The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-02
Hancock County GnInS sudden NOtOrieiy


Hancock County GaInS sudden ROtoFiety
A few days ago RsOmewhat elaborate
statement was given to the public through
the press, purpOrLiDg to come from New
Cumberland and Steubenvllle, in regard
to certain alleged inhumanities praCtiCed
by tho authorities OF Hancock county in
the disposition OF their paupers. We
looked upon tho statement referred to as
highly colored, and awaited the arrival Of
the Hancock county papers for the proper
explanation. We were somewhat sur
prised to notice in the Courier full pub.
LEGATION OF one Of the statements that had
gone abroad to the disCyedit Of the county,
unacCompained by note or comment. This
seemed TO be an admission OF the truth Of
the report, and inssmuCh as the report
still stands unGontradiCtsd and unex.
planned we presume that it will be &C.
copied as substantially true by many peo'
pie.
We regret for the sake o. the good
name Of Hancock county that the matter
has not been esteemed worthy Of atten.
ton from some one upthere. lie original
statement has attracted general attention
over tho country, and tho New York Post
OF Thnraday has an editorial on the sub.
juct, Ia which 1t comments on the alleged
facts in o way that Is quite damaging 10
our neghbors The Chicago Times OF the
same date publishes the following report
In regard to the matter from n correspond.
ent at s!eubenvlle, who writes as II he
had been on the ground and witnessed
come OF the scenes which he processes to
describe. He says:
Each recurring year the poor unfortu.
mates are collected in front OF the court
house, the auCtioneer mounts his block,
and the Halo begins. The bidding some.
times 10 very lively, often a father, mother,
brother, or sister Contending against what
is known ~ the pauper BhArk-that Ia, q
person who bids the poor uniortunRtes In
Tor the sole purpose Of making profit out
Aoi them. Tho price paid the keeper by
tho poor board ranges from $50 10 500.
Nearly all the professional bidders are
men who are too lazy to make living for
themselves, and they take several OF these
poor people, and by starving them and
compelling them to perform labor for
which they are physically incspacltated,
make money enough to keep themselves
in idlNness. .u'
In his investigation your correspondent
uneHrthed large number Of truly horrible
cases, one OF which was that Of IN old
man, aged up in the nineties, who had
been sold 10 a hend in human shape, who
forced him to sleep In an clubhouse on a
bundle OF old rags until Lis legs were
actually alive with writhing maHgots, and
his whole body was polluted with vermin
and hlth. He at last ran away to the
house OF a friend, who notified the poor
board and compelled them to secure him
new quarters.
Another case WAS that Of an old lady
who waB sold from decent place 10 one
OF these wicked men, who placed her In a
filthy den TO sleep. She shtieked and
cried and was go stricken with horror that
she lay down and died OF broken heart.
One tnan who has paid hundreds OF dol.
lars into the county treasury In the way
oitaxes, but who was unfortunate In his old
aye and los: oil he had,-he is now S2,-l
said to the writer that II he was compelled
to leave his present home, where he IL
treated kindly, and go out among these
human sharks, he would place his cane
down by the wayside, lay down beside Il,
and die.
We also found an aged Couple-man
and wife, tho former SO and the latter 90, |
and totally blind, who had recently been |
driven from the place where the poor
board had placed them, by demon In the |
shape oil woman, because the price at |
which they had been taken would not |
yield profit. Tbs woman had large |
club and waS tloufishlng II over the head |
oil the old man, as he was trying 10 protect |
his vile, when a friend happened along
and prevented the she devil from striking |
him. .........
These are the kind Of people who are
given the charge Of these poor uniortu.
mates because they are willing 10 take
them cheap.
An old lady whose husband died a few
days sinCe, who now has tolerably good
time, Is frightened to death for fear she
will be bid 10 some oil these human sharks
ut the Gale which is now taking place.
These Rre only few Of the cases that
came under our notice, and the terrible
suffering Of some OF them is enough 10
awaken pity in the breast Of q Bengal
tiger.
The people oil the county are not blame.
worthy, however, as they three years ago
voted TOT the building Of home for these
poor people by a large majority, but The
authorities quietly ignored the voice Of
the people and still allow the shameful
practice Of buying and selling human ilesh
and blood to 90 on. The State Of West
Virginia, through It's legislators, should
suppress the outrageous business. Itisa
stain on the fair fame Of our country.
We know not what foundation there
may be for the report above given, but
certainly, as the correspondent we'll says,
the people Of Hancock county are not
party to such practices. They are not less
humane than other people, and II any
such batbatities have been prhCticed in
their midS! they have certainly not been
brought 10 public attention.