Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-20
WEST LIBERTY RATIFIED.
The Citizens of the Town After an
Anonymous Lib8I6r,
Who Posts Derogatory and De-
famatory Notices on Posts, Front
Doors and Other Public Places,
to the Scandal and Annoyance Of
Many Reputable People.

The town of West Liberty, about
fourteen miles from Wheeling, has an
affection.
This is not the first affection that has
been visited upon this place, for it has
had its misfortunes in the past, which
have disturbed the quietude Of that
community and wrought local excite
ment to a high pitch.
West Liberty present affection is an
unknown public libeler who INDUCES
in the pastime of endeavoring to des-
poll OF degrade the reputation OF prom
inent people of that place
For nearly a week past prominent cit
liens, on arising and going out in the
morning, were amazed and very much
shocked to find, sometimes posted on
their front doors, poster on which
was written the most libelOus state
ments concerning themselves. These
posters have always been posted in con-
spicuous places-on front doors, tele-
graph poles. houses, fences, posts, etc,
anywhere that might attract public
attention, and cause people TO stop ana
read. These posters have always been
nut I'D at night and the name OF the
guilty party is kept an absolute secret
The matter has stirred up the town TO
a remarkable state. The most promi-
nent citizens of the town have found
themselves libeled. The statements
thus publicly and anonymously made
have always assailed the personal char
acter or reputation Of the persons ad-
dressed. They have been accused OF
immortality. violation of marriage vows
and religious VOWS, fraud, cheating
stealing and nearly every misdemeanor
on the calendar. So far these notices
have all been addressed to men, al
though the names of women, prominent
in the community, have been referred
to in a compromising manner. The
publishing of this kind of stuff has not
only aroused a great deal of talk in
the town and something of a sensation,
but has caused considerable alarm. .
Many people are always inclined to be-
lieve everything they see and hear, and
innocent parties are also alarmed Tor
fear that they may be made the sub
iects Of a malicious attack. An effort
has been made to discover the perpe-
traitor OF these acts, but all efforts in
this direction have proved fruitless.
Parties have been up all night for the
purpose of catching him in the act but
he has always given them the slip. The
fact that the person is unknown has
caused several parties, and undoubted-
" innocent ones. to be SuSpicioned.
One prominent citizen has been sus-
pected, but it is affirmed that he is not
the party. for he has been the recip-
lent of anonymous letters of this char
acter himself
West Liberty seems to be a hotbed for
the breeding of scandal. not that it de-
serves it, but II has generally had some
evil disposed person in its midst who has
always vented his malicious spite in as
public a manner as possible. For two
years past the people have been subjected
to the operations of an anonymous letter
writer. Nearly every person in the COM
munity has received an anonymous epistle.
from what source could never be deter
mined Some of these letters were mild,
ana tncl lilcIe were ollltl@ tIl'it WIZ l'il
from it. Some related to the most trivial
matters and others made the most degrad-
ing charges. As in the present case. tho
author could never be discovered and for
a couple of years piled his vocation
without interruption or detection. This
method has been given up. evidently. and
the afliction progressed into more ad-
vanced stage. From letter writing the
unknown. whoever he or she may be.
has decided to henceforth continue their
operations i'm a more public manner so
that every person may know Of what is
charged against various persons of the
community. In the meanwhile. the wrath
Of the public is fully aroused, and a coat of
tar and feathers and a ride on rail is
promised the guilty person. if discovered.