Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-13
THE DEFENDANTS.
An Interesting Sketch of the Men on Tria
Mt Columbus.

An Interesting Sketch of the Men on Trial
Mt Columbus.
COLUMBUS, February 12.-The tally
sheet forgery case is getting on towards III
close by slow stages, go far as the States
evidence is concerned. Party feeling runs
high on the outside. The defendant now
on trial belongs to an old and we'll known
family of the highest respectability. Rob
ert s. Montgomery was graduated at Gam,
bier, studied law, was admitted to the bar,
and soon after elected Prosecuting Attor-
ney of this county, ami, being renominat,
ed for election to his second term, he was
defeated by few votes, owing to factions
which grew up as we'll as at the alleged
unfair means by which Allen o. Myers Sc
cured his nomination, he being on the
ticket with Montgomery. The former and
Edward Young were both defeated as can
didates for the lower House; also the Dem
ocratic Sheriff and County Recorder. 1t
is alleged that the tally sheets were tam
pered with the Sunday evening before.
The Board of Canvassers discovered on
Monday morning that the tallies had been
changed by striking out the figure 3 and
inserting the figure 5, with corresponding
tallies. This change, however, did not
elect either Allen o. Myers or Z Young.
House candidates. Hence, the alleged
forgery played no part in making the low
er House of the General Assembly, and
had in consequence no effect in the elect
tion of United States Senator. TIE i'm
preston has everywhere been made to the
contrary. That is not in accordance with
the facts.
DR.. Montgomery, who is also indicted,
is a brother of the defendant. He is
physician in high repute In his profession.
He spent several years in Europe and was
attached to hospitals as an operating sur
geon in Paris and Vienna He was sp-
pointed by the Board of Penitentiary Direc-
tors as the attending physician at that In
stitution, though he encountered much op-
position by reason OF his supposed wealth
The latter charge is not true.
Allen 0. Myers, another Of the defend
ants, is too veil known in newspaperdom
to require a sketch. He had served one
term in the House, but at his reelection
he was overwhelming defeated. He has
all his life been aggressive and but few
people in this community have escaped his
gcreeds. His name thus tar has only been
mentioned by witnesses in an Incidental
way.
Thomas Cogan, another of the defend
ants, is a leading young lawyer Of Cincin-
natl. He served one term in the Lower
House, not being u candidate for re-elec-
ton. He is a man of imposing presence
and good reputation.
Charles Blackburn, indicted with the
other defendants, lives in Cincinnati. He
is O Young man who has always heretofore
depOrted himself well, He has been con-
nected with Cincinnati municipal offices as
a clerk and in other capacities for some
years.
Fred Steube is a native Of Columbus,
and was also indicted with the foregoing
as a co-defendart. He was nightwatch-
man at the Court House, and is supposed
to know how the tally sheets were alb
stracted. One Of Pinkerton's detectives
casually met him on one or two occasions
and quietly suggested that they take trip
TO the lakes, in which Fred acquiesced.
They had a good long junket to the lakes
and the lake cities At Chicago a good
many bottles of wine mellowed mp the
iunketers, and Steube was quietly ap'
preached The only answer ne could be
induced to give was that he knew nothing
about the forgery and suddenly took leave
of his partner.