Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-22

The result of the labors OF the grand
jury of the Criminal Court furnished a
topic for general discussion yesterday.
Some surprise was manifested in GER
tain quarters, but saloon keepers gen.
orally, no doubt, expected even larger
number Of true bills. One official of
the court expressed the opinion Mon
day that the number would be fifteen
hundred. The fact that the jury not
only brought indictments by the
wholesale against the saloon keepers
for selling under the short" license,
but also went into an investigation of
Sunday selling. occasioned probably
the greatest amount of surprise. Those
most directly interested expressed the
opinion that the investigation Of the
short Incense matter had resolved
itself into a general crusade against
the saloonists.
A number of saloon keepers, in con-
versation with Register reporters yes
terday, called attention to the fact that
the predecessor of the present Prose
! cutting Attorney had given warning
when they applied for license, that
they must take out the full license,
and that only those who refused to 90
soswere prosecuted. I'm this case"
said one, I'VE were not given an official
Interpretation of the law, such as we
might reasonably have expected, sri l
am but stating a fact when l say that
none of the saloon keepers were pre-
!, oh,
taken in the matter. The times have
been hard, and no saloonists were as
well prepared to pay the heavy tax as
they were few years ago. They were
under the impression that they would
not be molested, and their attorneys
Informed them that their legal right to
sell under the short" license is a de-
batable question. If they had been
told that they must pay the full Ii
cense tax or be indicted, most of them
would no doubt have complied with
the law, according to its Interpretation
by the Ohio county officials, and tested
the matter in the courts afterwards.
The investigation of the Sunday SELL
Ing by the same grand jury comes as
an additional hardship upon a class of
taxpayers who have certainly shared
in the general business depression."s
1t is probable that many of the sa-
loonists will plead guilty to the indict-
ments against them, but most of them
Will join hands in fighting the matter
IN the courts. If the cases come to
trial, and there is no compromise, the
county officials will secure big fees.
Inc, fees OF the prosecuting attorney,
II conviction were secured in each
case, would amount to $1,000. The
other costs in the case would amount
TO about $4,000, of which the clerk of
the court would secure about two
thirds, and the sheriff the remainder.
There is a possibility that the cases
may be carried to a higher court. The
attorney for the saloonists will file a
, plea in abatement in the Criminal
Court, when the matters come up again.
covering practically the same points
which were made when the grand jury
was challenged. The action taken at
that time was to prevent the saloon
keepers from waving their right to
contest the manner in which the iur-
ors were drawn. The contemplated ac-
ton VIII result in an investigation of
the alleged irregularities in the draw
ing OF the grand jury The points
made by Mr.. Howard, when the Jury
was challenged two weeks ago. were
published in the Register at the time.
IT is also alleged now that Richie dis
trlct has no representative upon the
jury, and that this is further evidence
that the provisions of the statute were
not complied with in the drawing of
the names