Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-15

A BILL OF PARTICULARS FILED
AGAINST w. ]. COTTS-FIVE
WITNESSES WE'RE EXAMINED
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND
THE HARING ADJOURNED
UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING
A BIG LOT OF EVIDENCE is TO
BE OFFERED.
The barratry case against W. ]. Colts,
J. w. McCulley, John G. Haberfield,
John Anderson and George Wait are on
trial before Justice of the Peace c. S.
Greer. On account of the interest in
the cases, and the anticipated great de-
sire to listen to the evidence, the hear
ing is being conducted in the Circuit
Court room. The prosecution is repre-
scented by Hon. John c. Pendleton and
Colonel w. w. Arnett and Mr.. Ryan
are appearing for the defense. About
sixty-five witnesses have been sum-
moned and sworn in. The justice adj
ministers the oath in a new form,
starting: do you solemnly swear be-
fore God, the Searcher of all hearts"
etc.
When the case was called yesterday
morning the defense objected to the
form of the warrants for defendants
alleging that it should specify the
charges upon which the action for bar
ratry is to be prosecuted. The court
sustained the objection, and adjourned
court until 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
at which hour the prosecution appeared
with specific charges against w. ].
Colts.
A number of witnesses were exam
\ined, but the hearing proceeded very
|, slowly. 1t will no doubt occupy several
days The nature of the evidence is
rather spicy When the hearing was
resumed in the afternoon Mr. Pendle-
ton presented paper setting forth the
following statements:
State expects to prove that W. j..
Colts instigated the stirring up of the
litigation with reference to the tax mat
tiers for gain and extortion.
That he prosecuted Samuel Sloan in
criminal action to collect a civil
claim.
That he bought the Anderson cost
bills to bring suits against the parties
alleged to owe them.
That he threatened numerous persons
in the community with litigation unless
they paid him money.
That he has purchased claims both
legal and illegal against different per-
sons, and has brought suit upon them
to extort money.
That he purchased a claim against H.
E. Bachman, and has instituted Grim
inal prosecution to collect the same.
That he has threatened to inaugurate
criminal prosecution against the drug
gists for alleged violation of law, to
extort money for himself.
| That he has threatened to institute
criminal prosecutions against the sa-
loon keepers of Ohio county for alleged
violation of law, for gain and extor-
| ton.
That he has threatened to arrest or
prosecute the Bishop and officials of the
| Catholic Church if they did not remove
steps in front of the Catholic Church.
That he tried to buy strip of ground
| on Baker street to prevent the Elm
Grove Railway from getting right-of-
way. and to extort money from said
company.
That he threatened to put Sam Sloan
in the penitentiary for not paying a
civil claim.
That he threatened to go to Wheeling
Park on Sundays and have Mr.. Rey-
mann and other officials indicted for
Sunday selling.
That he tried to buy a claim from
Waterhouse Bros. against Harry Bach
man, to extort money from Bachman.
That he also tried to buy claims from
Saylor, Maxwell & Co., and Schenk &
Sons against said Bachman to start liti-
cation and to extort money.
That he brought damage suits against
W. H. Holmes, James Holmes, Daniel
D. Ingram and Frank Mccoy, to intimi-
| date them from doing their duty.
That he brought suits for damages
| against Messrs. Thompson, Schenk and
Mccoy, Of the Board of Public Works,
to brighten them from doing their duty
about the. public highways.
That he intimidated Justices OF the
! Peace into issuing executions in cases
| in which he was no party.
| That he tried to buy a claim against
Mrs. A. C. Egerter from a Mr.. Lenier,
said claim being not collectable in civil
proceeding, in order to extort money
| from Mrs. Egerter.
That he has been guilty Of numerous
other legal proceedings to extort money
or other things from citizens.
That he threatened to institute a
criminal proceeding against Joe Green
| x,,o1o,- fropo hin,