Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-03-19

Confirms All the Charges Brought
Against the Commissioner Some
Time Ago-order Issued Yesterday
and Becomes Effective at Once
Recorded In Court Records Here.
from The World of Tuesday:
tzlIt Ell States Commissioner Thorn
as T. Lemen, this city, was removed
8rom Office yesterday, a copy of the
eDrter for which was received in Mar
1nsburg this morning by the deputy
clerk of the United States our
When the news became know here
* excited no little comment aboat
town, especially in view of The
articles that recently appeared in this
paper relative to certain charges
against Commissioner Lemen and
Deputy L. 9. Marshal Brown, reflec'-
ing on their methods Of dealing with
a class of offenders against the U. S.
revenue laws, commonly called boo
~leggers." As a matter of course the
friends of Mr.. Lemen regret his
humiliation very much. :,
a copy of the order removing Com
missioner Lemen follows:
1T a District Court of the United
States for the Northern District Of
West Virginia, continued and held at
Philippi in said district on the 14th
<lay of Marcel, 1910, The following or.
der was made and entered OF record,
to-wit:
"This day the Court having careful
~ considered the report made to the
Attorney General of the United States
,fs- sG. c. Masterson, special examiner
: sharges preferred against T. T. Lem
%n, United States Commissioner u
MaTtinsburg, w. Va, is of opinion
IRON said report. that material
charges disqualifying said Lemen
Nrem acting as such United States
Commissioner at Martinsburg. w. Va.
are sustained and well founded it IS
therefore ordered that the said T. T.
Lemen be, and is hereby removed
from said Office as United States Com
missioner for this district at Martins
"t)nrg, w. Va, as and from this date,
Sud il is further ordered that This or
%4er be entered at Philippi, and hat a
eE1py thereof be also entered in the
law order book at Martinsburs, and
mat a copy thereof be transmitted to
she Attorney General of he Unitet
States"
The above order removing M.
Demen is signed by c. b. Kefauver,
District clerk Of the L. S. Court for
he Northern District Of West Viz
ania.
The removal of Mr.. Lemen leaves
Arr4rney Wilbur II. Thomas The sole
Prnfrad States commissioner in Mar
~rusbnrg. He held the Office for four
7edrs prior to last October when he
was reappointed by Judge Dayton at
a session of United States Court held
N ms city. At the same time Mr..
'4emeu. who was then and still is a
-}nstice Of the peace in Martinsburg
was appointed a United States Com
}nissioner. The ~latter's appointment
was brought about by the kick put up
10Y Deputy L. s. Marshal Brown 20
Nudge Dayton. Brown claimed that
Mir. Thomas turned prisoners loose
81 a ought to have been held, and
1that Mr.. Thomas was not agreeable
80 him as a United States commits
eBloner. Judge Dayton said that he
Nouldn't turn Thomas down but
would appoint two commissioners,
E@gaen and Thomas. As a matter of
Eaoo however, Thomas got no bust
ness after Lemen's appointment last
~0ctoueT because Deputy Brown took
III h5y cases to Lemen.
Charges Against Lemen.
Readers OF this paper remember
na' some time ago an incident oc-
-c1rred in Mr.. Lemen's office in which
3 r. Clifford, a colored attorney OF
Msrtinsburg. was a prominent figure;
and that as a result Of certain allie
cations made subsequently In the
Dress OF this city and talked about all
Sver town in regard to the methods
ST d~isposing Of "~hootlegging' cases in
* Commissioner Lemons court and the
Subsequent long haul of prisoners
across the state to Wheeling or Park
FraOurg for trial instead of commit
%srg them to Jail here and Deputy
srown's ten cents a mile for each, a
special examiner Of the Department
- Unstice, (Mr. Masterson) was sent
Tets 80 investigate the charges o!
Brown Busy,
3.eputy L. S. Marshal Brown came
2leTe Sunday from his home in bod
fridge comfy, having evidently had
AZ IntimatlOn OF the wrath to come
q 10 speak. Since hen he has beer
3usy getting ~afidavits from mel
aeoat town testifying TO his mora
nAracter and his faithful discharge
u DUTY and, incidentally, as to the
goE character of Lester Tut, The
notorious negro whose testimony hai
icted a lot of poor fellows r
Commissioner Lemeu's court and Civ
IN them a ride out TO Wheeling o.