The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-11-29
TIME TO THINK.


When Such Things rs Are Happening In
Huntington Cam OsrHr In West VIE
gInIH.
Parlersburg State Journal: The
newspapers OF the state should observe
with thoughtful eye that which is
happening in Huntington. We refer to
the arrest and Imprisonment and tln-
Ing of Ave men connected with one pa
per 1.-THE Timesl, for publishing what
seems To us a deserved and fairly tenn
perate criticism iOf the acts, primarily,
Of u prosecuting attorney whom II
would he charity to accuse OF ignorance
For II not ignorant, the kind of prose-
cutlOn he Is putting up Of criminals Is
certainly something else, worthy OF Sc
we're condemnation, The point OF III
forest to newspaper men Is whether
they can afford to have the courts OF
this state actuated In any way by NAL
ice, b. passion and by craftsmanship or
used AS engines Of destruction under
contempt proceedings Instituted by
equally smaleyOlent prosecuting nttor-
neyB. II the Times editors can be I'M
prisoned and fined for what was said In
the articles complained Of, there Is not
"a newspaper man In West Virginia who
Is not vitality interested In this matter,
II Is one of the grOssest abuses OF ju.
dicall authority ever brought to our no.
tice; absolutely lndefcnsiblc In fact
The courts are not above legitimate
criticism, and the Times did not over
step the bounds OF legitimate criticism
and offered to prove the truth OF the
facts 1t asserted. The angry Judge and
prosecutors cared not Tor fact nor rca-
son. Smarting under something known
to their own coHsciences, they impris-
oned man who did not write the nrti-
Gle complained Of and fined everybody
connected with the paper, regardless OF
their personal knowledge OF the articles
in question Some were even at their
homes sick I'm bed II ever the West
Virginia Press Association had right
To Interfere the occasion " ripe. II
ever II governor could exercise pardon
Ing powers or exert his clemency In the
interests OF good government and an
honest and faithful observance OF the
laws, hero Is the opportunity. But the
editors of the Times have neither dis
cmbowled their victims nor killed
them. So we have little hopes Of our
governor doing anything,
But the legitimate sequence OF the
action Of the angry and narrow-mind-
ed officials Of Cabell county has come:
The efforts of the Times TO secure good
government, the observance OF laws,
and the suppression of the drink,
gambling and social evils have rehped
their reward. The action OF the court
has been heartily approved by every
tough character In Huntington, nnd a
brave and fearless man, one whose hon
est efforts are for the public good, has
been struck down by gang Of Towdies
and his assassination all but accom-
pilshed. his eycsight possibly wholly
destroyed, and dlsfgured for life. and
X. Il. Vowel. once resident OF this
city. now Hes IN precarious condition
on bed OF pain and suffering. The tel
Cgram says that three OF his nssailnnts
are known" What OF II? Backed by
public officers. whose acts they approve
and with whom they are in sympathy,
what prospect is there for Justice? Par
kcrsburE may be tough, but, thank
God! she has not descended to the In
fanny Of Huntington, nor has she. with
all her sins. judiciary nor police sys-
TEN devoid OF right thinking and noble
doing. Unless those three known as
sallRns Of Il. II. Vowel are sent to the
penltentlary there to be pardoned
mayhap, by our accommodating COVER.
nor) the good name OF Huntington Will
be lost beyond redemption.
Free speech. fair play, a pure judi
olary. rigid enforcement Of all the laws
by honest officials. and free and fear
less press are the salvation OF the city,
state and nation.