Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-01

tuOScU. 20 Ndh N'NNh w $3.50 ~
called the "local sentiment IN the case
at the Wheeling Convention, being dead
set ior simply tbs best man.
PENHsYLVAnIAF UGITIVES.
Cur readers are more or less familiar
with " hat are nown AZ the Harrisburg
bribery eases. about which the whole
State ri Pennsylvania is now agitated.
These eases were brought against five
Of the most prominent citizens OF the
state, viz. KENBLE, RUMBERGER, CRAw-
goIp, SALrEg aud PErRoFF; all OF whom
have pleaded guilty to the indictments,
charging them with using corrupt or H.
legal means Tor influencing the votes OF
members OF the Legislature last winter
to defeat the bill Tor the relief OF Pitts
burgh on the railroad riots indebted
ness, and which they succeeded in ac-
compliShlng.
In pleading guilty to the indictments,
they, at the same time, asserted their
ignorance ui the law against "log-roil-
ing" and evidently thought their
chances were better ior obtaining par
don from the Board Of PardonS than
running the gauntlet OF a jury trial with
the Instructions OF the court against
them.
For some weeks very determined
effort, backed 10y the petitions OF thou
sands Ut influential men, and all that
money could do, has been brought to
bear upon the Board Of PardOns to ac-
complish their release. This has failed
the Board refusing to intervene be-
tween thcur and the penalty prescribed
by law
Ou Monday last, the guilty parties
bciu. out ON bail. were summoned to
appear in Court aud receive sentence,
and the court house at Harrisburg was
Inadequate tn Accommodate the eager
crowd which had gathered to hear the
doom oi these distinguished citizens,
while all the State held its breath in cX-
pectancy. But when the eminent
Iud.r Oi clghtv-One wears, upon whom
the State relied SO confidently Tor Vlndl-
eating the law, made his appearance on
the bench. hc found no prisoners
upon whom to pour out the
Walls OF his judicial wrath. Their rec
ognizanccs could only be declared Tor.
icited, and bench warrants at once is
sued To be- served in the event OF the ac-
rusci being found within the State.
But they will not be- found in the
state. The most distinguished OF the
guilty parties, MIR. kEMGLG, is under
stood to be quietly enSconced at lead
ing hotel in New York, with his wife,
ready to skip over into Canada, IN case
the processes oi the law should threaten
him. But it is a question whether the
authorities OF Pennsylvania will be able
tn reach him even in New York. The
oncnse to which he pleaded guilty was
corrupt solicitation, lOgroling, an ex-
change oiyotes, although his indictment
vent further and changed actual bri-
berry. Log-roliiug is not an oiienSe
known to the laws OF New York State,
although il Is well enough known TO Its
law makers, and an interesting extradi-
ton question may spring up over MN
uiEs case. as il Is doubtful whether the
executive Of State San surrender
fugitive iIom justice Tor an odense not
known to his own municipal law. Ex-
ira lition treaties with foreign countries
do not cover KENBLE's oilense at all.
The bondsmen have, OF course, been
unidentified, as the bail Was small, and
all Of the guilty parties are wealthy.
They DO not propose 10 10 10 prison as
long as they can keep ont OF the clutches
OF the law. and can use their money
and friends to keep them out.
There il a great deal Of sympathy for
them la many quarters, and the papers
Of the State have generally been silent
ON their cases. The chief fugitive is W.
n. KENRLE. who is estimated to be
worth - GU, 900, and whose annual in
come IS nearly SlOO.OOO. tie is presi
dent OF the Peoples Bank OF Philaiel-
phia, and also president Of several pas
senSer railway companies OF that city.
In 1866. he was elected state Treasurer
and held the position Tor three years,
during which time he made fortune
between the treasury funds and his bank
operations. HE has been one Of the
Republican politiciansin
the state, and for number OF years
was member the Republican
National Committee, Ssigning few
ago to make room Tor Don
CAMERON. As TO his part Of the bribery
business, an exchange gives the follow
ing;
During the session Of the last Lesisia'