Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-04-29
TETER CHARGES BLAcKMAlL
7eter Claims That Contractor Knew
He Was Buying Coal Land
OF Unknown Quality.

NuSSHuss w. Va April 20
That A. Panerlio, of Pittsburg, who
had Hon. Charles Teter and S. A.
Moore. two prominent West Virginia
bankers, coal and lumber dealers, ar.
rested at Pittsburg Saturday charged
with conspiracy to defrand. is a black
mailer, is the charge made by Mr..
Teter at the Mcclure. When inter
viewed, Mr.. Teter stated that he and
Mr.. Moore Sold the land without rec
omnending it and that when Panerilo
became dissatisfied they offered to
buy back the land at the same figures
that they sold it for, but that the Pitts
burg contractor refused to comply
with this offer and demanded more
money and when this was refused he
had the warrants issued.
While Mr.. Teter and Mr..
Moore were in Pittsburg, last Sat
urday, they were arrested on warrants
sworn out by Panerilo, but were quick
ly released on 1000 bail At Pitts
burg yesterday the case was aired and
if Panerilo continues his tactics he
will probably be arrested on a war
rant sworn cut by the two West Vir-
ginians. Mr. Teter, in speaking OF
the case, said:
Teter's Statement.
''Some time last summer Mr.. S. A.
Moore, of Philippi, and myself were
in Pittsburg tra1sacting business
when a real estate agent introduced
us to Panerilo, who stated that he had
some Pittsburg real estate that he de-
sired to trade for West Virginia coal
lands and desired a portion of the ex
change in money, stating that he was
pressed for funds. Before we closed
the deal we asked him to come to this
state to look over cur property, as we
did not know just what kind of prop
erty it was. We had only bought the
land few weeks before in a trade
ard did net know very much about it.
Mr.. Moore then closed the deal after
Panerilo stated that he did not desire
TO see the property and only wanted it
for trading purposes. The tract of
land is located ia Randolph county
and also a number of town lots in
Keyser. The trade was made, we
turned over the West Virginia proper
ty and a sum of money and in ex-
change secured his Pittsburg proper
ty.
"Just a little more than a month
age Mr.. Moore and myself were in
Pittsburg again, and Panerilo, learn
ing that we were in the city, came to
our hotel. He stated that he had
some property on Harlem avenue that
he desired to exchange for some more
West Virginia coal land. Mr.. Moore
made him another proposition. He
asked us about the property and if 1t
was u1derlaid with coal. | told him
that / had neven seen the property
and advised him before closing the
deal to look at the property, which
was located in Randolph county. I
lad not seen the property and told
him that | had heard that it was not
very good coal property and insisted
ca him looking at it. He stated how
ever that he needed money badly AMI
would trade his proprty for the coal
land with a cash exchange. The deal
was closed, we trading 247 acres OF
Randolph county property for his
property also giving him a cash con-
sideration.
Refused to Meet Note.
Later he went to Elkins and in
quired about the property and was
told by some person that there was
no coal under the land. He then visit
ed us at Philippi and was very much
dissatisfied with the trade. We told
HIM about stating that we did not
know what the property was and il
formed him that if he was dissatisfied
We were willing to give him back his
property for ours and the money we
had given him in the deal. He stated
ne had no money and needed some
badly. He insisted on Ms giving him
more money and we refused to do
this. He then asked Mr. Moore TO ad-
vance him 5000 and he would give a
mortgage on the property, which we
did. When the note came due he re-
fused to pay it. He then informed
friends OF ours in Pittsburg that he
intended having us arrested the first
time we visited that city and they il
formed us