Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-08
CKlIST
Driven From Place to Place-An Incident
of shameless Discrimination.
Irkryyyr TynrfNsT.

OF shameless DistTAHhlhta'iod'
ArkaRsar TrareRsr.
A robbery had been committed. A man
almost ragged was arrested by one OF those
.hrewd detectives against whose piercing
yaze sheet iron cannot successfully s'sbd
When the man was taken into court for
preliminary trial, it was easy enough to
suspect him, for having been accused Oh q
crime, be seemed to sink under q weight
of guilt. The magistrate, addressing the
prisoner, asked o few questions and then,
turning to the detective who had made the
arrest, he inquired: -,
What caused yoa to suspect this man?
We'll, your honor, he happened here a
few DAYS before the robbery wss committed
and being Of suspicious appearance watch
d him. | asked him his name md he SAID
Il was Barnes, but shortly atterWsrd heard
hat bis name was Powell. | lost sight OF
orm on the night Of the robbery but early
next morning | saw him trying to sneak
nut Of town, so | thought that ne ought 10
)e arrested"
Il think" replied the magistrate, that
YOU acted rightly in making the arrest
Now" turning to the prisoner, can you
.xp,ain your conduct and especially can
sou explain why you go under " N
o,Judge, first let me explain why L have
,vo names, and that will explain my con
fuct. Understand, now, that do not Deg
Tor mercy. That time IS past. am now
hardened. | will not detsin you long, out
T ask you-and this is sll | do ssk-to De-
',sve me Two a ago | was the master
mechanic in a large rstlSay machine snoP
I receivsd good wages and my family, con-
sting Of q wife snd " children hTed as
any family 10 the town. l was
'elI DO married, aud sometimes al
most napPHy NV "ttIe boy climbed up
-Venlng' "hen my Q story,
wondered if such happiness could last.
"One day 1 was discharged was never
nore as,onished in my life. | humbly ask
A the cause of my dismissal, and vas
,rpfiy told that it was because was not
sapred any longer. They should have gwen
ne notice, still [ sid not complain as l
recognized their right TO employ Wnom tney
pleased. When | yer home and told my
wife had been discharged, she pat ne'
,Ims around my neck and said: Never
mind dear. sou can soon get another place
Tba very next dsy | started out in search
f work. had spent my hte IN macnl1e
hons and could do no other kind OF WORK
[ went to q town not q great distance away
from nv home and applied for work :,
81 believe we are needing a man. sAiG
he superintendent. What Is your name
John Powell l replied.
NE went into an inner Office ana aitei
remaining a few moments ne retired ano
aid. No, We don't want you.
"Bv this time my money was nearly
ono bnt I had not the heart to Srltt
come for more for l had but enough-s'
bad-to sustain my family Il fe" weeks
went TO another town. certain that
,bonld obtain work, for n CT the ma
,bine shops in the place had advertised TO
men. The head man asked me my nsm
nd then poiuting to q bench, old me u
- doVn and wait until he came back. ID
was not gone long. When he re'nrnea d
said:
Don't want you. ,:u
NV. dear sir l repliei, I am a sk'li
mi workmau and only ask you for q tina
Then if nv work don't suit you, III cave
you'll leave anyway he replied as d
turned away. Lou.,ed
By this time my money was exosusleu
| hut | could not stop must push my wa
onward. | wrote TO my w'te, teihpS &C
| hat I had o succeeded IN gettng ~or,
,nt that l thought my prospects were COCO
I ,old her 10 write % me-, giving as my nc
4ross a distant town. | had hoped TO e
avsr the road but failed. knew Why. 1
O,om;nsnt railroad official told the eng
pes-. not 10 let me ride. After WaiSin
many wearv miles | reached the town an
app,ied for work. ,
pSS'We don't want you said the the 81
psrintendenE
"'WhyY l demanded.
",Becsuse you are b~lsck!Sted;
NV God. man, what have donet
az don't know and | don't care a dam
Int YOU are blsekhssed $4,000
81 went to the postofice. tound a lie
ter addressed in al unfamiliar manu-.
was disappointed. l had hoped to reee.,
ia,sor from nv wife. | tore opLn u
envelope. Here is the letter. hea0
: judge" .r. :. =
i ua;pfol duty to write this Your WI
S~av;,g greatly exposed herself IN nov
: S"am he house which belonged to q "a
roa5 os6cial-she had to move-contEse'
, ssvsre cold and died of pneumonls. 10
I;,tle children are at nay house. -,
That is the letter l received j1de
Several weeks ago l heard that my 1T
Sov was dangerously ill-not expected
:: TYss. dragged myself tothi' town; VIII
7 Isarned that my little girl and tne .
!. mon whom l had conferred my hopes, ?
Sis5 Of d~iphtheris. 1 could do nothiI
~as crushed with grief, broke down "
= dssnair. Then l changedmY name 50 u
y might earn money enough TO take ms
he Graves Of my wife and children. 1
I commit the robbery. want no ID
leave it with you. As prsviou
1.,tsd l ssS for no mercy; L am
: n". nower. Use me a. Jon Will
SOTh s old magistrate nHa vno