Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-19
HARRIS CASE.
HI IS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, YESTERDAY
MORNING.
Announces His Intention Of Accepting The Sisua-
ton, But is Persuaded 10 Bring Suit-Iffda-
Wit Of an Interesting Naturs-Busi-
ness Men Called to Act.

Henry j. Harris, the Louisville trav-
cling man whose arrest on suspicion OF
being Fitzsimmons, the Pittsburg muir
derer, was chronicled yesterday, was re-
leased from custody about nine o'clock
yesterday morning. Mr.. Harris, accord
ing to statement made by Chief Del
brugge, yesterday, said he was satisfied
the police had acted for the public good,
and while he was indignant when ar
rested, he had no complaint to make,
and was satisfied. Later, according to
the Chiefs statement, Harris was met by
newspaper reporter, who advised and
urged him to enter suit against the
city, "and," added the Chief, "he went
with Harris to the Office Of an attorney
with the idea Of suit In view. Harris
has since told me, that he did not want
to bring a suit, and did not intend to do
land he added that he had even told De-
tective Shores. of Pittsburg that he was
sorry he had spoken to him the way he
did during Thursday night" Late in
the afternoon, after Mr.. Harris had
seen some Of his business friends in
the city, he appears to have changed
his mind, for, in company with Messrs.
Henry Baer and Morris Horkheimer,
he called upon Capt. B. B. Dovener, in
the Federal Court room, with the idea
of having q suit entered. Capt. Dove
ner did not think it advisable for Mr..
Harris to enter suit himself, posing as
martyr, and suggested the idea OF
bringing the matter before the Cham
Der of Commerce, where suitable
expressions of opinion could be
had, and such action taken as
should be advisable. The matter rests
in that position at present, Mr.. Harris
| having left the city. 1t is understood
he has telegram from his house, ad-
vising him to bring suit, and offering to
back hin with all the means necessary
for the prosecution Of his case.
When asked, yesterday, why he had
not released Harris as soon as Detective
Shore had said he was not Fitzsim-
mons, Chief Delbrugge said he held
Harris until daylight at the request Of
Shore, who thought that possibly be
was another man whom he wanted.
The Detective also telegraphed from
| Pittsburg, last night, to the same effect.
1t is but just to say that from the
first Chief Delbrugge had little doubt
but that Harris was all right, but he
simply held him as a precaution until
the Pittsburg officers arrived. He told
REGISTER man at o'clock Thursday
he did not believe the man was Fitz-
simmons and reiterated this belief
later. At midnight Thursday night
| the Chic, said he was convinced Harris
was all right, but that he was holding
him at tie request Of Shores, who want
ed to see him in daylight.
The telegram from the Louisville house
of Berkeley, Brown & Smith, say
ing they had a salesman named Henry
j. Harris and that he ought to be in
Wheeling, was received by the Chief
before midnight Thursday night.
In refuation of the charge that the
police authorities denied Harris COM
municatiCl with his friends, il was stat
ed at headquarters, last night, that
directly the contrary is true, as Chief
Delbrug9 personally did telephoning
| for Harris. The following affidavit is
also submitted by the police:-
state of Vest Virgtntd, County Of Ohio, 49,:
Personally appeared before the under
signed, aNotary Public, in and for Ohio
county, W. Va, John Howell, who first
being duly sworn by me, deposes and says:
On Thursday evening while Henry j..
| Harris, arrested by Policeman Joseph Con-
rad, on Suspicion that he was Fitzsimmons,
a fugitive from justice at Pittsburg, was
| in the Lookup, l went in to take him
paper. ssked him if he knew anybody in
| Wheeling and he said that he did; that he
| knew Flac,us Bros. and Baer's Sons. |
asked him "Why not send for them2 II
| they kuowyou to be the person you say you
are, they can get you out II you can prove
| YOUR identity that would be suffi-
cient.n He replied that he did not
want them TO know that he was arrested
! I remarked that it was no disgrace to be
| taken for criminal If it were mere case
of mistaken identity, but be insisted that
he did not want his acquaintance to know
he was behind the bars. l showed him the
top of Flaocps Bros building, and said 1t
was only square away, but he still de-
clined to have them notified.
And further this deponent sayeth not,
JOIN HOWELL.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
18th day of September, A. D., 1891,
B. A. SwARTz,
Notary Public.
Mr.. Harris told City Clerk Thoner
and Fire Chief Healy that he did not
intend to bring suit, but wanted to see
every reporter in Wheeling and have
them ''do the Chief up" for the treat
ment he had received.
The following call for a meeting Of
the Chamber of Commerce was made
public last night:
WHEELING, w. VA, Sept. Is 1891.
Mr.. H. Quarter, President Chamber OF Com
msrce, WhiclinG, ". Va:
DEAR SIR.-You have doubtless noticed
ia our daily press the accounts OF the IN
justihable arrest and detention OF Mr..
Henry J. Harris, Of Louisville, KY, who
has visited Dur city and the wholesale
trade for twD years past in the interest OF
the Louisville Cider and Vinegar Works.
This / can -ouch for as being true, and
II certainly demands some notice and
rectifcation from the law-abiding ele-
ment of the city, and as the Council Com
mittee on P0icea are disposed toward white
washing anc continuing in Office a. man
who each dsg furnishes fresh evidence OF
incapacity and unhtness for the position OF
trust he holds and other municipal offices
are in no better shape, think the time
has come when the taxpayers Of Wheeling
should call halt. Therefore would most
respectfully request you 10 call meeting
of the body over which you preside and
who bear the burden Of taxes and are re-
sponsible for our reputation abroad, for
the purpose OF entering an earnest protest
AGAINST continuing the existing disgraceful
state of affairs.
Very respectfully yours,
HENRY BAER.