Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-09-03
INJURED INNOCENCE.
Chanted ThrOugh.a Scottish
Bagpipe.


over the signature of j. G. Smith,
Ex-Sergeant, in which he vainly en-
deayors to attract public attention
from his misdoings as Sergeant, by
attacks upon me. 1t wont do. Even
if his charges and insinuations
against me, amounted to anything,
it would not exonerate him.
The report to which he refers, is
part of the proceedings OF the Coun-
Gill;. Itwas submitted, read and re-
ceived in that body, and published
with the majority report, as the pro-
ceedings of Council, for the infor-
nation of the public.
Just take notice that Mr.. Smith
does not, in his published card, deny
a single allegation in that report.
Does he suppose that abuse OF me
will satisfy the public as to his inno-
cence? Mr.. Smith tried the game
of brag and abuse during the inves-
LEGATIONS of the Committee. l told
him, then, in the, presence of the
Committee, that his abuse would not
deter me from the discharge of my
duty. / think the developments
which followed gave him ample proof
Of my earnestness in the matter.
1t is only necessary to state, that
all the material items in my report,
were substaptiated by facts, and al
so by the majority report OF the Com
mittee. And further, that Mr..
Smith does not deny a single allega-
ton.
How does it happen that Mr..
Smiths whine of injured innocence
is directed entirely against me !? Did
he, or his reviewer purposely over
look the important fact that another
report was published with mine, and
signed by four members of the FL
nance Committee ? If so, let me
call his attention to it, and to the
scathing fact that in that majority
report he is charged with erdsang and
changing figures on his books to-
make false balances. That is little
more serious than anything charged
against him in my report. That
charge, If pushed to its final conclu-
sion might lead to the penitentiary.
Plenty of men have gone there over
that road. Bat why did he not at
tack the members of the Committee
who signed that report ? Until he
clears his skirts of that serious
charge, his attitude of injured inno-
cence is simply ridiculous. But Mr..
Smith has put himself in position
where he cannot break the force of
this serious charge. 1t happened in
this way At the sitting of the
Committee at which the alterations
in his account of erroneous assess
ments was discovered, amounting to
$74, Mr.. Smith wos present, and in
the presence of the whole Committee
stated that there had been no altera-
ton in the figures on his books, and
that they stood just the same as
when the Committee had last exam
ined them. The Committee took
different view of it, and submitted
to Council the report charging him
with the alterations. Mr.. Smith
Ndo III blAC SOuuCtl-lOOul WITCH LIlb
report was read. He then admitted
that he had made the alterations,
and attempted an explanation. He
was cut short by Mr.. Lambert, who
reminded him that when the discov.
cry was first made by the Commit
tee, he denied it. What was Mr..
Smiths reply? Why, simply that
she was SO confused at the time,
that he did not know what he was
SAYING How is that for thin
Does this not prove that the Sar-
geant not only made the alterations,
but lied about it.
Now, hardly deem it necessary
to reply to any insinuations coming
from man weighted down with
such charges.
In regard to his charge about Mr.
Thatcher's water, the facts are these:
AS chairman of the Water Board,
let Mr.. Thatcher have water for So
the regular price. He had to get the
water out Of Mrs. Days hydrant,
and paid her for the privilege. The
understanding with Mr.. Thatcher
was, that Mrs. Day would not use
the water. He promised that no
one shonld use water fiom the hy-
drant but himself, as he rented it
from Mrs. Day. The S. went into
the Corporation treasury. The mon
ey was not pocketed and bill put in
as a voueher-not paid. And that
is all there is of it.
The only other charge made.
against me by Mr. Smith, is in re-
gard to Alb. Burke's fine. which is as
tllmsey as the water matter.
The Burke woman was in Jail at
Corporation expense. She had been
committed by pro tenn Mayor Lam
bert, in the absence of the mayor.
She asked me to see if | could not