Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-25
Is ANYONE TO BLAME

If there be one thing more than another
that would cause Wheeling's citizens to ex.
press disgust with our night police and wish
the $1,000 that is expended annually on
them, had never been appropriated for the
purpose, it is the record OF last Sunday
morning effort to trace to their covert the
robbers who broke open the house of H.
WoREASUR, and rifed it Of the money con,
tained therein.
II, according to Mr.. HIBBERD's account,
and it is upon his statement these stric-
lures are made, the vim and ambition Of
the two policemen, had been half as great
as that of the citizens who accompanied
them on the search, there is little doubt one
or more Of the rogues could have been
found and captured.
Mr. HlBBERD, of the firm of THOMPSON &
HIBBERD, who formed one Of the party OF
fFe citizens and two policemen, that pur,
sued the robber gang, informed the regis,
TER that from the outset of the pursuit the
tracks of the thieves were as distinct as one
could wish. A light snow had fallen
through the night so that every foot print
was as PLAIN as that OF rabbit after fall
Of snow, and the pursuit was Just as easy.
When the pursuers reached the Martins
Ferry landing, according to the ferryman,
whom they hailed, they were not over half
an hour behind the robbers. When the P.
W. 4 X. passenger depot was reached it
was halEpast five o'clock Here the foot
prints were as plain as day, showing that
they had proceeded down the railroad
track. The citizens wanted to continue the
pursuit, feeling quite sanguine that in a
short time they could gain an important
clue to the rogueS' whereabouts.
But the policemen would go no further.
Mr.. Hibberd, the boy Workenaur and the
other citizens, appealed to the policemen to
follow up the trail but from some unac-
Countable cause, to no purpose.
Here was chance for two public officers
to immortalize themselves but they missed
it. Capture was almost certain, if they had
realized the responsibility their official posi-
ton imposed upon them, they certainly
could not have missed their game. The
snow had ceased falling, and it was not yet
daylight so that the tracks could not
have been confounded with Others
The thieves could not get across
the river, in fact, all things were propi-
tious to bag the entire party if the organiza-
ton Of the night force had been half what
the citizens expect.
The robbery was discovered at three
o'clock. Surely in two and half hours
thereafter if necessary, other officers of the
nightwatch ought to have been on hand.
But With such force of eager citizens al
hand to help the policemen, it would seem
there were plenty, as far as numbers were
concerned.
If this gang could have been caught, or
any one of them, it is very probable the Eli
iah Marling outrage would never have been
committed. The commission of one crime,
without the necessary shrewdness and
energy under such favorable circumstances
TO run down the criminals, simply en-
boldens raseals to perpetrate others, and so
it goes, until the rogues are tired OF the
tameness surrounding the execution of
minor misdeeds and they recklessly advance
TO greater ones, in which there Is more novelty
and more danger, so as to spice their crimes
with at least ordinary interest.