The Portland daily press., 1900-06-16
He is Chairman OF
Board of Registration.
Matter Referred to o Special
Committee.


Augusta, June 15.-The most sensation
al matter which has come before the
Governor and Council in a long while
was introduced this evening by Judge b.
+. Cleaves of Biddeford when he asked
in behalf Of citizens of Saco, the suspen-
sion of Lewis 4. johnson, the chairman
of the board of registration of that city.
Mr.. johnson was appointed to the Office
May %, 1900. Judge Cleaves stated that
it has since been learned that johnson is
totally unfit to hold the office. He
charges that johnson is guilty Of embez-
cement, blackmail, keeping money which
he collected for his clients, associating
with lewd woman. Judge Cleaves
states also there is an execution issued
against johnson from the Biddeford
Municipal court AMI that there is an
other matter which was tried before the
Supreme court of Androscog gin county
upon which he is liable to arrest. Judge
Cleaves spoke to the governor ana coun-
Gil at length and read long paper in
which all these charges were rehearsed.
1t is also stated that johnson has init
mated that he will when the board of
registration again meets, trim certain
persons against whom he holds enmity.
1t was charged that when the mayor Of
Saco went to johnson and asked that he
resign the craftsmanship of the board of
registration, that his answer was that the
Office for the time for which he was APP
pointed by the governor and council
would be worth 800 or $500 to him and if
any one wished to talk business with him
he could call and see him. johnson is a
man of about thirty-two or thirty three
years Of age. He was admitted to the bar
some three years ago. He at one time
stood high in the estimation of the Saco
and Biddeford people and moved in the
best social circles. A while ago when
serious charges began to make public
against johnson he suddenly disappaa red
and for while his whereabouts were I'M
known, about two weeks ago he returned
to Saco and has called a meeting of the
registration board TO meet tomorrow
morning. At this time the board, as il
is generally underst pod, can only do
clerical work in preparing the voting lists
and Just what johnson expects he can do
at this time Is only matter of conjec-
ture Judge Cleaves was very earnest in
asking that johnson be suspended from
office pending a hearing when the charges
made against johnson can be heard
There is evidently great deal of feeling
III odcO hinoHg VOTERS OF all parties
against johnson.
In executive session the matter was re-
ferred to a special of the council consist
ing of Messrs. Mayo, Cook, and Powers
to examine into the matter and report to
the council what the rights and duties of
the governor and council may be. Notice
was also ordered to be served upon Mr..
johnson of the charges made against him
and ordering, If he wishes to be heard in
relation to them to appear before the next
meeting of the governor and council
which will be July 20.
In the pardon case of Loren Judkins (
Waterville who is serving sentence of
seven years in the state prison for at
tempting to kill Zder Talleuse by push
ing him from the Railroad bridge in that
city the petitioners were given leave to
withdraw. The case of Austin W. Dalton
of Cambridge, Mass, who is serving a
sentence of one year in Cumberland
county Jail for larceny was laid over until
the next meeting of the council.