Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-11
MARTINsBURG.
Changes Since 1878 Work Of
the Grand Jury A Wholesome

Effect, 80.
Editor OF the Register;
Had your correspondent written from
Martinsburg at any time from 1870 To
1879 his letter, taking tone from what
he heard around, would have had for
It's theme her rapid growth, her enter
prise and advantages. Matters con-
nected with the courts would have been
equal In point OF interest to hundreds
Of other things TRANSPORTING around, and
the series OF grave events engaging the
attention of the courts and jurcs at this
time would have been the subject OF
comment in common with these. But
now that things have changed,
and Martnsburg Is no longer
prosperous, now that her
business places approach very nearly
the plan and appearance OF CROSSROADS
stores, the merchants, customers and
visitors, sigh over glories departed, and
around the fire after the true cross
roads style discuss the Court and liz
doings ss the all engrossing theme. Idle
hands and thoughtless heads have been
making dark page IN the history ol the
town, and one likely To give the people
abroad mistaken idea of the communi-
". The grand jury seemed To realize
the necessity of investigating FULLY the
late disorders and have found an nj
most unprecedented number at indirt-
ments. Every hotel and saloon but
one has been indicted for selling liquor
10 minors, and there is II long
list of cases such as are usual at court
terms, but the criminal trials of course
excite most interest, on account at the
many interesting features involved.
The facts, as gather them, seem about
these.
On the day preceding the election,
Christian lautzand Nj. Riordan, watch
men on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, detected two negroes in the act at
breaking open u car. In endeavoring Ia
arrest them, Lautz was mOrtally wound
ed and RiOrdan slightly. Lautz rccog-
uzed one Of the negroes, and before
diving gave his name, and he was found
in his place Of Conccalment and arrest
ed, but the other escaped. On
the evening Of the election
a party Of masked men broke
open the Jail and took the pris-
oner to point near the place of shoot
inv and proceeded Ia hang him. At
this moment Mr.. 4. Odew made an en-
crgetic appeal To the crowd III behalf "I
law and order, and, being joined in his
efforts by DIR. McSherry, I, i. Maiden
bausCh and several others, succeeded IN
preventing the lynching, and lodged the
negro again in Jail.
When the grand jury investigated the
matter these gentlemen were summoned
before that body to tell what they knew
about the parties engaged i'll ii, and
wishing To avoid giving information
which would involve personal friends III
difficulty, declined Ia answer some oi the
searching questions put tn them. The
Jury hridlcd and IN their indignation
complained To the court. Judge llngc
promptly brought the rccusant wit
nesses Ia the bar OF tho court 10 answer
for contempt aud they not rclishing six
months in JAIL decided to testify.
The lesson was valuable one. These
gentlemen are strong personal friends at
Judge Houc and were wcll-knOwn IN
the community as intelligent gentle
men. and their arrest caused excite
mcnt. The unsparing severity teaches
that when the law steps into investigate
u crime or disorder, friendship cannot
shield and that when II man or men
break the law they must suffer
the consequences. This attempted
lynching is the oilshout and natural con
sequence OF the Tolivcr case who WAS
lynched here two years ago.
The action of the grand jury and the
court, ~ well IA the condemnation at
the people, has had most wholesome
effect, and puts II quictus on similar at
tempts Tor long time To come.
Within week OF the murder Of
lantz, John 4. Tiles shot and killed his
ncighbor in difficulty arising from
some quarrel as nelghhors Ills trial
was postponed on the ground al want of
preparation, and the negroes also went
over 10 the next term on the same
plea showing that iii West Virginia, AT
least, fricndlcss and munrvlcss negro
meets at the hands OF the Court the
same measure 0t justice and protection
~ does the man ut wealth and substance.
No nccd nf Judge Rivcs and his United
States Court here. The scales oi Justice
are balanced 10 n nicely, and a man gets
his share without reference 30 race, color
or previous condition of scrvitudc.
asaa