Year: 1879

Editors lntellIgencer.


The editor OF the Register having refused
to give the name OF the author OF the
school boy cffusion that appeared in his
paper, containing charges and silly and
childish insinuations against me, am
compelled to so it blind and act upon the
hypothesis that it was prompted and paid
for by the Great Detective, who, unmind-
ful OF the unhappy fate Of poor Boggs,
whom he induced 10 go into, the detective
business, Still unfortunately labors under
tho hallucination ana mania that he is
destined 10 cloud and obscure the great
fame and name OF Allan Pinkerton.


Now, sir, there are great many people
in this county who do not think that be-
cause man is reasonably successful in
one department that he necessarily will
excel in every other. For instance man
might arrive at a considerable eminence
as drummer or peddler OF groceries,
but it does not follow that he would make
first class United States Senator.
Admirable CriChtons are very rare nova.
days.


/ feel sure that the emi nent thief taker
and incorrigble seeker after newspaper
puGs will pardon mo when ] commend to
his attention the old Latin adage "Ne sutor
ultra crepidam." He can get the man he
hired to write his piece to translate this for
him.


l will now proceed to answer his charges
seriatim:


The City Sergeant never made war
on the Municipal Clerk, On the con.
trary he deprecated and did all in his
power to prevent it, and only struck in his
own defence, all OF which he can abun.
dainty prove.


The statement that no made war on his
deputies and brow-beat Council is such a
palpable untruth that ] commend 1t to
the attention OF CounCilmen.


The next charge is that am enYious Of
the Sherif's great reputation as detect
i've. "This is the most unkindest cut OF
ALL" This fellow Is poking fun at me, or,
in the language OF fingle's sixteen-year-
old detective, "He's giving me gag"
Pray what exploit Of the Sheriff has ex-
cited my envy? Was it the Chicago af-
fair, when, armed and equipped with a
pair OF handouts and requisition from
the Governor, he received the prisoner
from the hands Of the detectives? See
Chicago papers. e


Nor am / envious OF the astute and in
genious system Of employing 8 lot Of
beardless boys to rope a suspected uliei
into a house, for the purpose OF convict
ing him OF crime and getting boarder
Mt the same time. Now this may show
eminent (?ybusiness qualities, but infer
that the prospect Of being walked up to
meet A possible conflict with a desperate
thief in the night will not commend itself
to the good and peaceable citizens oi
Wheeling, and is not calculated to pro-
duce profound slumber, no matter how
laudabIe the motive or great the thrifty
desire to oil up his jail.


As to my knowledge OF men need only
to refer tho great detective to the last city
election, He certainly hasn't forgotten
that. The article concludes with an impu'
tation on my courage. ] have only TO Say
that II he or any OF his detectives or hire
lings wish to experiment in that direc
ton that "My foot is on my native heatt
and my name Is McGregor," .gy.l.


Imust confess that l have not the high
moral courage TO enter into conspiracy
to conceal IRON the knowledge OF thu
State Executive COMMITTEES large sums o
money, and only sQueal on Q pal when de
tectlcn Is inevitable. But bad the mora
courage 10 follow my convictions OF right
and illustrate them with my blood, fight
ing Federal soldiers in the front whel
he and his cowardly compcers wer


making money in the rear, or talking Con
stitution and Sighting loyal lice In tn
AthenRun,


In conclusion, and by way Of explana
tion TO tho citizens OF Wheeling, my al


tention was called to the fact that job


were put up TO induce thieves to ente
houses in this city. The last notable cas-
was that Of Harper's hat store. / had N,
police oil arranged, and had the plan besi
consummated every one connected wit
the plot, no matter what his station or pc
sition, would have rested with Genera
Wallace, without bail or attorneys, unit
The Judge sat on his case.


'S'l7f's' JAMES W. SWEENEY.