Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-15
TROUBLE IN TUCKER.
The Contest Over the Office OF
Circuit Clerk
Disturbs the Usual Quietude Ofthe County
Seat---Some Facts Which Throw
Little Light Upon the In
side History ofthe
Case.
Special 10 The Register.


ST. GEORGE January l4.-A mob Of men
headed by tie sheriff and prosecuting attor-
ney took possession of the Court House IN
this county last Friday night and fired the
county clerk out with his books and papers
without the least semblance Of authority
The trouble arose over contest case which
was tried by the County Court last week
over the Circuit Court clerkship. The case
of Mayer VS.. Adams was called on Wednes-
day of last week and after the evidence had
been heard by the court Mayer was declared
elected by a majority of seven votes
Neither Adams nor his council put IN an
appearance during the trial, although they
were notified, and the court even called Tor
his council to come in and defend their case
if they had any.
Mr.. Mayer was declared elected by the
court Thursday morning, and on the even
ing of the same day went to Beverly and
had his bond approved by Judge Ice. de
returned Friday evening, had his bond re-
corded, and demanded entrance into his
Office, which was refused. A warrant was
issued Tor the parties holding the Office and
a special constable authorized to arrest the
parties thus unlawfully obstructing public
officer. The officer presented his warrant
to the sheriff and demanded that the door
of the court house be opened
and that the offenders be given
up, which was fatty refused. He then
summoned the sheriff and his posse in the
court room to assist him in the lawful dis
charge of his duties. This was also denied.
All legal proceedings are worthless, and
trouble is anticipated at any time. Guns,
clubs, rocks, knives, pistols and ammunl-
ton are being carried into the court house
every night The crowd holding the court
house play cards for amusement. The
Msyor OF the town is powerless as we'll as
the Sergeant, and the only remedy seems to
be force which may be attempted any hour.
The trouble grows out Of the bitter con-
test between the Independents and regular
Democrats last fall The regular Demo
Gratis nominated ticket in convention for
county offices, which did not include any OF
the old officers. The old officers, among
them John J. Adams, who has held the
Office of Clerk of the County and Circuit
Courts for years, was re-nominated for Cir,
cult Court Clerk by the Independents. The
Republicans supported the Independent
ticket and most Of the ticket was elected, with
the exception of clerk of the County Court
and Circuit Court. The regular Democrat
ic nominee for County Clerk was elected
and the independent candidate for Circuit
Clerk claimed his election by small ma
iority. His opponent Mayer, gave
notice of a contest. The time for hearing
the case was set for February, but it was
discovered by the County Court by which
BODY it is supposed the contest must be de
termined that nnder the law, the matter
ought to be heard and determined at its
first regular session, and accordingly the
time was changed, and the contest heard
and determined as above Adams and h"
| friends refused to recognize the au
thority of the Court to change
the time for hearing the case, and thereupor
determined to disregard its action, no mat
ter what that action might be. The two
members of the County Court who decided
the contest between Mayer and Adams wer'
the regular Democratic nominees, and wor'
elected as such. The third, who did not &C
with the court belongs to the Independen
faction. The members of each faction ar
resolute and determined men, and possibl.
ere this appears before the public seriou
trouble will occur. The prosecuting attor
ney and sherifF:elect and Adams, one Of tn
contestants for the Office Of circuit clerk
constitute one faction, and the county clerk
two members of the County Court an,
Mayer, the other contestant for circuit cIer
horrors constitute the other faction.