Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-22
IS IT STAR CHAMBER RULE?
Respectable e. Gamblers Indicted at Par
kersburG whose Names are not Allowed
TO be Made Public.
Spscil'i 70 ne SrEJrg Register.

10 De NANut EhDAlt.
Spssis'O ne Sngday Register.
PAREERsBvRG, WEST Va, February 2l.-
On Monday, the 9th day OF February, the
Circuit Court Of Wood county convened at
Parkersburg, with His Honor, Judge j. NJ.
jackson, presiding. When the names of
the Grand and Petit JURORS drawn for the
February term by Sheriff Samuel Stewart
were made known, it was remarked that
they represented men of more intelligence
and ability than generally falls to the lot Of
the ordinary iuryman. There were no PRO
f~essiOnal" jurors drawn; and the decrepit
and bRld.headed element were notably ab-
sent. Each jurors name was q guarantee
in itself that Justice would be melted out to
all With an impartial hand and entire disre-
gard of persons: and the number of iudict-
ments found verified the first formed con-
elusion. Jp3rlG Juruuk
The names Of the jurors were as follows:
Grand-RaLdolph Logan, John b. johnson,
S. p. Wells, NJ. C. c. Church, W. Nrooman,
D. b. Greer, John Fischer, W.. p. Anderson,
Jacob Deem. Samuel Wilson. John +. Han
naman. Written Wells, X. 5. Corbitt, jr.,
n. s. Ewing, T.. Meldahl and VIM. II. Tay-
lor. There is not a single name on the
above list that was indicative Of distrust
and the people expected wonders, as 1t had
been whispered for some time back that n
blow would be struck at the gambling
houses, The first day, Monday, was so wet
and muddy that few OF those living in the
country could reach the city. 1t rained in
cesssntlv all day so that there was but little
done. On Tuesday morning, however,
most all the jurors were present; and before
the close of the three DAYS allotted them by
law. over two hundred indictments had been
found. Of these some Ght or ten were
for felony, and 1872 were for gambling,
exhibiting gaming device, etc. For
some years past ParkerSburg has
gained q notoriety for saloons, houses of
prostitution, gambling, &c, that has not
been coveted by her verdant sister towns.
A certain system of lawleSsress has
reigned for some time past over which the
authorities seemed to have but little or no
control. Notwithstanding the boosted detec-
tive ability O. Of the citys eN Chief Of
Police. Now and then a laundering bur
glar might be caught when too drunk to
run. or some hungry thief be surprised
WElie FNllR W olcaA oOWSlAAS " Soel SNh
beyond this the wonderful police force Just
retired did nothing to distinguish itself and
the greater crimes were wiuked at.
Until the outbreak Of the late wal Park
ersburg was not much offs place. 1t is not
much of a place yet-only on its darker
side. Masquerade balls, theatres, skating
Kinks, &c, are well ~patronized, while dust
lies thick on the cushions other church pews.
A newspaper man recently dropped into
an all-day prayer meeting to which the
Christians Of all denominations had been
invited and found but FIVE persons present.
Then visiting the forty-two saloons, gsmb-
hing housesete., be counted over 400 loung-
ers. Comment is unnecessary.
As o as the recent grand jury had dis
posed of Its regular business it sat down to
discuss the questions Of gambling and
gamblers, prostitution and its progress, ss-
looms. and the open violation OF the Sunday
and license laws, etc. Subjects OF no tn
Hing moment we are sure. The great prob
lem seemed to be Shall we make clean
sweep of gambling resorts and indict al, or
sbsn we select a few TO make an example
OFF, Better reason reigued over their iudg-
mept. and they decided to indiet every case
thst was possibly indicable. Their decisions
wsrs wise srd Impartial AT the Q ose o.
tsgiT business nearly zoo indiSreass