Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-22
Hoard OF County commissioners.

BOARD OF County Comm issiOners.
The Board of County Commission
ers met last evening toEear complaints
of excessive valuation of lands in sew
eral of the townships of this county.
There was n large attendance of citi-
zens of the county present. The
Messrs. Devane were retained as cOun-
sci by the taxpayers, Mr.. NJ. London,
the attorney of the Board, being pres
Cnt
The proceedings were opened by
motion of Major ID. J. Devane that the
tax list of Federal Point, Masonboro,
Harnett, Grant, Cape Fear, Rocky
Point, Holden, Union, Lincoln, Cas-
well, Columbia and Holly Townships
be revised, and supported his motion
by a forcible argument, showing the
excessive valuation of the lands in
some of these townships, the increase
being from fifty to two hundred per
cent. over former valuations, and
claiming that no legal meeting Of the
Board had been held to revise these
lists, as no record of such meeting eX-
isted
Mr.. London argued that the Board
had no right to revise the tax list, but
property owners must file complaints
i'll writing in each individual case, and
the Board were obliged TO- investigate
each case IN turn.
Mr. Il. Williams and Dr.. Satchwell,
III behalf of the taxpayers, made warm
and earnest appeals to the Board for
Justice, giving instances of most out
rageOusly excessive taxation, and rep
resented the feeling i'll the county us
very great.
The discussion was kept up for some
time, and at its conclusion Commits
sioner Rice moved that the whole
matter be referred to the Finance
Committee for investigation and re-
port, and that the Board meet i'll con
tinuous session from Monday next to
Friday, inclusive, to receive and hear
complaints, in writing, from such per
sons as desire to file them. This mo-
ton was adopted.
Evidently there has been great in
Justice in this matter, and the Board
has certainly increased The valuation
of the lands in certain townships very
largely upon inadequate information,
and those aggrieved must have some
legal remedy. The people seem i'll
earnest, and we hope will this matter
thoroughly ard legally investigated.
In all departments of our government
too little attention is paid to the law
or the rights of the citizen.
Detection of a Forger.
On last Thu lrsday n young man OF
apparently % or 80 years of age, OF a
good appearance, ,Presented three
checks in this city, all of which have
SINCE been established as forgeries;
These checks were each for 500 and
purportel to be drawn ON the Bank OF
New HANOVER, and to be sig+,e,t by Mr..
Asa A. Brown. of Bladen county. One
of the checks was presented by the
man, in person, at the Bank, and the
money was paid, and the other two
were presented to Market street mer-
chants, part being in payment 1o1
gooos and the other part received Ill
money, as change.
On Friday Mr.. Brown came to the
city and went to the Bank to Obtain
some money but was told there that
his account was already drawn out.
He denied having signed any checks
and when these latter were presented
declared at once that they were Tor
geries. The Bank refusing to pay the
money Mr.. Brown broughtsuitag alnst1 II
before Justice Gardner, when 1t was
decided in his favor, but the Bank ap-
pealed to the Superior Court. MIR
Brown then left the city and the officers
of the Bank at once gave the matter
into the hands of Sergeant Van Soelen
of the police force. This indefatigabit
officer at once went on TO worn
uissthe case and last night tracked
his man to- a fiouse of lll-fame on
the corner6f Eoprth and Castle streets
Yam Solen,.. with the unerring in
5tinct of a true detective, was sure
that his bird was well in hand, ano
50 made no scruples to give him al
invitation to arise and leave his Det
and walk with him. This he did, ane
the man was brought down street ane
az officer. of the Bank and one OF the
MERCHANTS with whom he had traded
were summoned to identify him. Ih1'
they did, and the alleged forger wh'
gives his name as II. }. Muldro, bu
who is said to be named Nasty, ant
is of Fayetteville, was taken off ,ane
lodged in the guard house.