Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-22
FREESE VS.. HAMILTON.
MIXED STORY or A PAwhED WATCH.
A Pinkertea Dsssciivs on the sTrih-The
Story % Told by Both Sides
Ugly Look for Somebody.
A SENSATIONAL CASE FOR COURT

A SENSATIONAL CASE FOR COURT.
There is q case to come up In the Cir
cult Court at the October term which
will create an undonbted sensation, and
will be known on the docket as Z. T..
Ffeese vs.. A. NJ. Hamilton. To say 1t
is sensational in its nature would be 10
only give a moderate idea OF II, aud It's
result will place somebody in an unen-
yiable light. Upon the merits OF the
case the RE6IsTER has not one word to
saw, but merely repeats the story oil the
PARTIES to the suit a. told the reporter
ID is scarcely necessary 10 say "h"
these parties are. Charles I'D. freese'
the plaintiff, is young man formerly
EMPLOYED AS clerk in the store oil Ihos.
Hughes 4 Co, Of this city. Some three
wears AGO Lac went West, where he
married and has since been living. A
NJ. Hamilton is gentleman well known
As a member oi the above hrln. 20
much by way OF preface.
Some few days ago it became known
that Freese, through his attorney,
q. Cracrait, had entered suit AGAINST
Hamilton before the Circuit Court
since this became known there have
been various Tumors IN circulation, anu
the term "blackmail' has been freely
used, though the speakers seemed care
full not to specify who was the black
mailer-that question Was lett to he SET
tied by that palladium Of our liberty, a
trial by Jury. The reporter was ut great
pains to get at the different sides and to
xinnoy the truth from the chat OF
rumor in circulation. Both sides are
very rsticent, aud each seems to fear
10 damage its case by making any dts
closure. But by dint OF exeriion the
following was CLEANED as
H,MILToS's STONY
As told by an intimate friend OF his
Some time ago, shortly after the mar,
riage OF Ed. Freese, rumOr reached
his home in Indiana that his father $
watch hadeeen stolen from his mother $
residence In this city, and that he hal
been charged with the theft. This IN
formation had become known to his
Young wife, and she was naturally very
Indignant thereat. She charged her
youthful husband to exonerate himself,
bring hack the watch, and remove The
stigma from his name, or she would
cease 10 bear il. Ed. set about To 10
this. lie went to Chicago and en-
ployed
PiSEgRTOS DETECTIVE
to work the thing up, giving him
the name of A. NJ. Hamilton
as one likely to give HIN some
information. The detective went To
Pittsburgh, and from there communities
ted with Hamilton, asking him to come
10 Pittsburgh. Hamilton went, CON
ferred with the detective and, receiving
from him sum Of money, came to thus
city Ia search Tor the watch, Finding a
clue, lac traced tue time piece 10 Ing
gins gallery, where IL had been paNned
Tor 500 by Allie Freeze, Eds brother.
lie redeemed ID, aud With It in his pos
session returned tO Pittsburgh, where
he met FTersr. To the latter he gave
the watch aud the remainder at the
money. Freese desired Hamilton Ia
1--WE him paper stating that IA his
(IIamilIon'sl belief Freese Mas innocent
of any completely in the purloining OF
paHning OF the watch. Hamilton agreed
to this aud Freese drew up paper
To that effect, and Hamilton
signed. Then, according to this story,
the parting came and all parties were
satisfied. But nov freese CONES Ia the
front and presents paper
RECEIPT FOR $3.50,
signed by A. NJ. Hamilton, and sues for
that amount.
Aud now, Allie freese comes into the
story-just how, the reporter could not
ascertain-and is ON llamilton's side.
lie agreed H. make affidavit 10 some
hing, unknown aud lor that purpose
accompanies Hamilton Ia the office ul
Justice Caldwell The deposition is
taken aud is ready for signature. Tut
before afiiIing his name, Allie draws
Hamilton 10 one side and asks To hnT-
row 500. Hamilton said, aloud, Why
that would give my case away The
Justice overheard this, and that ended
the deposition business
This is the story rs told the reporter
by gentleman Of known prublty aud a
friend Of the defendant. The reporter
vent to Messrs. Caldwell 4 Caldwell,
attorneys for the defense, but could get
not word from them, either ia confir-
nation or denial OF the above story.
The senior member, however, dii vol
uuteer the information that I'm his
opinion II Was AN
INFAMOUS pIECE or BLACHMAIL
Ia eXtort money from Hamilton, "
The other side was ~ difficult to OBJ
tain. The reporter VAS unwilling Ia
publish an "a part, statement, and made
vigorous efforts Ia get the views Oi Tue
prosecution. I'd. freese is not IN the
city, aud Allie had just gone, To Louis,
willie, II is said. Mr.. Cracrait, too, had
lett town for Chicago, and the reporter
was in despair Finally, however, he
hunted down posted individual and
obtained tolerably full particulars.
1HE PLAINTIFFS STORY
puts an entire new iSce on the matter.
Ills claim IL based on the following,
" hich We give for what II is worth
The watch Was not stolen, but was in
possession Of Allie Freese, who pawned
Il, a. related in the other story. IL Is
alleged he went 10 Hamilton and in
duced him To write To III. freese, in.
forming him that he Ed Was suspect
ell Of stealing the watch. This letter
was 81 arranged as to fall into the hands
OF Eds wife. Ii succeeded and struck
like a shalt. She gave III. 5000 aud
told him to yindicate himself aud bring
back the watch. Tie hired the detective,
here OF to Pittsburgh, rs above. Com
munication VAS had with Hsmil-
ton and he brought the watch
to Pittsburgh. But here is where the
difference occurred. The plaintiff claims
that Hamilton told him the costs on the
atch were $3.50, which amount was
paid aud for which Hamilton duly re-
ceipted.
fhe action before the Circuit Court is
10Y the recovery OF this amount, which
the plaintiff claims was uniustly and H.
legally extorted. The Hamilton receipt
il in the possession Of the attorney ioT
the plaintiff, aud Was shown our inform.
ant. II is duly signed by Hamilton aud
witnessed by the detective, Nhose name
is Saiterly, or some such name. IL is
alleged tie Freese brothers are arrayed
against each other. and report says they
had a personal encounter in this city q
lev days since.
These are the tao stories as nearly
and correctly as they can nos be ascer-
tanned, and in presenting them We have
avoided any partiAlity and any side
statements calculated - misleAd. We
refrain from any comment, and leave
the result To the discriminating iRielli-
gence Of a jury.