The daily gazette., 1876-04-26
FIRST EDITION
The Custom House Downfall.
The Accounts Of Collector NoIem
Deficient 1bOut $1,000.
Ills HOOKS uN0ER OFFICIAL ExAMINA-
TON.


TON.
The current rumors on the street
yesterday to the effect that the accounts
of VIM. ID. Nolen, Collector of the
port of Wilmington, showed a deficien-
cy of about $4,000, proved to be correct
The fact was known to the leaders of
the Republican party early in the NOR
ming. but was not made public until
afternoon when 1t was suddenly circu-
lated over the city.
The defalcation according to the
facts thus far known, was committed
in the fall of 1872, when the brig
John Sidney and the barque Med,cav,
were wrecked on the coast at Lewes.
The cargo consisting of brandy and
valuable merchandise, was saved in
great part by the wreckers, and some
OF it flOatcd ashore. The cargo saved
went inte the hands of the custom
officers, and was sold for the duties
which amounted to about $4,000. This
amount passed into the hands of the
Collector. and TIE balance of the sale
was paid to the sailors and salvors,
The wrcckers not satisfied with the
disposition of the cargo, placed their
case in the hands of Washington at
torney, who, upon examining the
Treasury Department records, found
that the affair had not been recorded
on the books at all. The attention of
the Department officials was called to
the fact. and Major Morris, special
agent, was sentI to Wilmington to
work up the affair, which lie did with
the results above stated.
Major Morris is still pursuing his
Investigations, but it is understood
that with the above exception the
books OF Collector Nolen are straight.
A report was current this morning
to the effect that the money received
by Collector Nolen from the proceeds
of the above sale were held by him
upon the advisement of the Treasury
Department, until the claims of the
wreckers should be settled and dispss.
cd Of. A GAzETTR reporter stated this
report to Major Morris, who promptly
met it with an emphatic denial. Fur.
ther than this Major Norris has moth.
ing to say in reference to the defalca-
tion, preferring to keep quiet until he
makes his report to the Treasury De.
partment.
The securities of Collector Nolen are
DR.. l. j. Jump, of Dover, and Robert
Taylor, of Wilmington. The former
is now in this city, looking into the
affair. Having recently lost heavily
from Irregularities in the accounts of
another Government official, for whom
he was a surety, he naturally feels
anxious about the result of the present
difficulty.
The Commercial yesterday, inti-
mated that Collector Nolen's subordi-
mates, Frank Nolen and Isaac j. Jenk-
ins. had received portion Of the
deficiency money. Collector Nolen,
however, promptly denies this, and
Mr.. Jenkins threatens the Commercial
with q libel suit on account of tine
"base insinuation."
1t was at first reported that Collector
Eolen would mako good the deficiency
and endeaver to retain his official po-
sition. but his party friends took good
care Of his retention by promptly trot-
ting out candidates for his succession.
The anti-ring Republicans, who were
ljubilant over the exposure and took
little pains to conceal their joy, put
forward Mr.. Lewis Thompson for the
position. The ring Republican named
Mr.. Henry f. Pickles, but he soon
withdrew from the field, preferring
not te enter into any contest for the
Office.
Viewed in political light, from a
Republican standpoint, this exposure
is expected TO have an important ef-
feet upon the election for delegates to
the Republican State Convention. The
anti-ringites hope that il will aid them
in electing majority of the delegates
from this county; but the ring men,
angered at the persistency of Messrs
Higgins, Jenkins, Hastings, Il Co., in
thrusting Mr.. Thompson forward SO
officially as a successor to DIR. Nolen,
and ignoring the claims of MIR. Pickles.
are more determined than ever to
crushingly defeat the anti-ring at the
delegate elections. The ring speaks
for Blaine rs the Presidential candi
date. and the anti-ring for Bristow.-
The former claims to have the solid
support of the colored voters, and ol
majority of the party workers. They
expect to carry the county by large
majority, and thus with the aid of the
Kent and Sussex delegates, send 6
united Blaine delegation to Cincin'
natl.
Such are the outer circles of the rip
pie occasioned by the Custom House
. downfall The practical and certain
results will be the removal of DR.. No
len, and the appointment of Lewis
Thompson or some other Republican
to succeed him.
The latest advIces in relation to th,
affair are that the necessary steps hav'
been taken to pay the money in shor
time, and that statement in regart
to the deficiency will sosn be prepared
at the Custom House and published.