Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-12-17

| there is any change in public sentiment
here since their last trial il has worked 10
| their benefit. The local press still main.
tains about the same attitude toward them
as heretofore, with the exception that the
| ReItibtie0ig under Gen. Hatton's manage
ment is less denunciatory OF the prosecu-
| uon, but the talk on the streets and in the
hotels is less bitter and the correspondence
sent ont on the subject is about equally
| divided in its criticisms Of the prosecutors
and defendants. There is not any less
| doubt of the guilt Of the latter than before,
but the idea has gained ground that they
are being crowded and hampered in their
| legal right Of defence and that the court
instead OF being an impartial tribunal is
part OF the machinery for their conviction,
and not only prejudiced in that direction,
but swift TO utilize its powers to that end.
have been in court but little since the
new trial began and only five you other
peoples impressions, but can readily see
how these impressions are made. Judge
Wylie, who by the way is brother-in-law
of Mr.. Joseph Bell of your city, is a gentle
man whose manners are entirely at vari-
anCe with his appearance. He looks as
pleased as a June morning, but grows
teSty and irascible on short notice,
and in dealing with the defendants
counsel in this case flies off the handle"
on small proyOcatiOn. He seems to be inn
bued with an idea that be is pitted against
q combination of villains who are not only
using every improper device and subter.
fuge to escape. bat whose continued exist
istenCe outside OF the walls of peniten-
tiary is q reproach to civilization for which
he is personally responsible.
Part of this idea may be correct, but
looking at il from that standpoint he might
mansge better to secure the end desired
than he does. There are generally people
on every jury who are inclined to resent
judicial interference with what they con-
slider their PrerOgatives and the aid the
court has given the defendants in working
up sympathy outside is just as likely to
extend to the jury box as TO ordinary spec
tators and readers of each days proceed.
ings.
In view of the scandalous proceedings
which characterized the last trial, the pres
ent hearing evidently needed a judge to
preside over is who would stand no more
trickery, but it has grown to be pretty evil
dent now that the government would have
. stood a better chance of securing convic-
tiOns with some other member OF the Dis
triCt bench.
Ex.CongreSsnlan John F. Potter's re-
ported institution and death in a county
poorhOuse of the Wisconsin district which
he once represented in Congress, reviyes
the recolleCtions of his famous con troyerSy
with Roger A. Pryor, which resulted in
challenge by the latter and its acceptance
by Potter, coupled with the condition that
the weapons be bowie knives. and that the
duel be fought in dark room. This con-
dition PryOF's representative rejected, as
Pryor, who now claims to have been In
Alexandria waiting the acceptance OF his
challenge, says, without any notification. on.,n as
cOnsultation with him, and no hoSLle
oSse,inS -rex, OsSt OF the difficulty although
was said that AnSon Batingame, who
scted as Potter's friend, offered TO meet
Pryor with any weapons that Pryor might
prefer. liz, =
PRYOR now asserts that when POtiiied OF
the decision Of his seconds he repudlated
their action and never recognized them
afterward, and was only prevented from
asking the services of other seconds by the
statement that having submitted his case to
the hands of recognized representatives, he
must abide by their action.
ANYHOW, Potter got all the glory and
| PRYOR all the sneers that grew out OF the
! transaction. He failed TO sustain his repu-
/ tation as a fire-eater in the Contederacy
| and came to New York after the war under
| a cloud, so far as his old associates were
! concerned, without means, ana Win
| family dependent on him for support
| | met him there in 1867, and he
was as much changed from the
| defiant, dramatic individual who
! Stood on the Stage of the old AthTneum
/ in Wheeling and talked OF President Lin
/ coin as Caesar and himself as the Brutus
| who could wish TO deal the blow, as a
| Shanghai rooster is changed by night 5
| soaking in a rain barrel.
| however, and after hanging around the
| courts for some time, brietieSs and money
| loss he had the good fortune 70 win the
| friendship of Judge Mcclure, one OF the ola
| Tsmmspy Judges of the Barnard -Cardoze
stripe, and the Judge gave him his hrs'
start, with profitable references and com
missions. Now he has worked up iucra
tive and growing practice, and nus olo an'
| tssOniSt. who went out OF puoIlc LIE win
S,stingnisbed legislative and diplomatic
bonors. is diving as a pauper, Dependent
| on nublic charity This is a world or cur
ious transformations.
blackburn, of Kentucky, states In TINS
| eyenirg's paper that remarks attributed u
him indicating his intention TO make can
vass for the Speakership against CarlySi'
are without any foundation.
There is a lull in the discussion OF the
West Virginia SenatorShip question here
"a com pared TO its animated discussion las
week. / heard an enthusiastic friend o.
Senator Davis urging upon that gentleman
| few days since the necessity oil his oelpt
returned for another term, but the smiling
REPRESENTATIVE in the Upper House seemed
inclined 10 put aside that kind OF tall
with more prOmptness than the Conquero
of Gaul manifested when he refused I'M
kipglv crown, and insisted On turning TN
| conversation INTO q discussion oil th'
chances and merits OF the regularly au
nounCed candidates.
John Hereford told me an evening ort
since that his brother Franks canvass Wa
very promising oLoo-
ful view of his chances, and gets an aouno
snce of announcement from other mem
bers of the House, all of whom apparent.
would be glad to see him promoted
Mathews is reported here as worSln
as vigorously as he ever WORKS 10
ANYTHING recurring him to push ms oW
claims and Quarters friends here CLAIM
that he will develop an unexpected strengt
in the caucus.
don't hear of any more projects 70
combinations OF disaffected Democrat
with Republicans TO make an outside non
ipatiou. and the Fairmont boys here thin
Foutain Smith was only stirring up an iter
for the reporters when he was talking aoou
caucusing BY himself. Still as long as ther
Is an element Of uncertainty about tn
Marion Senator, the plot is liable to thleSe
any minute,
| IONSlQerdDle am uselleIL nAs Occl SiSaLS
, here this week by couple of mesmerisi
who entrance subjects chosen from To
audience, and induce them to go throug
various comical performances. The spect:
Gle Of these subjects" sweeping up tn
stage and putting things TO rights whe
the show is over, Is even more amusing I
those who see it.
Joe Jefferson at the National, and MAJ
garet Mather at Ford's, have divided th
honors and drawn crowded houses thi
week. ApropoS of actresses, one Of MI
Conkling's acquaintances told me that o
the occasion Of q former visit OF Modlesk
to this city, the Senator from New Yor
invited her 20 ride behind his fast horses
and received for reply the chilly sentence
such q performance would dishonor u
, both"
Jake Kemple, who got here yesterday
proposes to lecture under the auspices {
some society that will not ring the curtain
down on him in the middle of one OF hi
stirring spostropbes 10 the flies or tn
ceiling. He has not determined yet whethe
be will proceed I'VE der call signed by tn
West Virginia Association, the Gran