The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-05
TAE M0oNSHINERs.
rne Commercially Dispsfch FRO
nouneed False and slanderous.
8, MouNpsvTrLr. Juns4, 1877.

q MouSpsvItLr. Juns4, 1877.
Editors OF the Register:
GEsrEEMEN:-Your issue OF the 2nd
inst contains copied special telegram
70 the Commercial, headed 'West-Flr-
g,nis Moonshiners." in which adeputy
those rame is not glven) OF Coliecto,
Duyal, charges the legal fraternity ana
officers Of Mercer county in toto with be-
mo engaged in illicit distilling. de
also includes Thompson of the hinton
Herald as being Sin the ring," as well as
connected with liae of counterieiters'
which latter charge, although out OF MS
lire, the deputy, in his zeal Tor the pup
lie veal, sis working up, and Thompson
kno US it." II the deputy has not leo 10
this instance as he mas generally IN niS
report, and Thompson is aware OF these
charges, am perfectly willing that ne
iThompson) should reiute them IN the
Herald; but being personally acquainted
with many of the lawyers and omcers OF
Mercer county, whose character IS lrn-
peached by this doughty deputy, deem
j, INV duty to reply to the article IN ques'
ton.
deputy" says "the Clerk Of Mercer
County Court, David Foley and Counsei
Walker, prominent Justice OF tnst
county, are both engaged in illicit Gis.ll-
alton" In the first place David Foley
Is not Clerk of Mercer county, the pre-
sent incumbent beng B. u. McNutt,
ESQ, gentleman of unimpeached
honesty and we'll known Integrity, who
for many years held the onerous position
of Sheriff OF the county, discharging the
duties of the office faithfully and to the
entire satisfaction of his constituents as
| is ev,nced by his present position. 10
the second place Counsel Walker Is not
= promipent Justice ., Mercer county,
| nor ls be ustice at all, not having heid
that position since the war.
In his attack on the legal frster,
nifty of Mercer county, Deputy
has arraigned many of the most
| eminent members oil the par ID
our State, among them John A. Doug
lass. ESQ.,, of Princeton, formerly law
partner Of Gen. John Echols, OF Stsun-
ton: Col. David E. johnson, son OF Col,
Johnson, of Giles county. Virginia, de
| scendant of one OF the best families IN the
| State: Edward Manhood, Esq, son oil
| Judge Alexander Mar hood, OF Giles
county, and many other gentlemen o.
| extended and enviable nOtorlety as men
| of brilliant intellect and unexceptlonsl
character, and l confess l am at loss 10
conceive what has instigated the puoIica'
ton of such tissue OF fslsehoods, unless
It be the hope Of cheap ro'orlety, oy
| means of which many government
officials perpetuste their tenure or once
1t is doubtless the case that Illicit dis
tiling, to limited extent, Is carried on
| IN Mercer ard surrounding counties, At
| points in the mountains remote from set
Elements. Persons engaged in thus de
trauding the government are, without
doubt the lower ignorant classes, ana
their operations are in all probability
limited to little apple. brandy IN sea-
son, not enough in fact to pay for tne
| sugar and coffee consumed oy the
"moonshiners," but sufficient mole-hill
for Deputy's mountain.
The United States Commissioner may
have been in league with the illicit dis
| tilIerS AUu cOuUleTlcitcIs rs Se"tVN ~
Deputy. am not prepared to deny the
| fact; but If his removal WAS effected by
Deputy's statement, with the present ar
ticle before me will venture the asser-
| ton that the Commissioner was convict.
ed upon testimony which would not
receive under oath.
The charge of outlawry against the
good people of Mercer county is OF the
same complexion as the remainder OF
the statements, not based upon fact, but
simply An eminstIon from the vivid i'm
sginaiion OF Collector Duvsps Deputy.
To my positive knowledge, in
stead of resisting any due pro-
cess of law, the citizens OF
Mercer, Raleigh and Summers counties
sre peaceful, law. abiding citizers, and
would aid, with both person and proper
ty, any officer of the government sent to
that locality to make arrests.
The special to the Commercial" has
been given vide circulation by publ
cation in that paper and the REGISTER,
otherwise it would have remained unno-
ticed by me.
In justice to the people of the section
OF the State lmpugned and srraigned, l
request your publication OF this letter.
Yours very truly,
"VERITAS.'