Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-08
SUIT AGAINST FORMER CITY OFFICIAL IS
ORDERED DROPPED BY CITY COUNCIL LAST
NIGHT AT FORMAL MEETING OF THAT BODY
ExCity Sergeant Dawson Had Produced Receipts, And
Vouchers Are Found, other Records Lost-NeW Fire
Zone EStabIished-0ther Business Transacted

Former City Sergeant C. r. Dayi-
son Was practically absolved by the
city council from an old charge. that
has been pending against that for
mer city official for some We. and
the council ordered its attorneys in
the case to dismiss the suit and pro
ceedings instituted against Mr.. Davi-
son. Upon the face of vouchers and
receipts obtainable at the retire
ment of the former city sergeant
there was technical difference be-
tween the audit and the actual bal
ances Three costly audits were
made and each time a receipt or
voucher was discovered. At one
time, in private drawer used by the
retiring city sergeant, large guam
tity of water slips were found. Again
it was learned a former council had
exempted certain factories from the
payment of city taxes and these slips
had been charged up against the
sergeant. The matter finally dwin-
died down to a smalled difference in
accounts. which was rectifed Mean
while suit had been instituted. Sew
eral months ago the State capitol
building was destroyed by fire and
records pertaining to the case in the
State capital building were lost
The department recommended that
the controversy be dropped AID last
night, in view of this recommends
ton and the fact that another audit
would perhaps cost more than the
possible financial returns, the matter
was ordered dropped
Messrs. f. r. Sisler and G. s.
Hill. representing St. Johns Luth-
eran church, and X. Poole and James
b. Fisher, representing Christ =
formed church. appeared before ne
council and requested that the chur-
ches be relieved from the burden OF
paying for sewerage work along the
old cemetery on the west side of
Church street, between King and
John streets This cemetery Is the
joint property Of the two congrega-
tons and y are perfectly willing
to pay their portion for the resurfac-
ing of the street, but the cemetery
will not be benefited by the sew
erage. No one has been buried in
this cemetery since 1884 and those
having relatives there naturally re-
sent any suggestion that the bodies
of the departed be removed and the
valuable location utilized for mater
ial purposes. The council informed
the petitioners that their plea would
be given mature consideration, but
members present preferred awaiting
the return of Mayor c. NJ. Seibert,
now at Charleston.
Water Is Wanted
Numerous applications for the ex-
tension and use Of the city's water
system we're made. Parties desire
city water on Kentucky avenue, the
Cannery boom, North High street,
Berkeley Place and other points.
However, the city is not financially
fixed at this time to make these eX-
tensions, but the matter was turned
over to the water committee and at
tended to at the very frs opportun-
ity. A light was ordered placed in
front of the Second United Breth-
rem church.
New Ere Zone.
The new fire zone ordinance was
passed. This increases the fire zone
to Addition street along Queen
street to liberty and a block on each
side, also along King street from
Spring to Raleigh. Nothing can be
erected within this zone but build
ings of concrete Or brick and all pub
lie garages, churches, schools, fac
tories. hotels, storage houses. liver
les, business houses, theatres here
after constructed must be of brick
or concrete