Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-11-28
QUITE A KICK.
sFICKFORD, OF QUEER RECORD, APPEALS
TO GOVERNOR WILSON.
he Sets Up the claim that BE Was Taken from this
City Without Due Process Of Law, and that
BE has Been Abused Generally.


workhouse, now Of Pittsburg bids fair to
become an inter-S ate character.
He has succeeded il kicking up quite
commotion in Pittsburg, and through his
counsel has appealed to Governor Wilson,
of this Safe, setting firth the claim that
be was taken from West Virginia to Penn
sylyania without due process of Law, and
that he is therefore, entitled to his release
from custody.
The Pltisburg papers Of yesterday had
long accounts of the case, and the matter
has attracted a good deal Of attention IN
this city.
The Pittsburg Post of yesterday said:
"Charles P. Robinson, Eaq., sent a com
munication yesterday TO Governor Wilson,
Of West Virginia, asking him to request
Governor Beaver, of this State, to order the
release of Harry Z Stickford, now con-
fined in the county jail here on charges OF
forgery and false pretense. The request
for his release is made on the ground that
Stickford's arrest was irregular. The pa
psrs sent TO Governor Wilson contain an
affidavit Of the prisoner to the effect that
be was doing business in Wheeling when
two constables and four other men, pre-
sumably PinkertOn detectives, arrested
him for an alleged Ofense committed IN
this city; that he asked them II they had
requisitiOn papers and they answered in
the affirmative, and on his refusal TO &C.
company them unless shown the docu-
ments, they put handouts on him and by
force took him TO the railroad station and
thence to this city, where he is now con-
fined. He avers that they had no papers
TO execute a warrant for his arrest or re-
moval outside the State, and he therefore
prays for the interference of the Governor
in his behalf. The communication will be
referred by Governor Wilson TO Governor
Beaver, who will in turn refer 1t to the
presiding Judge Of quarter sessions court,
when the petition will be argued.
The arrest ofShckfOrd was made on an
information preferred by James Brown, a
painter, before Mayor Pearson Of ALLIE
eheuy. The case is q peculiar one. The
prosecutor became acquainted with Stick
ford in a business way, and one night,
now nearly a month ago, the two droppsd
into MilleT's restaurant where they got
supper. Neither one of them had any
money they discovered and Brown
laughingly put up his watch for
it, snd told the attendant that
he would send around the money for
the meal and redeem his watch. 1t was a
silver time piece and worth about $50 The
next day be sent the money and expected
10 get his watch but it was already gone.
Mr. Brown repaired to the restaurant then
and was shown an order requesting the re-
turn of the watch, signed in his name. lie
at once pronounced It forgery, snd was
told it was presented by a boy who had
given over the price OF the meal. The mat
ter was then reported by Brown TO the AL
legheny polics, and Detective Glenn found
the watch in pawn shop, where it had
been put up for $l4
''SlckfOrd was subsequently arrested
and gave bail for hearing. but immedi-
ately went to Wheeling. For about two
weeks he, it is alleged, lived high at the
expense Of somebody there. The story
goes that he opened an Office in the Reilly
building, the largest business block in
that city. He was an agent for an electri-
cal supply company and had half dozen
men in his employ putting on hicks and
bells. A furniture dealer named Hinton
fitted up his Office on credit, and the same
kind Of pay was rendered carpet fur
nisher, printer and other business men.
The Mayer OF the town went his security
for a nice new OveTcOat, and everybody was
L N.HU az ~
virtually given the young energetic bust
ness man aud he was on the nigh road to
boom the town.
"Suckford is a young mau of about
twenty eight years, with an engaging
manner and pleasing address. Bat his
prosperity was suddenly brought to an
end. His creditors pressed him; one for
rent, one for furniture, his employees for
wsges, and the Wheeling IateliigeReer for
printing. The Mayor, too, demanded that
he liquidate his tailor bill, and his failure
to do all this caused his arrest on charges
brought in that city. He was sent to the
workhouse of the town, and it WAS there
that Detective John Murphy Of Allegheny
found him when be went down there few
DAYS ago. When Murphy told the Mayor
Of Wheeling who he was after that official
promptly released Sickford, the detective
saws, and remarked that he was glad
to have Sickford taken from his BALI
wick, as he was "tOo slick" and that he
had attempted to escape from the work
house with some others, having got rs far
as the river when be was captured By the
guards. As for the two cOn3tables and
four PinkertOn men, Detective Murphy
says be vas accompanied in Wheeling by
several officers of the tOwo, but it WAS not
at his request, end they were only show
ing him the usual courtesy that one Off
cial shows another. When Stickford was
returned TO the city and taken before
Mayor Pearson he waived bearing in the
case, and not being able to secure bAil was
placed in Jail, where he is waiting the ac-
ton of the courts or Governor Beaver"
There are few errors in the above
story.
Sucktord came to Wheeling abOut the
last of Augu4tor the first of September
and took room at the st. Charles Hotel.
de attracted no attention until about
midnight on the 9th OF O,,obsr, when he
complained at police headquarters that he
had been assaulted by John Swami, the
colored hotel porter, knocked down, and
robbed Of 1913. About two o'clock on the
morning Of the 7,h Swami was arrested.
He had slung shot when searched. The
case came no in Police Court that morn
ing, and was continued over until the
Sth. At that tins SuckfOrd failed to ap-
pear, but Swami was fined s. snd costs,
the charge Of carrying concealed weapons
being dis missed.
Chief Delbrugge sent for Stcktord, but
he did not respond, but sent a message
which was quite the reverse Of courteous.
The Chief then caused some enquiries to
be made concerning SlckfOrd, and became
convinced that he was crooked. On the
POI of October StickfOrd was arrested on a
warrant charging him with disordsEly con-
duct, the idea being to keep hold of him
until his record could be looked up. He
vas arraigned in Police Court the follow.
log morning, and was sent to the hill for
thirty days, in default Of s. an1 costs
In the meantime the prisoners creditors
inside q swOop for his visible property, and
ia few Of those whom he owed saved them
selves, while others got left.
Stickford had bsen ins,a led in room 5.
Reilly building, where Re had al Office e'e-
gantly fitted up, and pretended to be con-
Quoting an 6xten i've business under the loud
sounding title Of Keystone Elevator Lcck
Stop Electrical Construction Company. H.
SnckfOrd, superintendent, and the stuff
contained in the room was scOoped in to
satisfy creditors.
Meanwhile Chief Dalbrugee was max
ing every endsavor to trace Shckfcrd's ca.
reer, and finally got the Pittsburg police
authorities interested. Just before Stick