Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-28
A BIG SENSATION
GIVES TIE PARKERSBURG PEOPLE SOMETHING
TO TALK AND WONDER ABOUT.
Investigation Into the Affairs Of Circuit Clerk:
OfRcs Of Wood County Said to Disclose a
Bad State Of Aaairs-Depuiy Clerk
to be Arrested To-Day.
SDs-iaI. Telegram 10 ne Rensfer.

/
PARREISBUIG, w. VA, October 27.-
For the past week or two there have
been whisperings and rumors of very
serious nature concerning affairs at the
Circuit Clerks office, and that a very
quiet investigation was going on which
would disclose a state of affairs that
aStoniSh the community. The runners
/ In the main have been correct, and the
announcement came to-day. The affair
has caused the greatest sensation ever
known in the city and is being discussed
ON every street corner.
From an attorney in the case is
learned the following facts: At the
February term of Court in 1857, VIM.
Braham was indicted i'm the Circuit
Court of this county for felonious as
Sault upon Elmer Shumway,
school teacher living near Belleville.
The defendant fled the county, and has
never been arrested, Witnesses GER
tifcates had been regularly presented
during the last three years TO the Audi
tors office for payment in this case.
These certificates have been paid to the
amount OF 4,SS4.
Ii was suspected that something was
wrong, and the State authorities direct
ed an investigation be made. Such in
veStigatiOn was made on Saturday last
by an attorney. employed by the Cover
nor 10 act in the matter with the At
torney General As the result thereof
/ il is claimed the State has been defraud-
ed To the extent of over $1,000 in the
Braham case alone. and about 500 in the
Fnlcy-Chalfant case. II is believed
that a complete examination, which has
been ordered TO be made, will disclose
similar frauds i'm other cases. 1t is inn
possible now 20 say 10 what extent the
Treasury has been defrauded. The
auditor, who Is here to-day, has tele-
graphed to Charleston for documents in
the case. which will arrive here in
charge of the chief clerk Of the Audi
tors Office. Warrants will be issued to-
morrow for L. Ward Clouston, the Dep
uty Circuit Clerk, charging him with
obtaining money upon the false vouch-
ers issued in these cases, and also with
forgery. The Attorney-General and
the attorney employed ia these cases to
assist him will proceed with
out delay TO recover back these
monies by bringing suit upon the
official bond Of the Clerk, and also
against any individuals who may have
drawn from the state Treasury monies
ON any of these false certificates.
Mr.. ClouSton, who is nephew OF
Clerk O. NJ. Clemens, says: 81 hope that
the people will not pass judgment upon
me until all the evidence is heard.
There are always two sides TO story.
I can't get on 70 what 1 am charged
with. but everything is in the hands OF
my attorney. by my consent l have
been suspended from duty until the
charges are cleared up, l have known
| for the past five weeks that charges
would he preferred against the office.
/ Auditor Duffy says the affair is of a
most serious nature; that he had written
the Prosecuting Attorney of this coun-
Nv about these matters and also the
Judge before he came here to inveSti-
gate. The Auditor was Of opinion that
the State of West Virginia would Itself
become financially embarrassed IN a
very short time if such enormous eX-
penses were brought against it 10y the
Circuit Court clerks. 4 more thorough
and rigid investigation, going back a
number of years, will be made. The
full extent Of the alleged defalcationS
and forgeries will not be known for sew
eral days.
The state Journal denies the charges
brought by the State against the Cir
.cuit Court Clerks Office. and says the
charges are brought by Democrats to
Iiniurc Capt. Clemens chances for re-
election. Mr.. Ciouston has already Sc
cured counsel for his defense. The At
torney-Geueral is here ON the part of
the State. 1t is now determined to in
vestigate the accounts Of the Office for
several years back. Nothing is talked
OF on the streets tonight but this affair.