Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-18

The charges of attempted bribery,
made upon the floor of Council at the
special meeting last Tuesday night,
have created sensation in the COM
munity. Citizens who persuade them
selves that they are too busy to devote
any attention to Council and munic-
ipal affairs generally are astonished at
the turn Of affairs. The alleged brib-
cry attempts undoubtedly come to
them as revelation. The matter is
being generally discussed, and there
is popular clamor for more specific
information.
One unfortunate phase of the situa-
ton is the fact that the broad insin-
uations reflect generally upon the re-
jected applicants for licenses, and it
is understood that some of them, at
least, are not connected by report or
in fact with the alleged improper
transactions.
The following self-explanatory card
was yesterday handed TO the Register
for publication:
WHEELING, w. Va, May II, 1900.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-Not having any agents to at
tend to my business, hereby challenge
Ross 7. Chew to produce the evidence
that | or any one for me had offered
him bride of five hundred dollars.
q A IANDMESSER
A Register reporter sought Mr.. Chew
last night, but was unable to find him.
His brother, Mr.. M A Chew, stated
that he was out of the city. When
Mr.. Chew returns he may have some
thing to say about the matter. To the
Register reporter who interviewed him
after the Council meeting at which
the sensational charges were made, Mr..
Chew said the offer did not come di-
rectly from Mr.. Landmesser. He de-
clined to discuss the matter further,
giving as reason that he would have
to implicate persons who were friends
of his
Councilman Miller stated that City
Solicitor Boyce had been offered bride
Of 5000. Mr.. Boyce last night made
the following statement:
WHEELING, W. Va, May II.
To the Editor of the Register
Sir-I have up to the present time
consistently refused to say anything
for publication as to the rumors con-
corning alleged attempts at bribery
in the matter Of an opinion l was
asked to give the Council committee
On petitions and remonstrances as to
the liquor licenses, which have been
| referred to in Council, published and
republished in the public prints, con-
Meeting my name in the matter.
In justice to myself l have recon-
sidered my resolution to remain silent
| and because Of many misunderstand-
| ings that have arisen, l publish this
card that the public may know all that
/ do concerning this matter While
| the opinion asked for by Council was
! being considered by me there were
| many rumorS afloat that came to me
| of how much such favorable opinion
! was worth, the sum of $500 and other
sums OF money l remember hearing
| OF. But at no time nor place did any
| person interested or disinterested offer
me, directly or indirectly, any sum of
money or other thing of value for an
| opinion favorable to the rejected IL
| senses. During all of the talk and
| gossip which was daily occurring, | re-
! ferred to some of the general talk |
or.d <A xrrho g. Al
| opinion would be worth. which might
| have been understood by the people
| WITH whom l coaversed that an actual
o1Ier had been made me, among whom
was Mr.. Miller, who spoke In Council
on the subject. l paid no attention to
tnis gossip, which created no impress
Ion on my mind except that of indif-
ference, because l recognized that |
was dealing with a question of law,
| to be determined precisely and solely
| as an upright lawyer or judge deter
mines any and every legal proposition
| that he is called upon to settle. AS
| | have indicated, may have lightly
| spoken of these rufnOrs, never dream
| ing what was said would be taken seri-
| ously, spoken on the floor of Council
| and publicly and generally discussed.
| Finally, l want to say positively and
emphatically that no saloonkeeper, nor
! the agent of any saloonkeeper, dared.
! either directly or indirectly, to offer
! me money in any amount, or any other
thing of value, for an opinion favora-
! bic to them.
l h&Je broken a fixed rule of mine
of avoiding newspaper controversy
only because the public is entitled to
know the real facts, and I want them
to know my exact position in this mat
ter Respectfully, ETC.,
S. o. BOYCE.
Otto Fish, one Of the rejected appli-
cants, yesterday stated that he wanted
to be understood as fatty denying the
charges in so far as he was concerned.
and he added that he spoke also for
! Richard Wilkie, both of whom have
| given positive promises to conduct
their places in strict accordance with
| the State laws and city ordinances.
! Mr.. Fish offers to make AFFIDAVIT that