Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-08
OFFICIALS IN TROUBLE.
Charges Preferred Against Two
Justices and Constable
BY Prosecuting Attorney Jordan---An Ab-
stract Of the Documents Set
ting Forth the Alleged
Wrong 0Oirg,

For some little time past it has been
whispered about that one or :wo OF the
Justices Of the Peace in this county had
burned their fingers in doing that which is
prohibited by law, and it has been generally
N derstcod that the Board OF Commission
ers at he September meeting, would have
its attention called TO the matter BY the
Prosecuting Attorney. Yesterdays events
STOW ed tLat these suspicious and rumors
were toleIably correct, as at the afternoon
session of the Board Two sets of charges were
handed in, one against Justice A. r MEGA
han, of Centre AID Constable Charles Grist,
of Webster, and the other against Justice
Henry c. Pcterman, o! Madison.
TIE CHARGES AGAINST MCAnAN AND GRlET
allege that these officials had on the 18Th
day of August, 1853. indccently and unaw-
!ully abused their Official position and pow
er 10 exact money from one Melissa Nc
Glumphry in manner as follows; That on
the - day Of July, 1855, the said Melissa
McGlumphry was arrested upon Two war
rants issued in the name Of the State Of
West Virginia, by the said 4. t. McCahan,
upon complaint Of Charles Grist, one war
rant charging the said Melissa Mctiiumphry
with keeping a house of i'll fame, and the
other C ring her with selling beer without
d licens.. By virtue OF these warrants Me
LISA was taken before the Justice and there
waived an examination and gave bond
TO ANSWER ANY INDICTMENT
which might be found against her. After
ward, on lie 9Th Of August, McCghan and
Gtist entered i%to 81 agreement with the
said Melissa McGimPhry 10 ,ne effect that
f she would pay them thirty dollars the
cases would be dismissed and no papers
.orwarGrd 10 the grand jury. The woman
paid over the money and took receipt
therefor, and the cases were accordingly
dropped The witnesses upon whose test-
mony these allegations are 10 be substantial.
ted are Melissa McGumphry, |. II. 5 amp
and William LAUGH in, Jr., and the con-
plainant prsvs, in consideration OF the facts
set forth, that the said \. r ltcCahau and
Charles Grist be removed from their Offices
When tbs paper had been read to the
RC ard Mr.. Picket moved hat the subject
9e II ferred 10 q special committee Off five.
he motion TO refer to committee was
! lest.
MIR Woods then offered resolution thlt
Jaslice NcCahan be ordered to appear be
fore the Board, sitting as court, on August
10Th at clock to answer the charges pre-
ferred This was adopted.
Mr.. Woods then offered resolution that
Constable Grist be ordered 10 appear before
the Board at o'clock p m, on the same
day to answer like charges, which was also
adopted.
The charges ofotlicial misconduct against
! Henry c. Peterman, Justice Of Madison
district, were then read, They allege that
on or about November %, 1854, Mr., Peter
man imrcsed line Of - and costs each
UPON Mrs. >nijcr and Patrick O'Donnell,
nj trs' afterwards, on or about December
y. l-s4 lie had imposed u line OF $40 each
mon Mr.. and Mrs liner or t.lsmer end
Rot he has also tined divers o.hsr ,;;..s..,.,S,
TIE chafses 20 Gu 10 say that hr1ry c.
Pt,erG IN has
FAILED ANn REFUSED
to pay over 10 the Sheriff OF the county the
mount of said fires so imposed by him, and
hattie said Petermau az such Juslice, has
allied rszlectei and refused to cer.iir to
the Clerk OF The Board let 20. all tn fines
| imposed BE- him dUrg TIA ear preceding
tie month Of JanUaT?, i--5. In support OF
| ue foregoing ii jordan offered W. H..
NsdGlc, Wm Love Mrs 'nidcr and Ro5t.
q. Woods az wirrc TIE complainant
40 lr,Ied that he sad Pctcrmau De re-
moved from cAiCe.
Ne,srs MaxSell aud Woods thoU-lt it
mt an affair for a commi"ce, but should 20
elo:e The full Board
Hr. Picket said be had spscial reasons
fr asking the reference Of the matter 10 II
committee. He said that it was very Proc
alie that it would oe foIad that 9th rs, in
addition 10 those named in the CHARGES
were equally guilty IN this official miscon'
5Uct a,.G those other na!tes would De
MUCH HIGHER ~ AUTHORITY
than the Justice and constable.
Mr.. Sucker moved that the case be get Tor
hearing on the 2ls. Of August at 2
o. n.
Nr. Woods doubted TIE Board could
properly act in the matter. 1t seemed TO
| MIN ~ W SAct 4O' t-CSSuNSNAOH - -
grand inry. The ohsnss had been commit
led in q former term OF Office. and he
thought the Eoard was powerlsss.
Nj pickle; said there had been a great
amount Of talk concerning the dishonesty
and malfeasarce in Office Of this official
He seemed to be to he lacking in all th'
principles Of common honesty and he w0ulc
ike to see an investigation.
Mr.. Woods said Mr. PeteIm,n ha'
rEEN HEEEToFORE ISD',TEn
or falling 10 pay over fines, but the indie.
ment bad been q-asbed because no par;icu
lar fine had been specified. Now comes th
Prosecuting Attorney with q specification 0
certain fines and as the grand Jury was i,
session, be should 90 forthwith before tina
body. He offered an amendment that th
Attorney be Instructed to proceed sgsins
Justice Petsrusn BY Indictment
The amendment prevailed, sEi III
Prose cutting attorney was a; once notice
Of the action &C the Board. L. = t4x u;
a.erss te appeared. s|d announced that IT,
7sv"rs etsui be taadei 10 tts i@:J (:
a.. e. o1ce.