Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-08-28
COMMUNICATED.


Editors of iShepherdsto,cs Re0isfer.-l was
acme what surprised to learn that your issue
oolast week eontainsd an synonymous article
sfwned at, (which maliciously missepresent-
ed me In the disehafge Of nay onciai duties as
Mayor Of the corporation Of shepherdstown'
and OF course you will allow me space In the
same channel to vindicate and defend my
self. The article learn charges that allowed
young man the privilege OF selling the enor-
NOUS sum OF one dollar and five cents worth
of paper and envelopes. within our corporate
limits without the payment OF license rec
into the corporation treasury. which charge
is false and libelous; and now~propose to
state the real facts in the case :----N~---------
On Tuesday morning OF last week, the 18th
day Of August, 1886. a boy, a POlander by birth.
applied to me to. grant him license to sell q
small quantity OF paper and envelopes. which
he held under his arm, within the corporate
limits OF Shepherdstown. He stated that In
many other towns he was allowed the privi-
lege of selling without the payment OF IL
cense fee, through charity extended him.
The boy seemed quite unwell and anxious to
sell In order TO procure funds for food and
lodging. In reply stated that our corporate
laws were very stringent upon that sutJect
and could not allow him the privilege to sell
his goods without the payment Of one dollar.
In answer he stated that in all probability he
would not be able to dispose OF one dollars
worth of goods. then stated would allow
him to sell IL he chose. and II his sales would
not justify him the payment of the license fec
would make myself responsible and pay the
fee out my own pocket. To this proposition
he ncceded and heartily appreciated the
kindness extended A short time afterward
met Mr.. Arthur, town sergeant. who collects
all fees, and stated to him the arrangement
made between myself and the young Poland
er, which he sanctioned and was satisfied !
also stated TO another individual upon the
question asked, that was responsible for the
license fee. Between the hours OF twelve and
one O'Clock, during the same day, met Mr..
Arthur the sergeant, In the presence OF Mr..
Jeptha Wintermoyer, and handed him the IL
cense fee of one dollar, for b. Polaski, and re-
quested him to make the proper return to the
treasurer. During the day, the young Po-
lander, upon inquiry, Informed me he had
sold one dollar and five cents worth Of goods.
Now these are the plain facts in the case, all
the public for their decision.
And now the question arises Who has been
"outraged?" If have committed an "out-
rage" as charged in your last issue, In ex-
tending an act Of charity to poor Poland
boy, In paying his license fee out OF my own
pocket, into the Golfers Of the corporation
treasury, enabling the poor boy the means to
procure food and lodging, and who was strug-
CLING to make an honest living. stand COM
mitted. / have assisted quite number of
boys during my life, I'm various ways, some
of whom were as poor at one time as this des-
titute..Poland boy is ut the present time.
About six months ago was elected Chief
Magistrate Of the corporation of Shepherds
town, by o fiattering majority, and since then
have endeavored to discharge the duties OF
the office faithfully. fearlessy and impartially,
and am glad to know that the respectable
portion four citizens are heartily sustaining
me in the discharge OF those duties. ,..E.
In conclusion, will now state that 1t has
been admitted long since. upon all hands,
that any man who will promulgate false
hoods, either in private conversation or the
public prints, creating false impression, to the
detriment Of any one, is falsifyer and SLAM
derer, and stands branded as such before the
public until he makes the proper correction.
JOHN II. little,
Mayor of Shepherdstown.
August Is, 1885.