Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-17
Tucker County seat War.
DAVIS, W. Va, August "A.

To tis EoV0r OF ne REGISTER;
STn:-The situation Of county affairs
in Tucker county can be substantially
summed up as follows: In 1890 at the
general election held In that year the
question OF relocating the county seat
at Parsons, w. Va, was voted upon by
the people aud defeated. At the gen.
eral election in 1892 the same proposi-
ton was before the people aud again by
them voted down. At the January
term or the County Court, 1898, petit
tiOns were fled by Ward Parsons, Cit
izen Of Parsons, asking the County
Court TO order special election upon
the question, which was accordingly
done By the County Court, and the day
for holding said election fixed on the
2Sth OF April, 1898.
All. Harper, Citizen OF Hendricks,
fled petitions at the April term OF the
County Court, 1898, asking the Court 10
grant vote upon the relocation OF the
county seat of Tucker county at Hen
bricks. w. Va, and the Court fixed aud
ordered a special election 10 be held on
the 18th day OF July, 1898.
The necessary votes required TO carry
the point were received at the April
special electibn for the relocation at
Parsons. and the County Court az its
regular term in July ordered that the
records, safes, books and property OF
the county should be removed 10 Par
sons on the 7th day OF August, or as soon
thereafter as the building into which
they were 10 be placed was completed,
and a firm by the name OF Polling Bros,
awarded the contract 70 move said rec
Ords, &c, on the 18th day OF August or
as soon thereafter Us possible, provided
the election held on the 18th day fJuly
10 locate county seat at Hendricks was
rejected. The Hendricks election failed
20 carry in favor OF that point and the
order Of the County Court declaring
Parsons the county seat OF Tucker
county on aud after the eth day OF Aug
ust remained in force. Thus it will be
seen that the county seat Of Tucker
county remained legally az st. George
until the 9Th day Of August,
and there was no pcwer under heaven
20 altar or change the capitol OF said
county until after that date; then the
order OF the County Court took effect
aud became operative and not before.
On the 27th day Of July writ Of error
and supersedeas was awarded by the
Supreme Court superseding the action
OF the County Court, and bond given
and writ served on the 4th day OF Au-
gust. three days before the mandate or
the County Court took effect, declaring
Parsons the county seat on aud after
the TIN day of August. On the night
Of the first OF August, mob OF per-
haps 200 persons came 10 ST. George,
arriving FROM the best information at
my command, az near midnight, and
forclbly took thr records from ST.
George and placed them ut Parsons.
A great deal has been said TO justify
this act, but the very fact that they
elected the shadows Of night to do the
deed bears perceptible marks OF law
leSSness, aud condemns their action.
There is certainly no law in this State
TO Justify any set or class Of men 10 take
the law into their own hands. II they
had any rights in the premises they
could have asserted them in daylight
and without armed forces Infatuated
with intOXicants.
The County Court met in special ses-
sion on the 9TH day Of August aud d.
rected the Sheriff Of said county 20
forthwith return the records, etc, 10
ST. George, the lawful county seat, and
so far he has been unable TO execute
said order, by reason Of armed forces
guarding night and day, the property,
and threatening To xiii tae first man
who undertakes 70 restore them to the
county seat.
The Clerks or the Courts, I am In
formed, are acting under the advice or
the ablest cOunsellors of the State, who
have no interest In the matter, and say
that they can legally do no business at
Parsons and that TO undertake it would
be in contempt OF the Supreme Court
aud violate their oath. This embodies
the main facts of the situation In this
county, aud litigants and persons who
have business ia the Courts are stopped
by the action OF a mob, who 1t is said
was headed by the Prosecuting Attor-
ney. who resides at this place, who have
undertaken TO trample under foot the
law and the rights of citizens, who feel
themselves aggrieyed TO enter the
courts.
The county seat Of Tucker county is
legally at St. George, aud no lawaold-
ing citizen will question the right OF
the people Of St. George 10 test the con-
stitutionality OF the special election
held on the 2sth day Of April, 1898.
The people who are openly defyng the
authorities and the law will reap their
reward in the end, for the law is su-
preme aud will prevail. CITIZEN.