Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-18
THE WILDS OF WETZKL.
A CORRESPONDENTS VIEWS OF THE
SITUATION
Ne Takes the New MartnsyiIle Messenger
to Task-The Truth, the Whole
Truth, &c.-Grattude to the
Wheeling Press

Correspondence of the Register
noticed in the New Mar;insville
Messenger Of the 9Th inst, DENIAL OF
the statements made by the correspond
ent of the REGisrER with regard to the
operations OF the Red Men OF this coun-
", with some slings at the Wheeling
papers, for publishing anything about
Wctzcl county criminals; also state
mcut that Hicks was unreliable, and
that there was no crime committed in
Wctzcl which could not be easily
brought before the local authorities and
punished: that there was no call for
asking the Governor for protection, and
that everything here was calm and
peaceful Now the law abiding citizens
Of this community know every word OF
the above statements to be false in every
particular, and they are inCensed at the
reliablcl2l correspondent OF the .NtS-
sgngsr who never showed his precious
face among us, but uses all his little in
tiucnCe i'm the apologize way Tor the
criminals; theeXcellent butmuCh abused
citizens who want 10 live so strictly
within the bounds Of the law, but ocCa-
SionaIlv make a little mistake, 50 he
says. Yes, | suppose it was only little
mistake when thirty or forty OF the
ScOundrclS went to a dance on Big Fish
iug creek, but little over two wears ago,
and shot young Nattcny; it was only a
little mistake when they burned the
Widow Slidcr's house and compelled
the family 20 stand in the light OF 1t and
see it burn; only little mistake when
they tarrcd and iCathercd the old man
Poe and robbed him of siXty-tvc dol
lars; only little mistake when one OF
their captains land the best and most
honorable man they had or have among
them robbed HcndriX's saloon, for
which he was arrested and taken from
here, but for which ne has never paid
the penalty; and the reliable reporter Of
the reliable Messenger never published
these little mistakes made by
those gentle, aw-loving citizens Of
or refined and highly-civilizcd
county, Oh, we know how well the
reliable correspondent tries to cover up
and conceal crime as We have had
former experience. About two years
ago the citizens of littIeton gathered to-
gcthcr and arrested four or five roughs
who were committing deprcdatiOns.
They were taken before Justice Alder
son and committed To trial. They were
taken 10 New Martinsyile, allowed 10
confess judgment, fined a mere nominal
sum, and only watched until their
attorneys fees and court costs were
paid, when they were allowed to % into
Ohio, having never paid the fines or
witness fees. The witnesses, six or eight
i'm number, were taken to town, where
they remained at their own expense,
without fee bills even. Their bills were
afterwards allowed 10y the court and
they got orders, for what, do you sup
pose Some iur 81, some for -, some
ior =, some for $500, and some for 81.
All should have been for $3.50. They
an went together and came back to-
g-ther. and all rendered the same
service. Now, where did thatmoney 20?
Why were the criminals not punished?
And the reliable Messenger would not
publish aStatcmcnt of the facts, although
sent for publication; and the result Is
the criminals are free and the witnesses
are pOwcrlrSs to help themselves.
The fact is that the history OF the Red
Men. as published, is strictly true a. far
as Jold; but it was not half told. The
people could not get criminals brought
To trial, as every truthful man knows,
before the appeal was made To the GOV
rruor. But ii there had been half the
effort ON the part of the Messenger to
bring criminals tojuStiCc that there Is to
conceal crime, there would not lac half
aS much crime here a. there Is. When
Matthew got q warrant against the dear
law loving citizen who made the little
mistake Of shooting him, and said law
loviny citizens made the little mistake
of armiug themselves and resisting the
ruiHaulv constable and his posse Tor dar-
inc % enforce the law, and when the
same rullianly constable and pDSS', ia'I-
Inn, to get their prisoner had the cruel
hardhoOd 10 arrest the SAID law
loving brothers and take them before
"a Justice, they were bound over 10 keep
the peace for a year and a day.
There was not word about the whole
thing published i'm the reliable Messenger.
The matter is Just in this condition:
Whenever a crime Is committed IN
Wheeling the papers and officers use
every effort 10 have the criminal pun
i,hcd. and 10 bring on him the ohloquy
which he deserves. When a crime Is
committed i'm WetZel county, the papers
use every energy 10 keep the criminal
from being punished, and excuse him
for his little mistake 10 the best Ut their
ability. This fact Is notorious, and the
result i that. according % population,
There are ten crimes committed IN
Wrtzplto one in Wheeling, the assertion
oi the reliable NeSSuFsr 20 the contrary
Notwithstanding. What is recognized
and punished as crime in Wheeling,
such as murder, hOuSe-brcaking and IN
cendiari,m, is treated here rs little mis-
takes; and chasing 4 Justice OF the
Peace out of the State i q little harmless
iroIic by the dear, lively, gentle, law
loving, peaceful citizens. But let some
poor old woman or man sell few glass
es of whisky or beer without license,
AMI then see il our gallant officers don't
love law. Orlet some poor hall-starved
wretch steal something for his family to
eat, and see ii Wetzel don't love law.
Now, when the Messenger wants TO pub.
lish any thing further with regard
10 Wctzel crime, let them get
within DAYS journey OF the truth
AZ least. and when it wants to abuse the
Wheelin. press Tor publishing articles
about Wctzel let it remember that We.
the citizens outside the yIrtuOuS city OF
New MartinSville, have rights As well
rs those living in that place, and ii the
Wsuug,. i So much afraid OF hurting
the feelings Of their pet butchers that 1t
will deny that anything has been done
of a criminal nature in our sanity Coun-
". lct it bear in mind that We can find
an avenue through the Wheeling press
To the proper authorities and the public
ear. Whenever the local press begins
to use proper energy to bring criminals
to Justice, they will have nothing to
complain OF on the part Of the Wheeling
press.
In conclusion, l am authorized in be-
l I,rf ,f tff.. .,r.l r,4ntl'p pf Iittlrtou and