The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-17

by law OF the state to protect the inter-
est Of the state: Is such course of ac-
tion barratry? Why. such q proposition
Is absurd, said the speaker. Here the
mans cupidity is aroused by the law
Itself. which holds out to him reward
or fiVe per cent, and there can be no
barratry. True, the tax informers
didn't go about 1t the right way: but
did they pursue the wrong course intcn-
tonally? or course not. Everywhere
else. said the speaker. tax Informer pro-
ceedings have been applauded by the
press and public; he knew of but one
reason for the hostile sentiment here,
that stranger brought the proceed
ings. Mr.. Colts was treasurer for Bird,
and says he would have received more
compensation IL the proceedings had
been successful. Colts first met Bird
through the latter entering Information
against him. and later he had become
Birds employe.
AS to the Anderson claims, said Colo
mel Arnett, any man has the privilege of
ouylng claims rs m investment. Every
thing Jim" Colts has done Is not de-
serving of commendation, but we are
not trying that question; he is the Judge
OF that and so long as he does not 20
outside the limits Of the law he is en-
titled to protection.
There Is no case In which Colts did
not proceed in his own right. Where,
then, Is there barratry? He did not at
tempt to stir up strife between other
persons, and unless this Is done there
can be no barratry. There must be an
improper motive at the bottom of II, too
With Mr.. Colts. there was no Improper
motive; he had the right to assert his
proper claims.
Mr.. Pcndlcton Closes.
Mr.. Pendleton then closed for the
prosecution. Justices of the peace have
no Jurisdiction over fee claims or tax
informer claims; no attorney except
Colonel Arnett had ever contended
otherwise. AS to barratry, he cited an
English opinion In support of the claim
that n man can be guilty of barratry
who Institutes suits in his own name.
AS high handed n piece of villainy as
was ever perpetrated in Ohio county Is
the Sloan case. We all know It Is illegal
to collect more than per cent interest,
yet Colts and Hasenauer compelled Sam
Sloan to pay $40 for the use OF s73. And
they had him arrested by justice OF
the peace on a criminal charge. Was
there ever a Shylock who exacted so
much from creditor? Hasenauer knew
he couldn't collect such a claim. and
sold 1t to peddler of broken down
| claims. What did Colts do? He was
guilty of the worst type OF barratry, of
blackmail of the vilest character. by
arresting poor Sam Sloan on criminal
| charge. This was one Of the tricks Of
Mr.. Colts.
Then there Is the Joe Green case.
| Years ago he had 4 case which he won.
Mr. Colts acquires the alleged Anderson
claim. Colts goes to Green and says he
will have him indicted by the grand
jury unless he settles.
Next comes the Clarke Bachmann
case. Colts hears there Is such n claim.
buys the claim, tries to collect 1t. and
then goes before "his convenient justice,
John G. Haberiield." and swears out n
| warrant against Bachmann. Isn't this
| stirring up another's claim? Colts tes-
| titled his lawyer was n liar II he said he
owned this claim. 1t will turn out,
though. that Colts owns the claim, and
| that his lawyer told the truth.
Isn't Colts common barrator?
Doesn't he make 1t business of buy
Ing other peoples claims? Doesn't he
go around harrassing people trying to
collect these claims, which the consta-
bic has held five years not daring to try
| to collect them. Colts said he had been
| connected with Colonel Arnctt five
years: the speaker wondered the colonel
hadn't become more corrupted than he
had been by such connection. Gnugh-
ter. during which the justice raped for
| order)
The Stifel claim was Instanced; here
was claim, most Of 1t outlawed. all of
1t paid before. and these people get SIS
from this reputable firm because they
| did not care TO enter into litigation over
such 4 little matter Isn't this barratry
and the stirring up Of strife?
And then there are the Henry and
| Hillman cases. Executions issued at
the instance of Colts and posted at their
places Of business. Isn't this barratry?
II not, the speaker never heard OF bar
ratry.
The speaker congratulated the clti-
zens OF West Virginia that they have
only one William J. Colts living by such
barratrous proceedings.
Then there Ia the Egcrter claim. Here
| Colts tells Lcirer he wants to make It
hot for Mrs. EGcrter: that claim was
bought to get even with somebody. with
Mr.. Reymann, we are told. said the
speaker.
Next comes the Bishop Donohuc case.
He not only prosecuted Bishop Dono-
hue, Sam Sloan, Joe Green. Harry Bach
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