Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-08
MCCLURE Is ARRESTED.
The Great L. & O. Mogul Under Ar
rest on a Charge of Perjury.
RELEASED on A $1,000 BAIL BOND.
James Sharp, . Carrier on the southside, Is
the Prosecutor.
A THIRD OF THE LEAGUE 10 THE RESCUE

Robert Mcclure, the eagle-eyed Law an,
Order detective who has been so successful
in running down the high-handed criminal
who sell Sunday newspapers, was yesterda,
arrested on charge of perjury made befor,
Alderman Reilly by James n Sharp, /,
newsdealer at 2201 Carson street, who wa
convicted at the last hearing with having
sold Press on February 2S Mcclure wal
the informer, prosecutor, witness and at
torney in the case against Sharp. He testi
fed that he went into Shsrp's place hur
riedly about s o'clock on the day of the
alleged purchase and that he bought Pres
from Sharp himself
The latter not only denies that he sold
the papen but testified on the stand at the
Robe court that he hadn't sold single
paper on the day of the violation. He
didn't deny having given papers in quanti-
ties to boys, but was positive he hadn't sold
Mcclure or any other person asingle paper.
Mcclure claimed he had, and on the low
and Order mans oath the defendant
was held for court Of course
he was wrathy. The impeachment that he
would sell to such looking being as Nc
Clure was more than Sharp could stand.
He had little fear that court of Justice
would set him free, but his honor was at
stake, SO he brought the suit against Nc
Clure
Mcclure Is Arrested for Perjury.
The charge for various reasons was not
made before Alderman Rohe The latter
had frequently decided in favor of
the Law and Order man when testimony
conflicting with reputable witnesses had
been given, and besides it was thought ad-
visable to keep the suit out of the Law and
Order firm. The information was made
Saturday afternoon, but Mcclure could not
be found that day and the constable having
conscientious scruples against working on
Sunday, the arrest was not made until to-
dav The accused was found in his little
16x20 office in the Excelsior building about
10 o'clock yesterday by Constable O'Brien
and was captured without conflict of
either arms or words. He evidenced no
surprise at having his testimony dis
puted and seemingly looked upon defending
a perjury suit as one of his Law and Order
duties Mr.. Mcclure has had previous ex-
perience with officers of the law and when
the warrant was read to him, he started out
with the constable to hunt bail before going
to the Alderman's Office. As Nh Houston
was the most accessible of the three MEM
bers of the Law and Order Society he was
visited, and was found reading the news
papers in an effort to catch up for time lost
on Sunday.
One-Third of the L. & o. League Gives Bail.
Mcclure told Mr. Houston of his trouble
in few words, and together they studied
the commandment that says something
about bearing false witness Houston was a
little bit excited when told that the only
Law and Order agent to be found since the
late Captain Wishart had made his exit was
likely to be an expensive plaything, but
it was thought best to keep him
out of jail for the services he could do
until given a trial, so Houston accompa-
MED Mcclure to the Alderman's Office and
went on the detectives bail bond to the
amount of 81, ,0O0 The hearing will take
place Thursday at o'clock
The attorneys for the prosecution are
Major A. NJ. Brown & Sons. 1t is probable
that Attorney Yost will take care of Mr.
McClure's end, but as he went East over
the Pennsylvania Railroad on the last
Lords Day, it could not be ascertained
whether his law and order duties extend to
the defense of Law and Order detectives. 1t
is claimed by the prosecution that there is
complete evidence of McCiure's false testi-
mony. He was explicit in giving the time
OF Ine allegeQ sale, ana MI. Sharp claims he
has witnesses to prove that Mcclure did
not buy the paper at the time named.
Very Heavy Penalties for Perjury.
The gravity of the charge against Mr..
Mcclure is such that should he be con-
victed he is liable to heavy fine or a long
term of Imprisonment at labor, and shall |
forever be disqualified to testify in any con-
troversy. The act bearing on the case be-
came a law in March, 1860 Section IA
reads:
Every person so offending shall be guilty |
of a misdemeanor, and on conviction be |
sentenced to pay fine not exceeding $500, |
and undergo an Imprisonment by separate |
or solitary confinement at labor not exceed |
ing seven years, and shall forever be dis |
qualified from being witness in any matter |
in controversy"
After filing the bond Mcclure repeated |
the statement that he had bought paper
from Sharp and at the time named. Mr.
Houston said the next move of the Law and |
Order Society would be to 60 after the pro-
prietors of the Sunday papers He said |
they were pursuing high-handed anarchy in
issuing papers on the Lords Day and that
they would have to suffer with the news
hovS and papor oorriore