The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-03
SERIOUS CHARGES
Against n. J. FeIber, Justice Of lhs
Peacs,

Feaee.
The latter part OF last week there was
somewhat Of an uneasy feeling among some
OF the tony young men Of the city, caused by
q rumor to the effect that Squire H, ], Felber
had evidence that in certain houses Of bad
repute, beer had been sold without license,
and that the Mesdames governing these same
houses were to be before HIN, and also that
u host Of these young men were to DO sub
pened as witnesses, The rumor quickly
died away and nothing more was thought
oft
Yesterday, however, Blackstone Row was
considerably excited over the arrest Of Squire
Felber and his being taken before Squire
Caldwell ON two warrants charging bribery.
There was no hearing, It being postponed
until next Saturday afternoon, and Justice
Felber being required to give bond In the
sum OF 81, 900 in each case, d, b. Dovener,
Esq, his attorney, signing Us surety.
In order to inform the public OF the facts
that led to this arrest We give the story Of
Madame Kitty Mannus,a as told to Prosecuting
Attorney Jordan, She said;
On Friday morning, November 18th, Con-
stable Exley came TO my housd and said he
had bad news for me- asked him what, ana
he replied that had been indicted for selling
beer without license, asked what should
do; said wanted no trouble and would like
to settle without the publicity OF the courts
He told me ii would come down to Felber's
office an arrangement might possibly be
perfected, and that 1t would be best for me
as certain gentlemen had been summoned as
witnesses, giving quite list OF names.
went down to the office and asked who the
informant was. | begged and demanded &c
know, but Mr.. Felber said he could not tel
under any circumstances, then asked II
could settle, and the Squire, after studying Q
moment said: "Well, for me 1t will b(
$l3 25.n turned to Exley and asked hin
what he wanted. He replied, Anything
you may choose to give me"
asked II So would do, and Mr.. Felber spokt
up and said, "Givo him s. and me $lS %
don't say word outside about the matter Il
anyone and there will be no trouble" gave
him $50 gold piece and he gave me bacI
the change, taking out SIG %. After go
home got to thinking the matter over ant
was not satisfied that | would not be obliged
to pay that money or perhaps more IN court
and sent one Of the girls down 70 Felberi
office to get the money back. He came on
and talked to me for some time, saying /
was all right,
The above story shows the alleged mOtla
Operdndi OF what Squire FelbGr Is charged
4 with; the truth OF 1t Of course will be brOugh
out in the trial. The manner in which tn
matter was first started was this: A similR
notice was served on Madame Emma Gray
She, before going to Squire Felber, consulted
a lawyer, who went to FelbGr's office and de
; handed to see the papers In the case, whicl
were shown him. The reading was; "lnfor
nation having been made before me, etc,
, there being named no complainant. TIL
, lawyer Immediately notified Attorney Jor
: dan OF this self constituted indictlng jur!
and court, and Mr.. Jordan set about ganin
evidence against Squire Felber. He fOun'
that Madame Ida Holiday had been servet
similar notice, and like Madame Manu-
, had gone to Felbers office and showna dis
} position TO settle. She had been told tina
, SEQ would settle the difficulty and keep he
, out OF the courts. She only had $l5 witt
her, but that she was told was sAtliCient an
she paid It over.
, Tie Acts OF 1928 are rather severe OIL
, this style Of procedure, US laid down In chap
, ter 75 section 3, which Is as follows: 'Tha
ii any executive or judicial officer OF thi
State, shall demand or receive from any col
pOrntiOn, company or person, any money
testimonial, or other valuable thing, for tn
performance OF his official or public duties
,, or for refusing or failing to perform the same
he shall be deemed guilty OF felony, and
upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisone,
III the penitentiary for not less than Nv
years, nor more than ten years; and shall
moreover, be forever disqualified from hold
, Ing any office or position Of honor, trust o
profit In this State"
The charge will be, as can be seen by read
Ing the above, that Squire Felber has re
CeIyed money for failing to perform his duty
T supposing, Of course, that he knew that til,
beer had been sold without license, other
wise the ofIense would be blaCkmail.
There still remains another incident to b.
related, and that is, that Thursday morning
Mr.. FClber evidently learning OF the step
;; that Prosecuting Attorney Jordan was taking
called on Mr.. Jordan and stated that he hat
refunded to the women the money that h,
had taken from them, but he was informed
that that could not In the least affect tll'
charge then pending against him.
When questioned yesterday, Squire Felbe
stated that he knew nothing whatever abou
the matter. What his story, or side Of tn
case will be when the hearing takes place, o
course remains to be seen.