The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-29
THE ELI ICE CASE,
Marion Union Men Resent Il. b. DilIon'S
Assertion Tint They Are "Rebel Ku.
HIur"

AIuNs
~ FARNoST. August 81.
Editors Intelligence.
Mi. B. B. Dillon gives quite q lengthy
account OF Eli Ices services during the
war, and what is evidently Ices own
story OF the murder, with a view, nc
doubt, of creating sympathy for the man,
II the gentleman admires Ice for his ser
vices, he has a perfect right to express
himself; il he believes Ice innocent OF the
murder he has the privilege OF so express
ing himself, but when he outrageously
ISLANDERS Marion county justice, the
Marion county people feel called upon to
resent it. Had Mr.. D. closed his letter be.
fore writing the last paragraph but one,
there would be little objection found to It,
but where he gives to the public the fol:
lowing slanderous u~tterances, | feel justi.
fed in saying q word in behalf OF the
parties concerned in Ices prosecution:
AS has been said OF the Jury which
brought in the verdict Of GUILTY. against
Ice, all were Union men, and, with but
one or two exceptions, served as soldiers
IN the Union army. Judge Harrison, q
Union man, presided over tho Court, the
trial was q fair n witness James W.
Mason's letter in tho lSTELLloEScER OF the
9th inst. and conducted in as honorable
and impartial o manner as ever any trial
was. With every other good citizen oil
Marion county, ! call upon Mr.. B. b. Dill
lon to explain the meaning OF his assertion
that Ice was unfairly dealt with by q set
Of %kukluxing rebels" The patriotic Union
citizens OF Marion who sent Ice 10 the
Penitentary take exceptions to this most
disgracelul epithet, and further give Il as
their opinion that Ice got his lust deserts
when he was sentenced to imprisonment
for life.
Mr.. Dillon charges that it was not
through a spirit Of justice that Ice
was prosecuted, but through a desire for
revenge. This is either a malicious false.
hood or an i~nexcusable mistake. Not a
man Of the court was either personally
or politically concerned in the prosecu-
ton, while the majority were his com.
rades in the army. They believed Ice
guilty OF murder according TO the eyi.
dence, and regrettully but C~0nscientiously
50 expressed themselves,
II the assertion that he was unfairly
dealt with by rebel ku.klux is made for
political capital dpropoS to the Ohio car.
paign, | beg leave, on behalf OF the Re.
publicans OF Marion county, to saw that
they arr, IS q rule, honorable men and do
not hesitate to denounce such disgraceful
methods OF electioneering. cannot see
what other motives can be at the bottom
o. this whole affair, and 1t is easy to see
that some very honest Journalists have
been unwlttingly made the tool Of some
wary politicians and led into the belief
that Eli Ice Is very much injured. The
only injury he has suffered is by hisown
hand. 1.-THE friends oil Ice desire lis pardon
icy them make their attempts to procure It
IN Affair and honorable manner. and not
py the gross SANDER OF an upright Judge.
an impartial jury and honorable lawyers'
l am surprised that our own Repnhiican
organ in this county has not refuted thosa
ISLANDERS long ago, instead Of n%nSIisbins
Wltnout comment and thereby endorsing
them. gsee the first page Of the Red M.
oman Of last weekly The editors Of this
paper know well the true account Of the
ttial, or at least are where they can ascertain
II and ! am surprised that they wiliully
M!ow these ialsehoods to be circulated
Wltnout correction, knowing "a well ID
t9ey, DC the character and political com.
plexton OF the men concerned in ice's
prosecution. +''
lam not directly familiar with thu c,r.
cImstances Of the murder, but lido know
OF the trial, and l know that It was a fsi,
one by q Union court, Mr.. Dillon's mali.
eious% assertions to the contrary notwith.
standing. Very Respectfully,
Y eGe. 4. DTNne7oH.