Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-01

NENGEANCE.
Special to the Register.
Parkersburg. W. a., November 3d.
At 1880 tonight this city was thrown
into the greatest excitement by. the cir
culation upon the streets by parties
as yet unknown posters calling a
meeting of masked citizens at II
o'clock, midnight, at the south end of
the county bridge crossing the little
kanawha river.
The posters read as follows:
Gentlemen, you are requested to
attend a masked meeting at II p. m.
sharp, at the south end of the county
bridge"
Soon after the circulation of the pos
tiers citizens could be seen going in
the direction of the place Of meeting
and by eleven o'clock a good sized
crowd was present.
The correspondent of the Register
called at the Jail and found jailor
Charles Cook at work locking the pris-
oners in their cells.
George Melat, charged with the aw-
full assault upon the little five-year-old
Shaffer child, was seen in his cell. He
had retired as had also Wade Grant,
the negro charged with assaulting
Mrs. A. ]. Barry, of Macksburg, Ohio,
here recently.
Melat arose and greeted the cor
respondent in cheerful manner. When
asked for his photo, he replied that he
had none, but would sit for some and
susnecting it was for use in the papers
again declined, saying that ne was no.
euilty of the crime and did not want
ms ramiiy to know of his arrest as he
had never seen the inside of a prison
until his present Incarceration
Melat's hearing was set for this at
ternoon, but was again postponed until
Friday, to give him time to secure
funds to be used in employing legal tai
ent, and the postponement seemed to
cause feeling among the large crowd
present that the delay was unwarrant-
ed, although the gathering which ex-
tended far out onto the street from
Justice George Drennen's court, re-
manned orderly and made no outbreak.
A messenger approached Jailer Cook
at $3.50 while he was in conversation
with the correspondent, and warned
him of the rumors and circulation of
the posters. He at once repaired to the
Sheriff's Office. not having heard of
the move. and a hurried consultation
with Chief Deputy w. P. Rathbone and
Deputy Dotson was held, and Sheriff
Charles A. Wade. was sent for. He
arrived at the Office at ten o'clock and
went at once to the jail
The police had also been apprised of
the proposed move. Sheriff Wade re-
fused to discuss the matter, but it ap-
pears that an attempt will be made to
get the prisoners away from the Jail
in the event of an attempt being made
to take charge of them
No one could be found who opposed
the move, and even the absence of po-
lice was noticed. Everyone seemed 20
endorse the move. especially in tie
negroes case. but some were of the
opinion that Melat should have a hear
ing ,
Judge Jackson, of the Criminal Court,
appeared at the Jail at 1920 and at
once assumed charge of affairs, direct
ing the sheriff and officers from the
sheriff's office. The cause of the gath
ering together of the mob has Just
became known to the authorities. 1t
was rumored that some of the white
women admirers of Wade Grant, the
negro fiend who assaulted Mrs Barry,
had about completed arrangements to
secure his release on bond and her rel
atives and citizens who heard the re-
port became indignant and are out
spoken in their criticism of the county
officials. Judge Jackson in the pres
ence of the correspondent stated that
no application had been made for bond
for Grant and that the report was UNI
true. Sheriff Wade began deputizing
men 10 guard the jail al. 1880. Both
Grant and Melat displayed much un-
easiness when informed of the situa-
ton. and other negroes in the Jail.
some of whom resemble Grant, are
very restless.
1t was 1925 when the excited crowd
of over FIVE hundred men, mostly
white. started for the Jail, and in ten
that point was reached.
Before leaving the point of assembly
the mob broke open blacksmith shop
and looted ii of everything which
could be of use in effeeting an entrance
to the JAIL When the crowd reached
the Jail they leaped over the iron fence
and started for the main entrance
Many shots were fired, but when the
leader reached the door the first man
to apnear was Sheriff Wade, who ap-
pealed to them to disperse and go to
their homes. His officers were heavily
armed. aud their appearance seemed to
quiet the gathering.
The oficers drove those who entered
back to the street and judge Jackson
made speech, which was cheered lus-
lily. He was repeatedly asked II JUS
lice would be melted out the men and 10
be would stop the white women from
sending bocuets and dainties to the
nero
He assured them that NJ wdu, 4nA
The {. y exfenf nf the law youId M
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