Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-03-30

IN looking over lnt tlty Auuitor "
port we find that Joseph W. Vandc-
GRIT, Justice of the Peace, with his Of
tice at Sixth and Shipey streets, was
allowed by the Levy Court s436. IS for
The year 1881, for costs in cases where
accused parties could not pay their own
costs. An instance Of the manner in
which Mr.. Vandegrift runs up his bill
ct costs is given in the arrest of the col
"rsl boy, William Butcher. The boy
belongs at the Delaware House, and his
work il to run errands and do little
chores around the house. He had to
pass across Shipley street in lose prox'
unity to the Water Witch Engine house
for coal In doing 40 he had to run the
gauntlet of number Of hangers on
about the engine house, and between
ae parties words and epithets not very
filmed were often banded. Three or
our days ago this colored boy went
a.cross the street for d bucket Of coal
when SNOW ball thrown by one Of the
ngine house gang struck the boy who
lot mad and gave very free expression
20 his feelings in words. For this the
sang attacked the boy and gave him a
terrible beating. The beating, kicking
Ind cutting were 80 violent that the col
,red cook of the hotel became alarmed
md astened across the street and in
formed the police of the affair. The lat
,er were soon on the ground, but the
crowd had fled leaving the boy bleeding
and bruised behind them. The police
look the boy across to the police station,
where he swore out warrant for the
arrest of the leader OF the gang who
assaulted him. The leader was duly ar.
rested and a hearing was to have taken
place on Monday night last, but at the
request OF the defendant the Mayor
'OstpOned the case until Tuesday even
ing, even ia oring the accused so far AS
10 let him 20 on his own recognizance
So far the case was perfectly straight
And the assaulter Of the boy was in a
fair way to have justice dealt his to
assailant. This was the last thing he
desired. but something had to be done
10 thWart justice. a plan had to be
i0ncOcted whereby the assaulter of the
negro boy should 90 unscourged by JUS
dce and the negro boy punished still
more. The plan was well laid, but
whether the magistrate and constable
that figured in the case We're privy to it
IL not known. However the accused
went before Squire Nandegrit and
>wOre out IA warrant against the boy on
! frivolous and trumped up charge OF
using abusive language. The warrant
vas placed in the hands Of Il constable
who Il few days ago was found holding
upa lamp pos, at Second and Market
streets, no made the arrest. The
hoy was put i'll Squire Nandegritt's Of
ice, the Squire himself becoming his
Tailor and refusing to let HIM 90 IN
rharge of the Mayors police to the po-
ice station where he was to appear as IA
witness III the evening Repeatedly
was the refusal made to let the boy
90 unless it is said that the Mayors OF
ficers would guarantee to pay the costs
IN the cast. In the evening When the
Mayor had his hearings, neither the
boy nor the accused We're present hen
they had promised to be, but they were
present before Squire Nandegritt, with
positions changed, the boy as the de.
tendallt and the man who assaulted him
a. prosecuting witness for the State
backed up by a number Of Witnesses
NE had almost said suborned for the
s'rasl"n. The result OF the farce was
not hard to forecast. The wicked ucgr,
BOY who was snowballed, kicked
bruised and crippled was fined fifty
cents and costs, the latter amounting I,
about i've dollars. on course the boy
could not pay the bill, aud lie was IT,
mailded into the hands OF Constable
Niei 10 be taken to Jail. Some say he
was taken " jail that saline night, anc
others say he va, kept III some secre,
place until "Wednesday when he was
taken over. With IL smiling cuuntellan,
the asSailant OF the boy went over to the
Mayors office, feeling secure now thai
his a,Cil,er was III limbo. OF COURSE
Mayor Vale, was not pleased, VIII,
would be il placed in his position Send
ing 10 Squire Nandcgrilt Tor the boy, he
received mat officials reply with his
compliments, stating that the boy wa
committed 10 he sent to jail. Never
thel, -, the Mayor change the tune OF
Cast with other witnesses and bDrnl
him over to court. The foregoing ",
believe are the leading facts in the cas-,
and they are 80 plain that they Speal
tor themselves. Here is counter sui
which not only thwarted justice, bu
entails bill OF costs upon the count,
Vi bet ween five and six dollars the mos
oi which Squire Nandegrtt will pocket
Need we wonder why that magistrate
bill of costs il 50 large ? This is IA sam
plo Of Inc manner in which it was don,
AMI IL Levy Court will be called upoi
10 pay this very bill rolled up UNJUST,
against this abused negro boy.
yc call upon the Levy Court to scru
fnlzn these cost bills presented b,
ilulr",, AID wherever u bill like thi
"@ luuAi strike it ont