The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-08
Fighting for an Office.
a WEST VIRGINIA TOWN IN ARMS.

Hardy county, West Virginia, is greatly
excited over the attempt TO get possession
of the office and records of the county
clerk in Moorefeld. Woman and children
are hid III darkened rooms and the streets
are full of excited and angry men. Fights
are numerous. The question is curious
one, and involves The seating of the Dem
Ocratic state ticket elected at the October
election. At that election constitutional
amendment was adopted changing the
! time of holding the state election from the
second Tuesday of October to the first
| Tuesday OF November. A number of peO-
| pie, believing the election held for state
officers to be void. prepared q ticket of
| state officers, which was voted for Novem-
| Der 4th, receiving 1900 votes in the state.
! On one of these tickets William Lobb, who
had been for years clerk in this county,
had his name printed, and he received at
| the November election a number of votes.
AS no other candidate was voted for he
declared himself AS legally elected and an
| n0unced that he would retain possession
of the office. His term expired Sunday,
and William Wilson, who was elected at
the October election. appeared to claim the
office. Trouble has been anticipated, and
crowds of friends of each from all parts of
| the county were on hand. When Wilson
appeared as the door of the county clerks
office with his bondsmen he was ordered
Off by Lobb. A fight ensued, in which the
office furniture was wrecked, II dozen per-
sons knocked down and the Wilson party
finally driven from the building. The
mayor issued u proclamation closing all
saloons and extra police force was pnt on
duty. Meantime the clerks office was be-
ing barricaded and preparations for a siege
made. In ashort time the attack was re-
newed by the Wilson men, Wilson was
struck over the head by son of Clerk Lobb
and, it is feared fatally injured.
Lobb would have been lynched had the
crowd succeeded i'll getting at him. The
sheriff organized posse and charged the
courthouse, arreSting a number and taking
possession of the building. Guards were
placed and all night long the pickets paced
the courthouse grounds. Soon after dark
the opposing parti IS separated, and while
portions of them built bonlires, around
which they discussed the war a larger
portion adjourned 70 halls, where speeches
were delivered on the legal aspect of the
case. LObb had taken possession of the
office. The affair simply from legal
standpoint has a state interest. If Lobb
succeeds in retaining the Office il virtually
seats the prohibition state ticket to the
exclusion Of the democratic state ticket
elect.
MooRETIELD, w. VA, January s.
There is little abatement in the excite
ment here this morning. Wilson is king
in a comatOse state. Young Lobb escaped.
1t is report ed that force of men are COM
ing from South Branch Potomac to attack
the courthouse in Lobb's interest. About
six O'Clock this morning. i'll fight in
saloon, VIM. Alison was fatally shot. The
sheriff is still. in possession of the court
house. Most of the woman and chihlgen
have left the town. Ministers are at the
place working hard to get the people to go
home. A rumor prevails that I4obb's
friends succeeded in getting the bodies
last. A request has been sent to Martins
burg for part Of the artillery. Wilson's
friends say that if he dies, they will hang
lobb and burn the court house.
lat last accounts peace had been re-
stored, and under the decision of the Cir
cult Judge, Wilson was put in quiet pos
session of the Clerks Office