Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-12
THE HEBREW CHILDREN.
A Test Case of Their Rights at
Charleston, West Virginia.

Spccial Correspondence OF the Cincinnati En-
quircy.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, Aug. l, 1879.
Just now, while the reading world is
criticising the action OF Corbin IN refer
cncc To his conduct toward the Jews NJ
Manhattan Beach, onr city comes IN Tor
a test case OF rights and privileges OF a
similarcharacter 10 that ofCOrbln, which
has caused no little excitement IN this
city.
The case is Us follows:
For some six wears the Hebrew SOcle-
" have occupied rooms on the corner oil
kanawha and Summers streets, known
As the Gcrmania Club-rOOms, 10 which
they resOrted Tor amusement whenever
they saw lit, sunday not excepted. Inc
Club is freluented by ladies' and gentle
men Of the Jewish persuasion only, and
therefore considered strictly private,
and i'm the six years that have passed
since its organization they have lnduIS-
ell in its pastimes unmOlested until TINS
week, when thjt were, without the
least notice that they were violating the
city ordinance, SwOoped down upon by
two policemen and summoned % appear
before the Mayor NJ once for violation oil
the sunday Law.
The Club-room is on the second floor,
therefore cannot be seen from the
streets. AMI in order 10 make ease
these over-zpalOus policemen went to
the second story of buildlngacroSS the
street and looked down upon the M
mates oi the Club, and recognized some
ladies and gentlemen playing ut cards,
for which said ladies and gentlemen
were brought before the Mayor to-day.
W. 4. Quarter and G.. i. Snyder, two
of the most prominent lawyers OF the
city appeared iorthc Jews, and L. Is,
KNIGHT, City Solicitor, for the city. IL
was novel case.
II seems that the Mayor had express
ell an opinion before the trial Is 10 what
ought 10 be done to the violatorS ot the
sunday laws. therefore the counsel Tor
the defense tried 10 get the Mayor to
vacatc the chair AMI allow his Suhordl-
nate tn try the ease; hut hc refused,
notwithstanding the counsel SAID II was
the custom Of all respectable Judges be-
fore whom they hal practiccd heretofore
10 va,atc the chair IN 4 case where an
opinion hal been expressed. The Con-
stitutiun according 10 each person right
tp worship as he pleasts, the statutory
sunday laws, the ordinance, Nc.. We're
an FULLY presented by the defense IN an
obIe manner; also. the way the case was
hltchcd up, no person having Complain
rl tn the authorities Of the Club in any
way disturbing them, and the fact that
the same Mayor hail held bis position
Tor three wears, and some OF the police
inr nearly as long. and nothing OF
the Kind had ever before been brought
cut.
These facts weakened the case, and
proved very clearly that it was not a
suurt Oi righteous indignation on the
part Of the authorities, but other mo-
lives. The case was closed about SIX
o'clock, and the Mayor decided that one
of the parties, the gentleman who beat
the ladies' playing, was amenablc To 4
fine. but that the other cases were not
sustained.
The Club took an appeal to the City
Council, ami they say they mean To
f-ht il Ia the highest courts, il ncccsS-
lrv. To- see whether or not they have q
right tu enjoy themselves on day that
is not. hy their laws and creed, their
sabbath. The case has created great
deal Of excitement, and the action oil the
CITY Council is awaited with great inter
est by the public.
FAIR.