Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-01
City Council,

THE sEssIcN LAST EvENINa-THE FALSE ARREST
OF MARTIN EAGAN REPORT OF The COMMITTEE
AND AClIoN ON THE sAME-INCgLAsING sALA-
Observation-Disclosures BUSINESS.
Council met at the usual hour President Maris
in the chair.
On the petition OF Thos Malmsten and others
for gutteIing. curbing and paving the sidewalks
On the South side OF Sixth street between Jack
son and Van Buren,, the street Committee re-
ported adversely as it did not contain the reuui-
rite number Of names. Adopted.
Also, adversely on the petition OF Thos Nous
ley and others for guttenng both sides of Mar
ket street from 22ud to Gath street, for like
reason. Adopted
The Stree Commissioner reported 43 men
and IL carts engaged on the streets
The Water Committee made favorable report
on petition Of Geo. Richardson and others for
water pipes tl4th and Wilson streets. Adopted
Favorably on petition of Geo. W. Bright for a
continuation OF the water pipes on Reed street
from Harrison to Franklin. Adopted.
The Chief Engineer reported ~ men engaged
in the Water Department.
On motion OF Mr.. McIutre, the Committee
on Fire Companies was instructed to report on
certain matters committed to them at next meet
ing.
The Committee on Law, on the communica-
tion OF Martin Eagan, complaining of illegal ar
rest, and asking that his fine be returned him.
reported that they had held meeting and SUM
moned both MIR. Eagan and officer Wheelau be-
any statement whatever; that both Mr.. Eagan
and competent witnesses testified to the out
rageous aud unjustihable nature Of the arrest as
he did not interfere with the officer, and there
fore the Committee recommended that the
amount OF the fine be returned him.
Mr.. Flnegan defended the refusal OF Mr.
Wheelan to make statement before the Com
mittee saying that he had previously made his
statement to the Mayor under OATH who was
competent judge OF the matter, and beyond
whose Judgment Council had no right to go, as
1t would be interfering with the duties OF the
Mayor, and would establish wrong precedent
He pronounced the action OF the Committee and
its report as species of political maneuyring
which it was intended should rebound to the ben
EFT OF the Republican party.
MIR Plckels thought the gentleman from the
Third ward (hlr. Finegan) had gone out Of his
way to charge the Committee with any political
purpose ne denied the charge, saying he knew
nothing about the case until the papers were re-
ferred to him, and he "crammed il down the
throat OF the gentleman as an unmtigAted lie
and falsehood" He then stated the case from
the evidence that Mr.. Eagan was not molest-
ing the officer, but actually urging the man
whom he WAS endeavoring to arrest to 90 long
peacefully That he (Mr. E. was decoyed to the
cells on an invitation to go his friends bail and
then thrust into prison. The Mayor showed an
indifference to the matter. and Mr. Wheelan had
to be sent for before he would appear. Mr.
Pickels, in conclusion, denouncedithe action as
an outrage on the rights Of Mr. Eagan as cit
izen.
Mr.. Quinn, as a member of the Committee,
denied that its action was political job, and
said that he was not dealing in politics when the
rights Of his fellow citizens were in jeopardy
Mr.. Wheelan not only refused 20 answer, but
came near insulting the Committee. He thought
Council had right to remit the fine. as the
Mayor was as liable to err as any other man. He
also spoke Of an attempt by policeman to make
an unwarrantable arrest, and his interference to
preyentit-of the cowardly act. of slipping up be-
hind the man after he had become almost sober
and putting the nippers on him for previous
acts Of drunkenness.
Mr. Finegan reiterated his confidence in the
Mayors judgment and his belief that the whole
matter was n political job.
Mr. Pickels again spoke of the decoying OF Mr.
Esgan to the cells, and said that the Mayor ad-
mitted that it was sometimes necessary to resort
to subterfuges in making arrests. He also read
a leaf from Mr.. Finegan's own political record
charging him with perversion OF the truth TO
make political capital in the ith Ward.