Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-23
= WHEELING To BE RULED by
THUGS AND THIEVES

The numerous crimes recently COM
mitted i'm this city and the immunity ac-
corded in many cases to the GRIM
inals by the authorities, in the face Of
almost absolute proof of guilt, are mat
tiers that demand our most serious con
Sideration.
low does it come to pass that burg
lars. thieves and highway robbers can
ply their professions i'm this city, be ar
rested and arraigncd. with sufficient
proof 10 hold them. and the cases against
them dismissed?
For example let us take the ease Of
the man WILLIAMS, who the other night
was horribly beaten and robbed
by TWO thugs i'm East Wheeling
Two men were arrested rs the perpe-
traitors OF the crime and taken before
Justice. Absolute proof of guilt is not
necessary to warrant a Justice in hold
ing a prisoner for the Grand Jury.
Probable proof is all that is necessary.
In this ease WILLIAMS, himself. posi-
lively Unidentified one Of the men and
Saloon-keeper testified that he had
heard these two men say in his saloon
that they intended to do Williams up
and then started out. Shortly after
wards WILLIAMS was found minus his
valuableS. inSenSible and almost muir
dered. Yet the cases against the priS-
oners were dismissed and they were al
lowed 20 90 free No one knows better
than this same Justice the readiness OF
the gang Of toughS and thieves and
thugs that infest Wheeling to swear each
other out Of trouble in cases Of
this kind. The officer who made the ar
rest informs us that after their release
they openly ''guyed" him over the fail
ure of Justice. All the officer could say
was, Wait tin the next time, which
was met with the Sneering response,
..Why didn't yer do il this time?"
After the release OF the prisoners
warrants were sworn out before another
Squire" for their arrest. One Of them
was caught yesterday, but the other
wisely took occasion TO get out Of town.
The fact that change of "'SquireS'
is deemed necessary to secure proper
administration of the law is sufficient
proof of the rottenueSS OF the whole
system.
This is not an isolated case, by any
means. We could fn our columns with
similar instances i'm which justice has
been cheated and the public outraged.
Where does the fault lie? Is it not
with our system Of electing by popular
vote the officers Of the law who have
directly TO deal with this class of GRIM
inals, which enables the latter through
''iufuence" or special pull to snap
their fingers in the face Of the law?
For instance. In numerous localities IL
is the good officer who does his duty
most thoroughly who is least sure of re-
election il he be Justice, or Of reap
pOintment If he be policeman. These
gangs go to the candidate, say for ChiefOf
Police, and say TO him "Here, you agree
10 remove Officer SO and SO from the
force If you are elected and we
VIII support and work for YOU" As
they generally control a large vote
through influences obvious to all
the anxious candidate. in nine cases out
of ten will agree. The efficient officer
is removed and probably one friendly 10
the gang is put in his place. That this
sort Of thing is done constantly IS
notorious to every person acquainted
with the workings Of practical poll
ties" and suggests the idea that it