Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-27
don't open the door, / will enter over

lieutenant mounted the step-ladder,
and opened the transom. Then the
door connecting the two Offices of the
Board closed behind the r~etreating mar
OF men.
Mayor Sweeney and n or two First
Branch Democrats advised the lieuten-
ant not to enter. 1t was the general
impression that no members of Coun-
cid were on the inside, and that Clerk
Hornish and some other Republicans
were simply playing a practical joke.
A few minutes past IL O'Clock some
of the Democrats began to grow i'm
patient, and suggested the idea of adj
journing.
Republicans Located.
About this time 1t became known
that the Republicans were behind
closed doors in a room in the Masonic
Temple, and in communication by
phone with somebody, presumably
Clerk O'Brien. An officer was station
ed at the door of the room in the
Temple, but he had a lonely and
thankless vigil. The door was eve
opened, but the officer recognized the
voices of several Republican mem
bers.
The regulars who were jagged in
the room in the Masonic Temple began
to grow uneasy as the hours o on,
and from 1870 until after midnight
the chief received frequent calls, re-
questing him to emove the officers
from the door. One message came
from John List, one of the trustees of
the Masonic Temple Association, re-
questing the removal of the officers,
and stating the alternative TO be an
order from him to vacate the premises.
The Chief was not inundated by this
bluff but replied that the officers were
there by his instructions and would
remain until he ordered them to de-
part.
A Formal Protest.
About 1890 o'clock political strate-
gists H. c. Richards and ]. P. Max
we'll, accompanied by Attorney G. J.
Shuck appeared in the office of the
Chief of Police, and served him with
the following paper:
John s.. Ritz. Chief of Police.
Sir:-You are hereby notified that you
illegally and unlawfully restrain one II.
NJ. Schockey and Fred. Meyer in the
First Branch Council chamber of said city.
That they are held against their VIII by
one Of your duly authorized and qualified
police officers, that they nave demanded
to be released, which said eQues has
been refused by said officer. The restraint
of said Schockey and Meyer under pres
ent conditions is manifestly contrary to
law, and unless you order their immediate
release, we shall hold you and your offi-
cial bondsmen for the said Illegal act or
H. VI. sCHoCKEY.
FRED. MEYER.
Served this 9th day of February, 1901,
at 12:15 a. m.
After consulting with his attorney
Chief Ritz SEM back the following:
H. M. Schockey and Fred. Meyer.
| have no authority to release you. |
have been ordered to arrest YOU and
u EOA ~ iCiliIll. III iiit fIIGL al
Council chamber until adjournment, or
you have been excused, neither OF which
has been>done. JOHN S. RITZ.
The arrests were legally made under
a rule of the Council, which is %
plain as to be capable Of but one con-
struction. 1t follows:
Rule 81. Wherever, at the time appoint
ed for the meeting OF either Branch OF
Council, there shall not be a quorum pres
ent, it shall be awful for the members of
said Branch who may be in attendance,
to order the sergeant, or any of his depu-
ties, to arrest the absent members, or any
of them, and cause them to appear forth
with at the place of meeting, and there
to remain until the meeting adjourn or
leave of absence be given.
Show of Indignation.
The strategists were disposed to
make a pitiful show of indignation
anent the arrest OF the musical regu-
lars. 1t appears that Prof. Shockey
announced to the Audience that he
would defy the officers, and denounced
the proceeding as an outrage. Detect
i've OLeary addressed the audience,
saying it was politics pure and sim
pie, and Mr.. Shockey had nobody 10
blame but himself. The audience
Kissed. Prof. Shocked said he would
not go. OLeary produced q pair of
nippers. Shockey went, without any
necessity for the use OF the nippers.
The strategists wanted the warrant
upon which the arrests were made, but
it was in possession of an officer who
was not present. They departed, say
ing they were going to the Stamm
hotel to awake Judge Hervey and APP
ply for a writ of habeas corpus on be-
half of Shockey and Meyer
At one o'clock the members were
indulging in dominoes and other
games, and passing the time very
pleasantly.
After 1880 o'clock the members be-
gan to appreciate the humor of the stu
alton. and in settling down for an
all-night session, proposed to make it
as pleasant as possible. Mr.. s. Emer-
son, the popular tenor, sang several
selections. Thomas O'Brien. Jr., gave
a very humorous and characteristic
dissertation upon politics, that put ev-