Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-16
WANT HIM REMOVED.
Sensational Charges Against
Lewis F. Johnson of Saco.
Matter Brought Before Yesterdays
Session of Governor and Council.
The Case Goes Ovcr-Pardon Cases Heard
but None Granted.

. N'l COME DtipIt tllt' 'IONtfilbI anu
Council was that developed, yesterday
afternoon, when Judge Il. F. Cleaves
of Biddeford in behalf of the citizens
of Saco. asked that Lewis f. johnson
De removed from the position Of chair
man Of the Saco Board Of Registration
by preferring charges in which were
included association with leWd women.
| embeZzlement Of money from his
clients. mal-treatmcnt Of Judge Fus-
ter, who appeared before the registra-
ton board. and the sale of his own
mortgagcd property.
Johnson went to Biddcford, six years
ago He was then a college graduate.
and after working his way through
college went to work selling medicines
| through the country. While in one Of
the hack country towns he heard a case
argued before a judge and made up his
mind that ne wanted to study law.
He went to the Saco House to board.
working about the house for his board,
and in the meantime studied law in
the office of Hamilton & Cleavos. the
junior member Of the firm being the
one who appeared against him. ycster-
day afternoon. In the meantime every
one admired the young mans pluck
He was bright. Of good appearance ana
was at once taken into the social life
of the city, moving in the upper circle
| He passed unusually good examina-
| tions At the York county bar ana was
| admitted. three years ago, ana opened
Il law office in Biddeford.
In the meantime he identified himself
| with the Republican party ana was
made a member Of the Saco Board Of
! Registration, and was elected chair
man.
The first thing that came up against
him, in a marked public manner At
torney Cleaves stated. was the matter
of the Board of Registration. The po-
| ltical contest in Saco was very close
| last spring. ana every move was made
| by the opposing party to drop the Dem
| ocrats from power. one man was
brought up before the board and he
had as his counsel Judge Foster Of
Portland. When Judge Foster was in
the midst of his arguments Johnson
fatty disputed the law quoted and
stated that the board could run things
without the help Of the judge. The re-
suit was that the judge was ruled out
Of court.
III lIl'' meantime JpilliS'lll : 'lbuillt
life became SO apparent that he was
asked by the citizens to resign. Col.
William ]. Maybury. surgeon general
On the Governors staff ana mayor Of
Saco. called On him ana tried to talk
the matter over and induce him to re-
sign. This Johnson refused to do, say
ing it is charged: The Office is worth
$500 to me ana il you want to tank YOU
1
bcrs interpret as a Willingness to re-
c"iVe a bride if he would give UP the
office
During the hearing Judge Clcaves
told the following story of the affair,
including what has been given above
After the officers had been given out
ut the close Of the municipal election.
johnson was disappointed that he did
not receive the place of city clerk or
that Of tax collector ana went to peo- |
PIE whom he supposed We're discounted |
at the distribution of the offices and /
said: Wait until the next meeting of |
the registration board. then | will trim |
them
The above are embodied in the first.
second and third articles Of the charge |
against johnson.
The next is that he. as attorney for |
Eugene Whitney. collected money |
which he appropriated to his own use |
ana never turned over to his client
The fifth is that, year ago. a young |
man was seen picking a pocket at Rig |
by and Johnson took $50 as hush money |
in settling the matter ana further took
a note from the young man A suit
in this case was entered in the Andres
coggin county court. was tried and
Judgment secured against johnson. A
warrant il now out for his arrest
The sixth charge is that he threaten
ed suit against Henry Wilson Of Bid
deford for an alleged alienation Of af-
fections If the wife Of another man
and accepted $50 as bribc not to
bring the suit.
The seventh charge is that he went
to the home Of Mrs. William F. Moody.
secured from her certain books and ac
counts. collected money on the accounts
therein contained and when he had
made the collections never turned the
money over to the client
The eighth charge is that he sold
books in his law office on which there
was mortgage and disposed Of mort
gagged furniture in a similar manner.
The ninth charge is that he collected
$S1 from Frank Cousins. Biddeford
dry goods man. as client for a Phila
deIphia firm and did not turn this
money over to the firm for whom he
had collected.
The tenth is Of a similar disposition
Of money he had collected for Roscoe
Emmons of Biddeford.
The 18th is that he had collected
money for Copely G. Rumery and had
refused to turn it over to his client
and when the client appeared at his
office Johnson threatened to throw the
man down stairs if he ever again came
into the office. {
In outlining his case Judge CIeaves
said that the move to displace John /
son was not a political move. as every
one in the city wanted the man re
moved that the registration board !
might be protected against him. He
asked that the Council take immediate |
stems to remove the man, as he had
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