The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-04


Franzhe,m with the request that he be
kind enough to sign his name to it An
Inaccurate version OF the note has APP
peared in the Register. 1 give it as it
came to me:
M mother is dedrer to me than my olCn
lie. If it Is any satisfaction for you to
know that you have completely pros
trated my mother by your internal ar.
ticles in the ISTELEGAEcER, l will tell
you so. / will further .lell you that If
any serious results occur will kill you
rs | would a dog. Had been here
earlier in the evening l would have
thrashed you on the spot
EDWARD 3. FRANZHEIM.
On second reading noticed the
young mans dramatic way of spelling
the name Of the newspaper with which
am associated, and placed the note in
my pocket for future reference. As l
was leaving the dining room by the
door near the parlor was confronted
by the writer OF the note and his
brother, A. a. Franzheim, Democratic
nominee for sheriff, the former bran
disning cane, the latter in the lead. l
stood still to await developments.
Suddenly Mr.. n. B. Scott rushed be-
tween the Franzhcims and myself, and
took hold OF each of them. A. A. Franz
helm had his right in his right hip
pocket, Mr.. Scott holding his arm and
saying that there was to DO no shooting
there. Franzhem said he had no rev.
Oliver. He insisted that he had some
thing to say to me aud | advanced to
hear it. Some movement OF mine sug-
gested that | was about to draw revolt
yer, and he said, Take your hand Oft
your gun" Tothis | replied that l had
no weapon and was not in the habit OF
carrying one. Mr.. P. b. Dobbns. think
ing he was about to strike, caught his
arm. A. A. Franzhem declared that he
would kill me.
There were no passes between ua, and
did not at any time have any thought
of voluntarily enga Sing in brawI with
these men, although did keep watch
full eye on the proceedings and was in
terested in what was going on. Nobody
had to pull me away. l was only too
ready, ut the proper time, TO cease to be
even a passive party toa form OF con-
troversy for which have no liking and
which should have no place in civili-
zed community
Public affairs and the acts Of public
servants are proper subjects Of public
criticism. The public record Of per-
son who asks to be elected to public
trust is recognized by the law as being
open to investigation and comment
The ISTGLLIGENcER has done this, re-
ceiving its first intimation of Franz
helms record in the gas board through
men of his own party who urged that as
one of the reasons way he should not
receive the Democratic nomination.
In time the INrELLTGENcER was able
to give the result of its inquiry into the
matter. The late secretary OF the gas
board was invited to use the ISTELLI-
agXcga's columns in vindication OF him
self, his friends having refused to inves-
tlgate his case. He has also his remedy
at law. He preferred the lawless meth
cd to which he resorted in the Mcclure
House. 1 leave the people of Ohio
county to infer why that method was
chosen.
In the cotton states bulldozing has
been much in favor as short cut to
put an end to free discussion Of public
questions, and in that disturbed and
uninviting region it is thought to have
contributed something to maintain
Democratic supremacy. West Vir-
ginia, happily for the state, is in a
higher latitude. West Vlrginians,
thank God, live on higher plane.
am glad to be able to assure the
people that the course OF the ISrELLl-
GEXcER will not be changed or modified
on any question by threats to assassin
ate its editor; not even by the execu-
ton OF these threats. The personality
of the editor is OF little moment. 1t is
the newspaper that speaks and, battling
for the public interest, rests secure on
the solid foundation OF the public con-
fidence.
thrust that the warning lesson of
this affair may not be lost on the young
men Of our community. Men yield to
temptation with no thought OF the pain
that will follow. 0vertaken by publi-
city, they try to tind in that the cause
of all the sorrow they have wrought
Perhaps this is human nature. re-
gret every heartache in this unhappy
business, but, having public duty to
perform, have sought to perform it to
the best OF my ability.
Instead OF being moved by personal
feeling, have had to set aside personal
consideration. Convinced that the
public interests would not be safe in the
hands that were reaching out for them,
have submitted to the public the con-
elusive reasons on which that convic-
ton is based.
The case goes to the people Of Ohio
county, who place in the hands Of their
sheriff a vast business aggregating more