West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-07-19
WAR IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP.
'0Wardly Attack Made on col 'Bill'
I'ter, a Brother If Hon. Charles
icicr the Lender or the Insurgent
Ming or the Republican Party

Col Teier is civil aud mining
Engineer, and has been so engaged
under Chief Engineer Monroe in
constructing the NJ. & X. railroad
Saturday was Primary Election
day for the Republicans. The for
ces of Sturgiss and Klein were war.
ring bitterly. Jas. A. Lenhsrt was
Field Marshal for the Ring, and
was conducting the battle in person.
Lenhart, it will be remembered, is
the chief Of the Court House Re-
publican ring, and one of Gov.
Dawson's henchmen, and the one
held responsible for delivering the
vote Of Preston County TO such
candidates as may be selected by
the Governor. Lenhart, for his
stewardship, has been heretofore
rewarded by being made National
Elector, Sheriff, and has been given
many other fat plums.
1t was demanded of Lenhart by
his Bosses to deliver Preston Coun-
ty to Sturgiss and Foreman. Teter,
with numerous other good citizens,
was working for Keim and StalIings,
as they conceded they had right
to do, as all of the candidates were
good Republicans. But this was
high treason in all who did not
work with the Ring for Sturgiss,
Foreman and the entire Ring ticket.
These were the causes leading up
TO the actual combat.
About the middle of the afternoon
in the heat of the battle, Col. Te,er
was called into the Court room by
Prof. Flesher, where the primaries
were being held and where Teter
and Flesher, were conversing on
matters entirely foreign to the
election. While so engaged a negro
miner staggered into the room in a
state of intoxication, and presented
his ticket to the Primary Commits.
sioner with the statement that he
wanted to vote for Keim and Stall
ings, and wanted to know if that
was the way his ticket read. He
was Informed that it was not, but
that his ticket was for Forman ard
the entire Ring ticket. Finding he
had been deceived, he tore up the
fraudulent ballot and asked for
another, and not being able to fill
it up turned to Col. Teter and re-
quested him to fix 1t for Kelm and
Stallings. Col being a Keim and
Stallings man was only too glad TO
do this, and in this way the negro
got to vote his sentiments. A ring
man was in the Court room at the
time, and ran breathlessly across
the street to report to Ring head
quarters at Chief Lenhart's store.
Chief Lenhart and a number of
henchmen and boosters started for
the Court House, hot footed, swear
lngen vengeance on Teter for inter
fering with the voters they had
"fxed"
They reached the Court room
just as the Colonel was leaving.
and James A. Lenhart seized Teter
by the collar and gave him a swift
kick or two before the Colonel
realized what was the matter.
Then Jim Lenhart and Teter
clutched, and Teter was fast getting
the best of Lenhart when Will Len
hart, janitor of the court house,
and brother to the Chief, jumped
on Teter, and the plucky and re.
doubtable Colonel, although at
disadvantage and hard pressed by
by both Lenharts, was proving a
full match for his antagonists, when
"Am EVERY, who is a clerk in
James LenharLs store, piled onto
the breathlesS but valiant son of
Barbour, making three on one.
This was too much for honest Geo.
Williams, the sturdy blacksmith of
this town. He called for "Fair
Play" and grabbing Everly pulled
him Oft the PROSTATE but fighting
Col. Lenhart's friends then rushed
in, seeing the Col. was about 10
worst their leader, and separated
the warning forces. All this took
place in the court house, and a
great effort was made TO hush it up.
But on Monday Col. Teter, feeling
that the assault upon him was cow
ardly and unprovoked, swore out
warrants for both the Lenharts and
EVERY. Here, also, is an interest.
ing fact Before Justice Murdoch
handed the warrants TO the Con
stable he managed to have the in
formation carried to James A. Len
hart Chief Of the Ring forces, so
that this high chief might not be
subjected 70 the indignity Of arrest.
When James Lenhart got the "up"
he hastned to the Justices office
and confessed to the assault and
battery and paid his fine. Sheriff
ochacffcr was a witness TO the entire
performance, and 20 keep from be. |
ng used as a witness hurried away |
~ fha Lorsfrrt.I CCr.,crt.e. - = |