Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-09-23
arsat Excitement In MartInsburg.


1t appears that couple of weeks ago
some person or persons unknown scat
tered strychnine or some other deadly
poison all over the town one dark night,
and the next day scores OF dogs were
found sick and dying in the yards and
streets and alleys in every direction.
They fell like leaves in Vallambrosa.
Good dogs and bad dogs, household pets
and watchful guardians OF the home,
pointers and settlers, beagles and collies,
waller ours and dogs of blue blood--all
crawled home to die or persisted mseraoly
in some dark corner. A wall OF anguish
went up TO high heaven = children
mourned their pets and strong men swore
loud and long over the bastard who had
poisoned their canine friends. Every
owner of dog became defective and
swore vengeance on the despoiler. Gossip
and suspicion clouded the names of several
prominentpersons, but there seemed TO be
no proof, and it was thought thatthe matter
would drop when the nine days wonder
was ended.
But a bombshell was exploded when
the grand jury met last Tuesday. The
name of State Senator Gray Silver was
presented for indictment on the charge OF
having poisoned the dogs. A number OF
persons were summoned before that body,
but the grand jury returned the indictment
not a true bill. This, of course, was am
pie vindication OF Senator Silver, and the
matter would probably have been drop
ped had it not been for iniudicious news
paper publications. The World, in re-
ferring to the matter said that "the charges
were made for political effect, and it is
generally believed that the proceedings
were brought to discredit the character OF
the county's reputable citizens" The
Journal stated that "many people have
been making surmises as TO the motives
that prompted the selection OF Senator
Silver from among the large number
against whom there was the same evil
dence that was relied upon to indict him. "
These publications brought forth a
spirited letter from Prosecuting Attorney
Allen B. NoIl, in which he very positively
denies that there was any political motive
in his action, as he and Senator Silver are
personal friends and belong to the same
political party; he would not bring any
proceeding to "discredit the character" OF
a citizen; it is not true that there was
any one besides Senator Silver against
whom there was the same amount OF evil
dence; at least fifty complaints were
made to the prosecuting attorney in re-
gard TO the killing of at least thirty dogs.
Mr.. Noll further says: "The circumstan-
cfal evidence within my knowledge, that
Senator Silver committed the offence, was
sufficiently strong and conclusive to war
rant, in my judgment, the presentation OF
his name to the grand jury for inveStlga-
ton. Judge Faulkner charged the grand
jury on the subject of dog poisoning, and
in view of this fact it was clearly my duty
to present every scrap OF evidence which
| could secure. | would do the same
thing again under the same circumstances,
irrespective of whosoever the person sus-
pected might be. have acted in good
faith throughout the whole proceeding.
have not said Senator Silver was guilty,
and do not now say so. | regret very
much that the discharge of my official
duties in this case has been made the sub
iect of criticism both by the newspapers
and Senator Silver"
Mr.. Noll proceeds TO place Senator Sill
yer in very embarrassing position by OF
fering to publish, with the Senator's per-
mission, the evidence which prompted
him to take the action he did. Many
persons, it is said, are anxious to have
the evidence published, but Mr.. No'l will
not do so unless Mr.. Silver agrees. This
consent has not yet been given, and the
Senator's enemies say that he dare not
consent. They assert that if he is inno-
cent he need not fear having the truth
proclaimed from the housetopS, and they
charge that his refusal to comply with Mr.
Noll's offer is strong indication OF his
guilt.