The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-06-25
COY. HATFIELD
tcontinnsd From FIRST p.S.,

Congressman Robert NJ. Switzer OF
Gallipolis. Ohio. ventured to say that
IN his opinion he men who stole the
book from the table in the dining
room did so with the expectation
that Governor Hatfield would oner a
reward for its recovery and that they
could get this reward. They had
heard the Governor during his CON
versation with two state senators
state that the book had been given
TO him as a Christmas present by ex-
Governor Dawson and that he priced
IL very highly. He did not take SER
iously the statement made by the
men before the justice OF the peace at
Point Pleasant that they wanted the
book as a souvenir because the name
of Governor Hatfield was not written
in IL at all.
The two men who were arrested
and taken of the train at Point
Pleasant were nasty and mean in their
whole demeanor. he said Il was sat
ished in my own mind that they had
stolen the Governors book and told
the Governor so. but ! could not prove
II and he told me that he preferred TO
let the matter drop. Later. a young
lady in the dining car learned that
the man had the book and she pointed
out the guilty one to the Governor.
Il was near the Governor during the
entire time and | never heard him
utter a single word of abuse and
neither did he assault the men as has
been reported in some of the news
papers. When the time comes. | will
be glad TO testify To these facts be-
cause | would consider myself I'M
worthy Of manhood to see such I'm.
truthful statements made about any
citizen without an effort on my part
TO correct them. The Governor dealt
with the men firmly but without the
semblance OF a personal attack upon
them. and he certainly was more
lenient with them than I would have
been under the circumstances and
their very nasty attitude. and attempts
to make themselves appear as being
very smart"
Ex-senator G.. w. Crossin. mayor OF
Point Pleasant and the justice of the
peace before whom Abbott and Rausch
were arraigned after they had been ar.
rested, was in Charleston today and
was asked concerning the case. He
stated that both Abbitt and Rausch
entered pleas of guilty to the charge OF
petit larceny. Rausch. in whose pos
session the stolen book was found. was
fined $50 and Abbitt. his companion.
was fined $40. Squire Crossin stated
that the men had been offered bond
and would not have had TO go 10 Jail
pending a trial. but they insisted on
entering a plea OF guilty 10 the charge
and he assessed upon each OF them
nominal fine.
In Charleston. the bringing OF a suit
for false arrest by a man who has
pleaded guilty 10 a charge and who
openly confessed guilt. Is looked upon
az merely an effort upon the part Of
some persons antaFonistic 20 Gov
ernor Hatfield aud the state admins.
tration TO create enhancement for
the chief executive. % is the common
belief that the two men who figured In
the train episode with the governor
have been influenced 20 permit the
use Of their names In this latest at
tempt 90 create some trouble for the
governor.
Governor Hatfield has made no
statement for publication 90 FAR re.
garding the case. io has confdod 10
his friends that he is quite anxious 10
have the matter threshcd ont I'm tho
courts 20 the people may realize the
I falsity n the stories that have been
circulated In regard to tho affair