The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-31
MAYOR CULBERTSON ACCUSES
COUNCIL OF UNDEEHAND "ORh
IN PETITION FILING.
MELROY DENIES ALLEGATION AND
SAYS EE IS INTERESTED IN
CrTYS MORALS ONLY.
POLICE CHEF WANTS TWO MEN
TO SWEAR TO AFTIDAV1T
RETOEE PULLING JOINT.

Charles Thornton. colOrci. alleged pro
priHtr! Of a notorious dive on Crl"h
street Ec,!aire. told l"llhirc "fhcl"IS
and councilm"n last night ~ u" mot
. ing held ut the Houn"i! chamber !" ACT
on 4 petition :" Gust INN aud clos" Il.
place Of business. tha, n" only rc:tsNH
the petition WAS presented WIS b"caliS"
he. had engaged IN l :ighl WIKI cN'lorcI
Mason.
Tho conference. attended by members
Of council III" city solicitor ana N"
board Of control. adjourned without any
action hcinS taken.
City Solicitor James 7>aIlman inform
cd council and those present that coun-
Gil could do nothing III the matter. ne
said that the only way tho place could
be closed was for af!idHritS 10 b. made"
: trial held amd the proprietor convicted
! Of certain offruS''S and III" plac" d.
/ clared q nuisance.
Mayor Charles curbcrtson said that Nc
wanted to know why the petition was
! not referred TO him 10 Gust Thornton
/! instead Of referring III" petition to
, council He declared tho thing belong
! "a to him Tor settlement. If atI'!avits
] arc filed and charges arc proven the.
! man Will be prosecuted. the mayo Sa'd
! He declared nc was as Interested IN
| good government rs anybody else. lie
| declared that If the place WAS proven
| nuisance. IT would he cleaned out hy
| him. He answered Councilman McEl'
rows statement II last Tuesdays CoE"-
Gil meeting by saying that nc did no,
go 10 Columbus 10 dodge The petition
whom il was presented. lie said II
looked az though there was some motive
| behind III" petition.
Councilman McElroy said: i want
to know why this petition came |"
| council instead of to the mayor. Th'
thing has existed for some time ard
| has IL bad reputation There ~ n" I'M
! dcrhand work in connection with the Pc
/ ritioa on the part OF council or any
/ bod. else. and ! take exceptions 10 tho
! statements OF the mayor. The petition
was presented 10 council for action
1 and | do not know why II was not taken
10 the mayor.
IF it is the Joint they say II !s. II
should be cleaned out and no; allowed
10 exist. 1t Is time TO take exceptions
when the color line is drawn. w: are
not living in East Sc. Louis or Snring'
! field. Tho place is being mad" niser'
able FOR both whites and blacks. Th'
dive IS not two squares from tn city
building Its existence is not tn" raul'
Of the police or chief OF police. nor the
safety director The mayor. Mr
Charles Culbcrtson is alone to blan''
for it's existence The petition was pre-
sentcd to council and council wants o:
| record as NOT favorlnS the place nor Dc
Ing responsible for its existence we
are for tho morals OF Bc!laire
Now is the time 20 break up TINS
| thing Nobody can do il but the mayor
He does not need 10 sit mum. We nav
no police curb. but only q police con7'
pro tern. The mayor should have u''
leading hand. bui nc has not.
III council could move IN" JOINT OIL
) It would tax" only ilv" minutes ana !.
l could move IT, IT would tax" less Tine
IF the places are not driven out tAt!
will mean Il revival of crime IN IN
c;tv." said Jack Storall. one OF the saga
ers Of the petition to Gust Tho7nt"" an'
| close his place. Continuing hS re-
| marks, he said: There Is no "h"''
hand move. VIZ want the most good on
~ Tho least harm. That place has Dol
in oncraIion for four or five years u
building has always been used Tor IN
, same purpose. Men. women ana ch!!
: drcn know Of this industry. w" ar
I, hcr., TO defend tho morals OF IA" y"EAj
,,on,c of nur race We believe tina
its existence is wrong. Things q" n"
: look GOOD. There is something "roM
J in Denmark.
Chief Of Police Malone said tha' !
= two witnesses Ia any Grim" AT IN" IL
{ lc-cd ioin, would come I" him h" w"u!
swear 70 IN affidavit and have inc pro
prietur arrested.