Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-05
CHIEF BLACKMORE
Says Officer Barum's Receipt lie
Genuine,
But That Only Serves to COmplieate
Matters More General AstOnish-
ment Yesterday Over the
Dismissals.

The publication OF the tacI, IN Yesterday
mornings papers, that Chief Of Police
Smith had summarily discharged Officers
Barum and Croughan, created a consider
able amount Of stir about town, most peo-
pie being greatly surprised by the news.
The papers had contained nothing calcu-
lated to create the impression that fresh
trouble was brewing among the police,
and the announcement without warn
ing that two heads had fallen
into the basket was rather sstonish-
ing. The details of the trouble leading up
to the dismissal of the officers were read
with svidity, and during the day
IMPRESSIONS OF OPINION
were to be heard of every shade, from -sbid
denuncis,ion to hattering commentator
of the Chief.
During the afternoon q REGISTER re-
porter dropped in at police headquarters,
and finding the Chief at leisure, asked II
there we're any new developments.
No." said he, the end was reached
when Bsrum and Crougban were dismiss
ed. There is nothing new"
Il see that Chief Blackmore has tele-
rraphed to q friend here that the watch
transaction is straight, and the receipt TOR
the $40 genuine" said the reporter.
IF it is" said the Chief, why didn't
the officer have some evidence 10 show
Schmidt when be asked for the checkT
Il see" said the Chief, after pause,
ithat the Intellig enCer is giving it to me
again, this time tor doing my duty A
few days ago the cry+was that the
police were not doing their duty-noR the
boot is on the other foot. Hlooks as it We
were to be damned, no matter what We DO
or whether we do anything 81 all or aot. l
guess the best plsu," ssid he, refeeIiSely,
rs to on and do what is right, as near rs
possible, and pay no attention to what
my enemies say.
Early yesterday morning
A TELEGRAM
was sent to Chief Biackmors, of Pittsburg,
asking him whether the receipt held BY
Officer Barum was genuine or not A re-
ply came back as follows:
"PITTsBURG, November 4.
Receipt genuine, Matter straight as far
"a know. I. A. BLABKMoRE,
Chief"
This telegram, in the opinion Of almost
everybody to whom it was shown, on y ser
we'd 10 complica,e matters further The
question was asked repeatedly, If Black
more or any other Pittsburg officer, iound
the watch in pawn shop. why did such
officer not inform the pawnbroker that 1t
was stolen properly, and obtain possession
of the goods legally and without cost? Or,
if it was necessary to pay over the $40 to
obtain the watch, why did the
Pittsburv officer not make some
effort to secure himself from loss before
paying out his money, especially as the
reward only amounted TO $25. Again,
having paid the money, obtained the
watch, and given it to the Wheeling officer,
why did not the Pit.sburg officer also give
him come evidence of the money he had
spent to show 10 Schmidt, for In the ab-
sence of any voucher, Schmidt might re-
fuse to pay The bill Of expenses, and then
the Pittsburg man
WOULD BE OUT?
These queries, and good many others,
we're propounded in the reporters hearing
during the day, and the discussion Of them
at times was very interesting
The State authorities have as yet made
no move in the matter, but evidently con
template taking hand in it at no distant
day.
The friends OF ex.0ficers Barum and
Croughan, and those gentlemen them
selves, stoutly maintain that nothisg
wrong was done on their part, and declare
their dismisssls were owing entirely to
other causes.
In our advertising columns will be found
an official card from the City Clerk, in
which the Chief of Police gives formal no
tice of his dismissal Of the two officers.
MORE LIGHT.
This morning at 2 o'clock, the follow
ing telegram was received at this office:
Spseial 10 the Register.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, November 5.-Chief
Of Police Bsckmore says the receipt ex
hibited by Barum is genuine. He says he
gave the watch to Mr.. BsrGm in order to
let him have any advantage there might
be to him in its return. He also says that
Barum gave him (Blsckmore) $40, $25
for the pawnbroker and SIS for the detec
tive who recovered the watch.
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