Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-30
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1908.

Leader? IL speaks of the column OF
reprint matter we used on Saturday
about the city administration. On
Saturday the Telegraph attempted
to answer a portion of our editorial
Friday concerning the city admin
istration. but went off at a tangent
and failed TO answer single ques-
ton. We reprinted these questions
in the hope that our contemporary
would not dodge the same again,
and all the Telegraph could say was
to mention the fact that we had
column of reprint in our editorial
column, a better designation of
which would have been "a column
of questions which the adnhnistra-
tion organ dare not answer"
The Telegraph attempts to be sar
castle upon our expression Of the
trump grand jury" called to inves
tigate alleged election frauds, then
says:
1t is one of the most ancient and
hardest worked features Of the
game political to claim everything
in sight until you are beat and then
cry fraud"
About year ago Prosecuting At
torney Sutton addressed motley
crowd at the city hall The good
government leaders had been tell
ing something about how the ring
had stuffed ballot boxes heretofore.
In reply to this Mr.. Sutton was
quoted by the Telegraph as saving
that in case of any alleged fraud
he would ask the court TO appoint
such assistant prosecuting attorney
leaders might name, to go before
the grand jury. When the grand
jury met last July and had sum
moned before it a large number Of
people here, Mr.. Sutton was asked
to permit Mr.. John McGrath. who
had been employed by the Demo
cratic Good Government Club. To
appear with Mr.. Sutton before the
grand jury. MIR. SUTTON RE
FUSED. He said that the Tele-
graph had misquoted him. After
Mr.. Sutton refused to allow Mr..
McGrath to appear before the grand
jury the following letter was ad
dressed to the prosecuting attorney.
July l. 1907.
Hon a. NJ. Sutton. Prosecuting
Attorney for Mercer County.
West Virginia. princeton, w. Va
Dear Sir: Referring to our
conversation with you today and
statement we then made to you %
the effect that just prior to the re-
cent municipal election held i'm The
city Of Bluefield, West Virginia. OF
May 18th last, we are advised ycp
announced in an address at Blue
field that in case Of any allreej
fraudsor illegality i'm connec on
with the said municipal election or
frauds or illegality in connection
city officials. you would willingly
appoint any attorney that the Dem
ocratic Good Government Club
might select to assist I'm the inyes
tigation and prosecution OF any
such cases. AS we stated TO YOU n
the conversation above referred 10
committee appointed TO rcDrcseut
the Good Government Club I'm thi-
particular had selected Mr.. Johh y,
McGrath, and we requested yor Ir
behalf Of the club 10 appoint or sa-
cure the appointment OF Air Nc
Grath as assistant pr0sccutIu- at.
torney and permit him 10 apraa r.
before the grand jury and assist in
the investigation Of any charges
that might be made along the lines
above suggested. You then stated
70 ms that you had been mis1uoted
in your Blueneld speech and that
what you said was that you would
appoint anyone who might Doc suy
gested TO assist in the prosecution
Of any cases should indictments BE-
returned along any of the lines
above mentioned. but declined TO
appoint OF ask for the appointment
Of Mr McGrath as assistant prose-
cutting attorney 10 appear before IN,
grand jury. In view of the misun.
derstandire which has arisen fin ro
gard TO This matter Wc address Won
this letter and shall appreciate 20
very much f you viii answer the