State vs. Pearis

Click on the link State vs. Pearis to read  2 pages out of a book entitled: Report of Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of Appeals of the State of West Virginia

West Publishing Company, 1892     State vs. Pearis

I know the legal chat gets in the way so let me just tell the story and in doing so I am letting my oldest nephew know that certain things are hidden deep in his DNA. Like mischief, orneriness, the ability to get caught up in an out of control situation and family loyalty. Also, I grew up with his dad!

George W. Pearis of the State vs. Pearis above is my 1st cousin 4 times removed. We will now call him Georgie.

In 1889 when the above incident occurred Georgie was 80 years young and living in Mercer County, West Virginia. He had never married and owned and operated a tavern in Mercer County for many years.  In 1850 he was living with his widowed mother, the widowed wife of his brother Daniel and her 3 children Sarah, George and Virginia.  By 1868 his niece Sarah who lived in his house had married an ambitious attorney, David Emmons Johnston. By 1880 Georgie was living in a house with Judge Johnston and his family. David Johnston was a member of the West Virginia State Senate, a US representative for the 56th United States Congress and a State Court Judge. Can you just imagine the pride and family loyalty? From farmer/ tavern keeper to living in a large home and having nice things.  In 1888 David Johnston was a judge on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court who was running for re-election.

Looking north across Court Square toward the old Bell Tavern/Hill's Hotel in the late 1880s. Parkersburg West Virginia 

This is not the Tavern but it may have looked like this in town. 

Georgie was probably over in the Tavern, which was open and serving on voting day, in November of 1888.  Since the husband of his niece was running he was probably promoting and even buying drinks. It was November, cold outside, there was probably a huge fire in the fireplace roaring with heat and warmth. Joseph R. Johnston mentioned in the indictment had probably been in the tavern enjoying some of the free ale being bought and handed out by Georgie before going over to the courthouse to vote. Joseph who is now happy and feeling fine, votes for David Johnston; who may or may not have been a relative since they have the same last name. He is probably telling everyone that Judge Johnston’s Uncle is buying ale for any man who votes for his nephew across the street. Vote for Judge Johnston! It is easy to imagine how this could all be turned into some very negative publicity by the losing candidate and his supporters. Georgie was just a bit excited and probably well into a good buzz when Joseph just happened to get drunk before voting or…. Georgie was getting voters drunk and urging them to vote for his nieces husband Judge Johnston.

I just have to wonder how this all would have ended if everyone had a cell phone and were tweeting “Come on over to the Tavern old man Georgie is buying rounds!  His nephew is running for Judge again!!!” Did he do it on purpose or was it just a quirk in the natural order of the day?