The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-02-23
The Democrat.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1882
MAYOR PIERo INDICATED.
And the Responsibility Placed Upon Re
publican Ohicials.

MAYOR PIERO INDICATED.
And the Responsibility Placed Upon Re
publican Oficials.
The spring elections are approaching
and the Repository oppressed with the
incubus of Mckinley, realizes in its des-
peration the pressing need of some po-
litical capital. Hence we are not sur
prised at the assault upon Mayor PierO
in an article under the caption of Jus
tice Cheated" and Thieves Given their
Liberty" This attack is all the more
dastardly and despicable because the
Repository was fully advised of the
facts of the case.
The substance of the RepOsitOry's
charge is that two crooks, Nelson and
Wilson, were guilty of stealing money
in the stores of Brothers, Keplinger, and
Herzer, of Canton, and Dangler, of Mas
sillon, and that to "cheat justice" and
allow the thieves to escape punishment
Mayor Piero discharged Wilson with
fine of five dollars, and that he fixed
the bail bond of Nelson in the low sum
of $500, and accepted Jerome Markell
for bail, and thereupOn discharged Mel
son, and that he did this for the very
purpose of fOrestalling Judge Pease,
who would have fixed much heavier
bail bond, and for the purpose of allow
ing Nelson to escape before Keplinger
could file complaint against him.
Now the true facts are as follows:
The police arrested Nelson because
he answered the description of the thief
who stole BrOthers's money; and Will
son simply on suspicion, because he
was an associate of Nelson. This arrest
was made on the Nth. Then Brothers,
Keplinger and Herzer, identified Mel
son. Herzer made an affidavit against
both Nelson and Wilson of petit lar
ceny, and Brothers made charge of
grand larceny against Nelson alone.
No other complaint was filed against
either. Wilson was not identified by
any one, and there was no proof what
ever against him except that of being |
companion Of Nelson.
Then Mr.. HerZeT made an arrange |
ment with the attorney of Nelson and |
Wilson, to the effect that they restore
his money and pay fine of five dollars
each and costs of prosecution. To this
arrangement Mayor PieTO consented, |
because thereby restitution was made to |
MIR. Herzer, the costs of the case was |
saved against the county, and because |
so far as Wilson is concerned he would |
for want of proof have been discharged |
on trial, and further, because Nelson |
was still held on BrOthers's charge, and |
the Mayor expected KeplingeT to file |
another charge of grand larceny, and |
ON these two, proof could have been
amply furnished; and it is also well
known that party charged with sew
eral cOntempOraneOus Offenses is, to
save the costs of trial, seldom tried or
sentenced on more than one as the lati-
tude allowed to Judges in sentencing
prisoners permits them to amply vim
dictate Justice by one sentence. As for
instance, for grand larceny the punish |
ment is from one to seven years.
Then on the 10Th, the time set for the |
trial of Nelson on BrOtherss charge, he |
was upon hearing by the Mayor com
mitted to jail Tor trlal, anu no OJhef |
complaint having been filed the juris-
diction of the Mayor over him ceased |
entirely. Now Keplingpr was notified |
of this fact, and not only warned that |
Judge Pease might at any time release
Nelson on bail, but he was urged to file
his complaint without delay; but he de-
layed until it was too late.
Afterwards on the 18th, upon his own
application, Nelson was brought before
Judge Pease who fixed his bond at $500,
Clerk Wilson accepted Markell as bail,
and Nelson was released by order of
Judge Pease, and moreover all this was
done with the knowledge of pTOsecu-
tor Harter, whose duty it is to represent
the State in such matters. And so upon
these officials recOil the abuse and ami
madversiOns intended for Mayor PieTO,
and if Justice has been outraged or
cheated" they have done the deed, and
they, not PierO, are called upon to an
swer the question of the Repository, "Is
This the way Justice is to Be Cheated
Out Of Her Victims"
This dastardly attack of the RepOsi-
tory on Mayor PierO, made with full
knowledge of the facts deserves the rep
rotation of all honest men and shows
at the same time its dire strait for pO-
litical capital and the low depth to
which it will stOOp to obtain it,