Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-25
INTERESTING SUITS
Brought by One Citizen Against Many
Others,

Brought BY Ona tltlzen Against Many
Others,
UNDER SEC. 80 OF CHAP. % OF THE
CDDE-IT is CHARGED THAT
MONEY HAS BEEN LOANED IN
VERY MANY INSTANCES WITH
OUT MAKING RETURN OF THE
FACT TO THE ASSESSORS.
For several days past there has
| been quite a breeze Of excitement
in certain circles in those portions CT
Chapline and Sixteenth streets sacred
| to Justices, constables and attorneys
at-law, and vague rumors were afioat
that proceedings which would inter-
est quite a number of citizens would
shortly be instituted. In fact, it was
intimated there might eventually be
as many as four hundred of these par
ties, and that they would be exclu-
sively numbered among the Well-to-
do class Of folks who have money to
loan and possess property OF various
sorts to considerable amounts. 1t was
not easy to find out at once what all
these reports meant, but little by lit
tie the truth came out, and yesterday
the whole matter stood exposed when
it became known that thirty-four
suits had been filed, before Justices
Dunning and Haberfeld, against
as many defendants, to recover
money under section OF the
Code. These suits. it is al
legged, will be followed by many
others, and the resulting stir will be
very considerable.
been issued, twenty-six were brought
before Justice Dunning and eight be-
fore Justice Haberheld. In every in
stance the plaintiff and prosecutor is
NJ w. Bird, and he brings the action
under Sec So of Chapter 20 of the
Code, which reads as follows:
IF any person whose duty it is by law
to list any personal property, being called
upon by the assessor so to do, refuses TO
furnish a proper list thereof. or 10 make
such oath as is required by the NIFTY
seventh section or II any person refuse
to answer CT answer untruly any question
lawfully asked by the assessor or re-
fuse to be examined under cath when law
fully required by the assessor, or fail or
refuse to deliver the statement required
by the said ffty-seventh section. he sha!l
forfeit not less than ten or more than
one hundred dollars. II any person ran
to give q true list of all money loaned
which should be assessed, he shall, in
addition forfeit five per centum on such
sum not so listed, which shall go to the
informer.'
TIE attorneys for Plaintiff are J.
w E. MoCulley and w. W. Arnett.
For several weeks past Mr. Bird has
been at work among the records OF the
County Clerks Office, hunting up
mortgages given by local capitalists,
who have failed to return the fact that
they had money leaned to the asses
Or 1t is reported he found several
hundred cases, all OF whom come I'M
Ger the section OF the Code just cited.
The facts were duly compiled, and
the first instalment CT cases has been
brought, as above stated.
A Register reporter called upon Jus
tice Dunning yesterday afternoon to
obtain details of the suits. The JUS
tice was reluctant to t~lk about the
matter, while admitting that suits had
been brought. He said is was entirely
a civil proceeding, and could not in
terest the public He declined to give
a complete list of the cases brought,
or of the amounts sued for, but finally
consented to give list of the cases
actually set, as follows:
For the 29th> instant-Bader &
Maurer, s625; Sarah g. Brown, SO;
Henry Bayha, s65.
For the seth instant.-Dora F. Bar
tolls, $40; Kate Bartolis, $3.50.
In these five cases the summons
have actually issued. In other cases,
the names OF the defendants not be-
ing obtainable, the amounts claimed
run in one case to $780, in another to
$500, and in a third to s147.50. The
total of the cases SO far brought, it
Will be seen, is very-considersble AMI
represents a very large amount ct
money leaned.
From Justice Dunning's office the
reporter went to that CT Justice Hab-
erfeld There he found the same re-
luctance to give facts and names,
and the same plea that it was mere
ly civil business" The Justice con-
fessed to having eight cases, how
ever set for next Monday and Tuesday
Names and amounts could not be a:cer-
tanned, and the Justice fatty refused
to show his docket, but he did say
the largest amount claimed was $500.
1t is believed one Of the defendants
is Henry Brunhaus and another W. j
| Bodley Another defendant, whose
case is probably before Justice Dun
ming, is that against Jerry O'Brien,
and still another defendant is J. c.
| Beck.