The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-01-25

= approximately 5000 people assembled
N The Market Auditorium last evening
TO hear City Manager Homer c. C-ago.
Walter 3. Hilton, CouaH!lman James II.
Beans and Attorney John \. Howard
make what they termed an appeal for
fair play n the Wheeling recall elec-
,!o7 which VIII be held on Thursday Of
this week. The audience. In numbers
, compared well with The audience assem-
bed n the auditorium Monday evening
20 hear the address ot Hon. john J.
Cou:@ on the election issues. under the
auspices Of the Committee &C one Hun
dred and the Ohio County League OF
Women Voters Applause given the
speakers indicated that Z NhcCa. rep
rcsentat!on OF the CraGo administration
supporters were scattered through the
audience II was easily observed, how
ever. tha: the majority Of the audience
was not there 70 demonstrate their SYM
pa,hy for one set Of candidates or their
an;agon!sm 10 any others. They simply
listened quietly u :he appeal ot the
speakers making no demonstration one
way or the Other that might indicate
their attitude. \ good pcrcc2' OF the
men and women who made up Tho audi
once we're also present Monday night
to hear Mr Con!ns address.
Mr.. Grover c. B-oemer presided as
chairman Of the meeting. ard introduced
the speakers with Very hrtet remarks
after ayinI. in opening. that the m""t-
ing had been called In sense "f ta'r
play: that no ra!r minded person woA'd
want to Judge SO great an issue 40 con
fronts the people OF Wheeling in the
election this week.
Cra9o Presents His Appeal
City Manager Homer 9. CraGo was
presented as the first speaker.
Ladies' and Gentlemen, and Fellow
citizens" he began IN opening short
address. Il come before YOU tonight to
ask YOU for Justice and fair play. am
going 10 make q few remarks and lot
you know i t"w things that YOU have
not known and never would have known
through the press.
II was Indicted by tho September
grand jury on September &c and rs soon
as knew ot Il. appeared n the Grim
!aal court OF this county and demanded
an immediate trial I pleaded with Hts
Honor 70 give me 4 trial Immediately
not through AN attorney but person.
ally made the request" Mr.. CraEo then
wen, on 10 say that on September 20
again the next day. and on several other
occasions during that term OF court. he
appeared IN criminal court and demand
ed trial at that term. hut was overruled
each time. he said. on the objection OF
the state. and was compelled to accept
q tria. date at the next term OF court.
II appeared at the next term. on the
date SC, FOR my trial" Mr.. Crago said.
and what happened" When my case
was called. my attorneys announced
tha: N" defense was ready FOR trial.
Mr oCarl 90 BaChma0u. the prUsccut-
ing attorney Of Ohio county. told His
Honor that they would have 10 wal on
MIR CouiN. Mr. tonifc arrived In about
an hour. 4 morning was spent In by
play around one Claude Rogers. They
talked about Claude Rogers for an hour
and half and Mr.. ConiT told III" court
that without the testimony oS Claude
Rogers. my conviction would be impOs
s!ble
"Ru.. ladies and gentlemen. do you
know that Claude Rogers never was be-
fore the grand jury which indicted me?
How. then. and upon what evidence was
7 indicted" ! say this in 4 spirit OF fair
play.--thcre seem 70 bc on" or two leo-
pie in Wheeling who don't believe In
that principle. Then the state said that
there was noth.n: 10 do but 10 nol'e the
Indictment u1on which I was RrraiSued.
THE indictments aGaiu.t mo are
practically all a,in", VITA possibly tho
charging Of sn=l" word. The prose-
cutting attorney told me that. under
court customs I would he tried on the
Indictment in which the state had the
s:ronces: case. and that x couldn't re
convicted on this indictment. I couldn't
be on the others. But these oLm-r
charges are st!u being held over me un-
IL this election Is over"
Reading from what purported 10 be
n copy OF letter written by Mr.. II. c.
ogden 10 Representative" n Charles
ION. Mr.. Crago pictured himself branded
BY the publisher Of this newspaper as
about the only man In tho city admin
Istration who Is not active" without
reading the entire letter Mr.. Crago