The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-24
sD..toI nt,pnlen TO lhe Inlelliaene,.

WASHINGTON, D G., April 2S,-Now
that the internal revenueotiiCe has been
filed, the interest of West Virginians
centres mainly in the slate OF officers
who are to take the three big federal
positions in the state, district attorney,
marshal and collector, for it is not pro-
bable that any more big plums will fall
to West Virginia. Ono good sized and
three or four smaller places in the con-
suar service will DO about her allotment
now. The slate, as it stands, includes
the names Of Messrs. Watts, Vinsou and
Gilkeson. 1t was stated in these dis
patches some time since that Mr.. Watts
would not get the place he seeks and is
slated for. The reason this prediction
was made was not that he had sent a
telegram OF doubtful propriety to ex-
President Harrison, nor yet that he was
opposed by Republicans, US his friends
claim, but because there il In existence
documentary evidence ot conduct on
tho part OF Mr.. Watts, which, to put 1t
mildly, 80 seriously affects his legal
standing and reputation that 1t must be
taken note Of by President Cleveland.
A further reason was that Mr.. Cleveland
has already called the attention OF
members Of the state congressional
delegation TO some practices on the part
OF MIR. Watts supporters which did not
Just meet with his approval.
THE EVIDENCE.
As to the documentary evidence, it ia
contained in the records OF the United
States district court for the district Of
West Virginia in tho case OF the United
States against Turley Kinder, who was
indicted Tor robbing the United States
mail.
This indictment charged the defend
ant, who was carrier Of the mail on
star route in Boone county, W. Va,
with having robbed the mail while in
his custody for certain registered let
ters.
I'D. Coghill, a postofIice inspector,
conducted the preliminary examination
OF the case the latter part oil 1888, and
at the January term 1850, under the su-
pervision and direction OF Mr.. Watts.
United States attorney for the district
Of West Virginia, attended us q witness
before the grand jury, and on the 18th
day OF January, 1889, an indictment
was found in the circuit court OF the
United States at Parkersburg, and at
the same term Coghill and additional
witnesses werc subpenaed for trial. On
tho Cd day Of February, 1850, the case
from some cause not having been tried,
tho defendant, on motion OF the district
attorney, was recognized for his appear.
anco at tho May term 10 be held in
Charleston, and on tho same date the
case was RENTED to Charleston for
trial, and the witnesses discharged for
tho term. Tho witnesses for the de-
tense had been summoned ut the cost
OF the government on the ground OF tho
poverty Of the defendant. Mr.. Watts
retired from Office us district attorney
some time during the month af April,
1880, and on the calling Of tho case for
trial at the May term, 1889, at Charles.
ton, he appeared as counsel for the dc.
fense and conducted the trial for the
defendant, giving his new client the
benefit Of all the information which he
had acquired by virtue OF his official
and confidential relationship to the
prosecution as district attorney, includ.
ing the data and information derived
through tho postonice inspector, Mr..
Coghill, which resulted In the acquittal
Of the defendant.
NOT A PARTISAN MATTER.
Iii not probable that the above Is
the only case Of this kind which tho
court records could furnish II they were
to be examined, but one is enough cor
iainly to show the nature OF the charges
which havO been made against Mr..
Watts, not by Republicans, but by as
good Democrats as there arc In the
state; men who are thoroughly partisan
in politics, but who believe that II
those charges arc true Mr.. Watts Is not
tho person for district attorney. Their
truth is not difficult to provo. Tho
court record contains tho essential
facts; the court officers are familiar with
tho attendant circumstances. Both may
DO interviewed.
AS to practices on the part OF Mr.,
WRtts, supporters, which were not up.
proved by the President, 1t is stated rs
iact that on the OCCASION when Mr..
watts was first presented TO tho Presi.
dent by Congressman Aldorson tho
President was assured by both gentle.
mon, rs well as by Mr. w. Il. Chiffon,
who accommodated tln,, Nbnk thnrn tgon
n9t one candidate In tho state OF West
virginia. for district attorney that
everybody was for Mr. Watts Tho
troBldont Is said tO hnvO commented on
TINS condition Of affairs He could
hardly understand how an Office paying
20 good a salary, and having 80 much
Of honor aud dignity attached tU 1t,
should DO 80 little sought after
About ten days later Mr.. Somorvlllo
called ON the President, presented his
credentials and informed the President
that his application for district attorney
had BEEN on flo in the department NJ
Justice Tor several weeks, that Ito had a
very Wide endorsement and that Ia es.
poClal tho newspapers OF the state had
peen commenting most invornbly on his
candidacy. Tho President was natural.
astonishcd. Ina few days Mr. Watts,
~ company with Senator Faulkner and
Mr. Anderson, called again nt tho whito
house President Cleveland 10 noted
LOT MS p'athneSB Of speech. II IL Foii.
Aply reported that his plninnNsa Of
speech to these gentlemen on this oCca.
SION SION broke all records and passed all
These arc tho reasons why IL Is 10.
ieyod 70 be safe TO predict that Mr.
watts VIII not DO the noxt district at.
IOrnoy Tor tho state VI West Virginia