Daily Republican., 1880-04-01
SECOND EDITION.
THE lEyY COURT.

nright Refuses q Hearing TO r.
Fraim, Esq, ON Behalf OF the su
pervisors I'm Relation 60 etrikius
Illegal Assessments From ths
Lists.
Specially reported for the Republican.
New CASTLE March, 3lst.
This being the last day of the Levy
Court upon which assessments could b,
made, a large attendance came over il
the morning train from Wilmington
and many others followed during the
day in hacks, carriages and in the moor
train, the larger number OF them being
persons who:were intent on making {
last effort to have their names placed
u pom the assessment before the cour
would adjourn in the evening. Quite
q large number were also present from
81. Georges and other Hundreds, out
side Of Wilmington.
By the time Court commenced at l05
O'Clock there were not less than one
hundred persons present to be assess
ed divided about equally between
whites and blacks. Some Republicans
had been present three Or four days
without succeeding in getting their
names on the lists were on hand again
with palpitating hearts to make last
final effort before submitting to another
years disfranchisement. As soon az
the Court commenced quite number
Of Democratic magnates gathered in a
knot at the right of the President,
amongst whom and towering head and
shoulders above all was the tall COM
manding figure of Rx. Senator Ray who
had gathered up few Democrats about
Newark and appeared as their voucher.
II was evident from the start that very
few Republicans would be assessed
while there were Democrats present to
occupy the attention Of the court, and
the only chance for Republicans was to
be patient and wait until the Demo
cratic stock was exhausted. Mr.. Polk,
however, during the morAing worked
persistently in putting on few colored
men from s.. Georges, Mr. Smith stand.
ing beside him and keeping him plsnti-
fully supplied with vouchers. Consid-
cradle time of the court was occupied
by Mr.. Wier in making transfers in
several Hundreds that had not been
made by the assessors, and in striking
from the lists the capitation poll of de-
ceased persons.
When the noon recess arrived "A
names had been placed upon the lists,
IS of whom we're Democrats.
At i o'clock Court again convened
but by this time quite number of Re-
publicans smarting under the partisan
i ] stice of the court and seeing no hope
OF getting assessed had gone home.
Mr.. Silver announced that tomorrow
April LIST would be pay day at the new
court house and as the COMMITTEES would
be in Wilmington to pay the contractors
the monthly payment he invited all
the members to accompany the build
ing committee.
A motion m Ade by him that when the
court adjourrs it adjourned to meet
on. Tuelday next was adopted. The
assessments were then commenced again
and there being but few Democrats
present to be assessed the stock was
soon exhausted, and the remaining Re-
bublicans had clear sailing all the rest
Of the afternoon.
The appearance Of R. c. Fraim, ESQ.,,
John W. Hawkins, F. A. Taylor, Will
liam Fl. Griffin and possibly two or
three other Republican Supervisors,
caused considerable whispering amongst
the members Of the court. 1t was IN.
derstood that Mr.. Praim was formida.
bly, armed with certain documents con-
tanning the names of nearly 400 per-
sons, Democrats, who had been illegal
ly assessed by Assessors Ward and
Hughes, Of Wilmington, which he in
tended to lay before the conrt and in
the presence of the supervisors demand
that the names so assessed should be
stricken from the lists.
About three O'clock in the afternoon,
Mr.. James L. Hawkins, who held
handful of some twenty odd vouchers,
walked up in front of the Clerks desk,
and gaining the attention Of the Preai-
dent. said
"Mr. Pr sident, l held in my hand
some w nty applications for a34ess-
ment, accompanied with sworn vouch-
ers, which will lay upon the Clerks
desk and demand they be placed upon
the assessment"
The President raped his gavel and
said: "This Court has its own way of
doing its work, and will not 10 inter
rupted by outsiders"
There are the applicants and the
vouchers" said Mr.. Hawkins, as ne
laid them upon the Clerks desk and
took his seat.
This ripple of exci:emept vas soon
over, bat it served admirably the pur-
pose Of accelerating the assessments, as
FROM that time forward names we're putt ,
upon the lists with unusual rapidly.
During the afternoon Mr.. Fraim, quiet
ly made known his business to Mr..
Silver, who assured him that he should
oe heard, but that he had better speak ,
o Mr.. Lodge, who in tina absences of , ,
Mr.. Carswell had charge Of Wilmington i,
matters. To Mr.. Lodge Mr.. Fraim went, !
Mr.. Lodge also assuring him that an !
opportunity Shoald be given for him to
address the court, bu! he thought that
Mr.. Fraim had better speak to the
Presldent about it, Mr.. Fraim then !
vent to President Bright making known y
his business, and was assured by him
slso that he shonId hays an oppor- 9
unity TO address the coart on any y
business pertaining to the good of the v
;onnty. Il
Mr.. Fraim with these assuranoes o
oos his seat, until such time al the
curt was prepared to hear him. In
he mean time President Bright sent
MESSENGER for George Gray, Esq. o., the !;
h. |