Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-15
ISLANDER SUIT
eroxIsg Out sfWast vlrsIaIa LaAl
Sales. $50
The Chief,ef Pelies Of Pittsburgh xansd
that . West v;rsiaiaa Who Sold
Z land Ia That City Was 4
Wild Cat Agent.
THE AGENT SUES FOR sLANDeR.

PITTSBURGH, February l4-Ths Dispatch
says: Some two weeks sinos Chief Hsissa
received letter postmarksd Buckhannoa.
Upshur county, West Virginia and signed
C. E. Mellius The writer said hs vas
cognizant Of the fact some Rittsburshsrs
were being swindled BY purchasing lands
in that vicinity from wild cat" AGENT
and that in one instance ct least Il va not
too late to recover at least portion Of the
purchase money, the aggregate Of which
was 1000 In cash. Mellius stated that
two persons BY the name Of Phillips, resl.
dents Of Pittsburgh, had purchased ~
acres OF coal and timber land from John L.
Scott, and lad paid n. so In cash for The
tract He knsw that the land had
no existsnea ssssp4eFiBrsAAa iDagina.
tion OF the person Who xad - -
sale, and said II the purchase csdlai
be found he could put them In . way Of
recovering st least . portion, II not slL Of
the money. Chief HeiSel at opcs proceeded
10 find out the Messrs Phillips, and after
considerable trouble found that the gentle
men who had made the purchase ware ne
Enllllp1 pAOtsASsSAe " seS
boat at the foot OF Market street They
called upon the. Chief In response 70 note
and were somewh hat surprised to learn thas
the official knew about their purchase, had
information relative to the amount OF
money paid and some OF the inside paruc.
ulars OF the negotiations. MI. John Phil.
lips said he felt certain that there was NO
foupdation fer the allegations, as quito .
number OF Pittsburghers had purchased
property from the samo agent, the amount
sgrregating nearly 5000 acres, and that he
had never heard OF any misrepresenta-
tions.
Mr.. Phillips satisass Himself
In order to make sure OF the matter.
Mr.. John Phillips went 10 West Virginia,
inspected the property he had purchased,
and then had careful examination oil the
titles Of tho land made BY . compstsnt
person, the records at Wheeling. Beverly
and Webster, being searched, those ct Bey.
erly running as far back as the year l7os.
He obtained q certificate from tho Record
er that the property was all right, and
then he called on Mr.. Melius, who stu In.
sisted that the sale was . swindle and that
Mr.. Phillips would lose oil his money.
The purchaser WAS satisfied and returned
home.
Nothiag further was heard Of the matter
until yesterday, when Chief Heisei receiVeA
another letter from Aellius, In whioh 40
insisted that bis allegations were correct,
and said that II Smith appeared In the osy
and attempted to make any moro sales here
he should be arrested. He stated that he
had advised Mr.. Phillips TO mako "a in.
formation against Smith, bot had besn IN
able to induce him 10 40 90. Mr.. Phillips
was advised OF the receipt Of this lsttsr, and
this morning called on Chief Hsisel 10
company with gentleman, whom he intro
duced a. John l. Smith, the much-tsltsd:
about sgent lie stated that he advised
Mr. Smith OF the allegations which hsd
been made, and that in response 10 the let
ter he had come TO the city tor the pur.
pose OF facing his accuser II he should put
in an appearance.
The Land Agents story.
Mr.. Smith said he had been resident OF
West Virginia for nearly hfty years, and
lived in the immediate vicinity OF the lasd
which he had sold. lie said he had been .
member OF the Constitutional Convention
OF West Virginia, and could give any rsf.
erence desired ~ TO character. He also
US grew out OF Jealousy, owing 10 his suo-
cess In disposing OF lands, Mellius bsinS
| in the same line OF business. lie had the
| Chief telegraph Mellius that he was In the
| city, and II any formal prosecution was in
| tended he was prepared TO meet IT, Mr..
| Smith exhibited powers OF attorneys and
other documents and said he had instit Ted
| two suits sgainst Mellius for Islander. and
had laid damages at $4,000. He prsposed
TO push them TO . termination % speedily
as possible.
Mr.. Phillips was subsequently inter.
viewed. He said he was convinced that
there was no foundation for the allegations
made by Mellius. He had made personal
examination OF the property, had sstisded
himtelf from the Official records that the
title was frat class, and was we'll plssssd
with the purchase. In mis- conversation
with Meiiius he wss led 10 believe there
was an improper motive behind ths sP.
parent anxiety TO prevent him from being
swindlcd, as Mellius bsd repeatedly urged
him 10 prosecute Smith for fraud. He had
not adopted the advice because be had
learned enough shout Mr.. Smith during
his visit TO West Virginia. 70 establish his
reputation. The next that will b heard Of
the matter will probably bs when the
slender cases are called up tor trial. - both
Chief Heisel and Mr.. Phillips will b
subpebned m Nitneasea