Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-15
BOSSISM DOOMED.
Revolt In the Radical Camp Against
the Rule OF .
Marshal Atkinson and His Machine
ManipulatOrs.
Inside Workings of the U. S. Mar
shal's Office,
Frivolous Prosecutions Made for
Fat Fees.
The State Press Calling for an ln-
vsstigatiOn.
Speeidl 10 the ReoiSter.

CHARLESTON, March 14-The Atkinson
investigation is the all-absorbing topic OF
conversation among the politicians here,
and the bitterest foes-and indeed about
the only ones-that George Wesley has in
this community are members of his own
party. The Democrats here have become
90 used to suffering the outrages inflicted
in the name of law by the hirelings OF the
Marshal's office that they have but little to
say, and the most interesting feature Of the
whole affair to them is the muss that it has
kicked up in the Radical camp. There
isa
Strong ADti-AthinsOn WtBg
OF the Republican party, and the feeling
which the devil entertains for holy water is
self sacrificing love compared to the senti-
ment with which they regard Boss Atkin-
son.
But the Boss has them on the hip, and
they have to dance every time he pulls the
string, albeit their performances have fre.
quentIy more the appearance OF hell-tor.
tured writings than voluntary scrobatic
contortions. You she Atkinson not only
has his thirty-six paid assistants to aid
him in carrying out his political ends, but
be also seems to hold
A Chattel Mortgage
on the souls OF a majority OF the Repuoli-
can editors throughout the State, and they
all take up his quarrels and treat as an IN
suit personal to themselves any attack that
is made on him. The Wheeling lntelll
gencer is q notable exception, and un-
derstand there are some other radical pa
pers that do not knuckle to the power OF
tie petty boss, but do not know which
ones they are. The Journal at Wheeling
and the State Tribune here seem to be the
leading organs of the Boss, and it is no
torious fact that not only do they rarely
say q good word or make kind remark
about any member of the Democratic par
ty, but they are also continually engaged
in making spileful remarks about members
Of their own party who happen to be au-
tagonistic 10 their
Leige Lord and Sovereign Boss.
George Wesley.
The opinion seems to prevail here that
Gibson will break down IN his crusade
against Atkinson, not because the facts to
sustain his charges do not exist, but be-
cause he is not pursuing the right plan to
get al them. The meanest thing connected
with the management OF the Marshats
office is the great number oil frivolous pros
| ecutions made for no other purpose than to
augment the fees of the officers. You can
sit down in the courtroom during the sit.
ting of that august tribunal here, aud
when ii is engaged in the trial of criminal
cases you will see case after case brought
up and dismissed, or else the jury, after
| hearing the evidence, will be directed by
the Court to find verdictof not guilty.
But guilty or not guilty, the deputy who
made the arrest has received his fee for it
and also his mileage, one-third OF which
after expenses aIe Paid-he must turn over
| to the Marshal. George W. Porter, an ex-
| deruty under Atkinson, informs me that
| the Marshal gets one-third Of each deputy's
| fees.
By the way there has been a good deal
said about the deputy marshals
Drawing Pay as Jurors,
and l have taken some pains to enquire
into the matter. J. R. Shower, who was q
deputy under Patton, and George Porter
| have both told me that the deputies while
| attending court all draw pay either as
| Jurors or baiiiffs. You see they would
| olly get a dollar and fifty cents a day as
| witnesses, but as jurors they get two dol
| lars day, and so, though they never serve,
| they draw their two dollars and sign tht
| Jurors pay roll. 1t is true that should the
| whole number-thirty.six- they
would only draw eighteen dollars day
| more Than they are entitled to, and If they
| staid thirty days it would amount to bu;
| the paltry sum OF five hundred and forty
| dCliars, but "'tis sin to steal pin, anu
FIVE hundred and forty dollars is good
deal OF
| Did you read the Journals description NJ
| Atkinson's thrilling adventures as ROAD
Lo, revenue sgent? Did you catch on q
the sentence that speaks of one OF his aides
being crippled for life by an outlaws bull
| LEI? Doolittle was the fellow shot, but 1t
wss year or two after Atkinson's famous
raid. and George Wesley was not with him,
nor within hundred miles OF him when
be was shot.
Hen. c. P. Snyder came home for short
sojourn this morning. l see Major John
". Harris, of Greenbrier, has announced
himself as candidate for Congress, and,wIll
give our Philip tustle. Harris is an able,
scholarly, accomplished and dignifed gen.
tlemsp, and deserves anything he desires
at the hands o. his fellow citizens. but all
the same he will have to start early and
stay late il he downs Captain Phil. Snyder
is popular fellow to begin with, and he is
cd manipulation.
There is not much electioneering going
on for State Offices. Willis Wilson seems
in good spirits, and thinks his prospects
are quite promising, while Faulkners
| frienos seem to think he has dead sure
thing. For Attorney General, Watts seems
to have the lead, but will, OF course, not be
nominated il Wilson is. The Audtorship
appears to be the position most desired and
Darrsb, West, Thompson and Duffy are
each running with seemingly fair wind
and under full spread of canvass.
l will consult the stars the first clear
night, and let the R<sIsTER's readers know
exactly who will be nominated.
THETA.