.
amounting probably TO tl0o more i'm
posed upon HIM by the Judge Of the
district Court as its last session here
Not paying this fine, either because he
did not have the means. or for some
other reason better understood 20 him
self. he WAS committed 70 Jail. IL was
no sooner known that he was there
than many If his friends sought Tn So
cure bis release by payment Of the fine.
Some off.ring to pay II individually
and others Offering to subscribe smaller
amounts. ranging from $2j 70 $50,
towards it. These generous offers
he infexibly refcsei 10 accept. much TO
the surprise Of the liberal donors.
Much sympathy has been expressed for
him in his unfortunate condition. aud
public interest ia the matter has been
on tho increase, and late on Saturday
evening last. n company Of about thirty
composed of q number Of our infiuen-
tiAl business men, accompanied by two
or three musicians. visited the Jail and
drew up before Mr.. Wildman's window.
aud. after serenadiug him with On cir
or two. endesvorcd 10 persuade him to
accept their generous offers. and leave
his place Of confinement. representing
that many would pay the fine individ.
mlly. or If it would be more acceptable
they would raise the money then aud
tiere. collectively. To this he replied,
tast If he had the money in his pocket
be would not pay cent; that he had
told many Of them before, either per-
sonslly or by proxy. that, though he
appreciated their friendship, he must
refuse to accept their kindly offer,
- he WAS acting according TO
his convictions Of RICH, and
Justice; that the course he had taken
was matter Of principle with him. and
not Of necessity, and that he had the
moral courage, 70 act according to his
conviction Of right and justice. He
further said that the fine imposed upon
him by the judge Of the District Court,
he considered illegal. and in open vio-
luton to every principle Of justice; that
he was there for conducting . business
which was legalized by an act Of the
Legislature, and carried on under Ii
cense given by the County Commission
ers; that if the business had been proven
illegal. aud in violation to public law.
or If he had besn requested by any
leading citizens. backed by the moral
sentiment of the community, for which
he had great respect, he would have
abandoned it entirely; but that the OPP.
position against him was malicious,
and came from no such source. What.
ever may be said against the business in
which hs was engaged, Mr.. Wildman
has always conducted himself here
as gentleman. and is generally
respected among the business portion
Of the city, by whom he is known to
be man Of honesty and good breeding
and consequently he has made many
friends during his stay here. In his i'm
prisonmsnt, which has resulted from
the outrageous proceeding against him.
which can nowhere find a parallel in
the judicial history Of our Government,
he has the sympathy Of the community
1t is generally supposed that the bust
ness IN which he has been engaged was
followed rather As a matter of necessity
than Of choice, as he is . cripple and
Consequently disqualified for many 9TH
Or more useful pursuits; and that, as he
had recently met with reverses in
business. losing nearly all of u small
fortune. he had chosen this means to
make strike" and regain his losses