Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-02-03


and would make failure of the entire
scheme. Snodgrass sAid that if little
personal matter of lopg standing between
himself AID McEnt;re was only fixed up,
he would undertake to carry out the plot
himself, and on this plan was fixed up
between Grail ard Snodgrass by which
Snodgraesand McEatire were to be brought
together, and all p1st differences swept
aside. A depression must here be made
to explain that the Republican leaders 10
Wetzsl had been keeping sort of survell-
lance upon the movements of leading Dem
ocrats, in the hope of securing evidence IS
to the alleged scratching of the ballots, and
that McEutire was one of the folks who
were putting in odd moments spying about
the Curt House in the hope OF finding
something of value. McEntire was gener-
ally about during portion OF each day,
and he was invited into the Court House
one day, when Snodgrass and Grail were
10th present, and by the aid of little
liquid refreshment, of which he is alleged
not to be averse, was soon put IN COM
muuicativs humor.
As McEntiIe was disposed to be COM
municstive and sffable, Snodgrass ap
preached him, and, remsrkipg that it was
foolish for them to be on the outs when it
might be advantageous to both to be
friends, offered to shake hands. McEn-
tire acquiesced in this view OF the case,
and both gentlemen were soon on the best
of terms. A general conversation then
ensued, but not a word wss sad on
either side about bsllot-scratching, both
parties fighting shy Of the subject
which was uppermost en- their minds.
When McEntire had left Snodgrass told
Grail to 90 to him and tell him he b9'
lieved Snodgrsss was becoming alarme1
about the ballot matter; that in fact he
Grail knew nothing about the actual
scratching of tbs tickets himself, bat that
SnodUass was familiar with the whole
thing, aud that if the matter was properly
managed, and the same propositian made
that had been extended to him, Snodgrass
would accept il, and tell all he knew
about the scratching of the tickets"
McEntirs caught on to this at once, and
requested Grail to arrange meeting be.
tween himself and Snodgrass, which Grail
promised to do, if possible. In due time
this was brought about, Snodgrass agree-
ing TO meet McEntire the next Monday
evening, but purposely failing to keep the
promise, in order TO make McEntlre the
more axious TO see and talk to him.
The day following the proposed meeting
between the two men, McEntire called OF
Snodqrass at the County Clerks Office,
called Snodgrass into the vault, and held
a long conversation with him, which 1t
seems was overheard by others. McEatlre
commenced by saying:
ST suppose you know the object OF my
calling upon you, as l presume you and
Grail have talked the matter over"
Snodgrass admitted tina! he had sn idea
of the business on hand. Then McEntue
reprosched him for not having kept the
appointment of the previous day, to which
Snodgrass replied that he did not care to
let the story out and possibly become i'm
Inflated in the subst quent trouble which
was to ensue. To this McEntire replied {:
"Snodgrass, you are very foolish for that,
because there is very large amount OF
money which you can lay your hands upon
and which will be your own, and you will
also be secure from prosecution. In addi-
ton to all this, 1 am fully authorized to
say that you will be provided with a gov
ernmeat position at Washington for four
years, which will pay you at least 81, 800
Ger year. This will all be handed over to
you if you will divulge all you know about
the scratching Of the ballots"
Snodgrass replied that he was Demo
crat, and did not care 10 hold q position I'M
der a Republican administration, and then
said: ''Inasmuch as ths matter had been
brought p in the way it has, will entsr
into a contrsct, with responsible parties,
TO be signed in duplicate, enc copy to be
retained by each side, to tell all know
about the scratching of the ballots, to be
paid s. 600 cash in hand before the afida-
Wit is made"
This was definite, and caught McEntire
in great shspe. He az once said that If
Snodgrsss would stick 10 his proposition he
would at once telegraph parties in Wheel
ing and would als) step the Srrest OF
Bel iamin Earnshaw, President Of the
County Court, which vas to take place at
MoundsvilIe the next day, while he was
on his way to New Msrtinsvllle to hold
court.
To this Snodgrass replied that ne did
not care to interfere in any arrest which
might be made, but Mr. McEntire could
rest assured that his agreement oould be
relied upon, always surprising that the
cash was forthcoming.
McEatire then wanted to proceed to
business at once, and asked Snodgrsss 10
come up to Wheeling, where the whole
thing would be fixed up" Snodgrsss
declined to 90 to Wheeling, and also de-
clined to visit Sistarsville, fer similar
purpose, saying the thing would have to
be arranged right here in New Martins
vile. McEutire then said he woald go up
to Wheeling himself. and arrange with the
Chairman Of the Republican State Execu-
tive Committee, to come down some even
ing and settle the thing. He said: HE
has the cash, and Us fellows don't care
what il costs. 1 tell you, you could get
s.. 900 iust as easy as 5000, In fact,
there is big thing in this for both OF ~,
but you'll get more money out OF 1t than
! I will"
The following Monday McEntire met
Snodgrass on the strees, and said he had
bean up TO Wheeling, and had called upon
the Chairman, who would be down on the
evening train. He said he had arranged
with the Chairman so ne was to &c. OFF the
train on the side opposite the depot, and
remain there until the crowd about the
dero, had left, when he was TO come down
10 the centre Of town alone, taking care
that 70 one saw him, and secure rooms at
the B.ast House. This programme
WAS duly carried cut, the Wheeling IateHi-
ceneer making mention of the fact, ipjudi-
ciously. that the Chairman had gone to