Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-10-06
The BEST AFFAIR.
D r A r e N T. N r OF DEPU + Y
SIIERIFF MARTIN In. RELA-
TlON TO THE SALE

Last Saturday there was q long
article published In the Every Evening
lpurporting to emanate from Alfred
Edgar Best, Of No. 515 Market street,
whose goods were sold by the Sheriff q
few days since, to the effect that goods
that had not been sold were taken out
of the store by Deputy Sheriff Martin
and his friends. Iu other words, that
they had stolen u part of the goods
levied on, and would havecarried them
away had the plot not been discovered
by Best. This statement was copied
upon editorially.
When the Deputy Sheriff was asked
about the matter he denied IL in tho
strongest terms, and said that Best
himself bought at private sale lots for
s., $40 snd $3.50, and that he also
sold lot of goods to Henry George for
$40 at private sale, Best being present
and cOnsenting, but that when became
to deliver them best claimed them,
among the reversions, which he had
purchased for S23, and Martin told
George that he could not take them
and they were crossed off the book of
sale. The private sales were made be-
cause the She riff feared that they would
not be able to get through at the auction.
He added the following statements !:
This IL the third time within two years
that we have had Best in our clutches.
Once he settled the matter with the
Execution creditor W Without a sale. On
| the other occasion q sale was made of
the stock In lump and Best got about
81, 800 worth of goods for about $500.
This time we sold out In small lots,
being instructed by the attorney Of the
execution creditor to sell to the best
advantage. Best is probably angry be-
cause the goods brought SO much, for
the whole sale amounted to 1914. .08.
| Best came to me and asked who would
have to pay the costs If the goods did
not bring the amount of the rent
claim Of Mr.. Bright of 1913 49,. 1
replied that the execution creditor
would have to pay it, and he said
That's all right /; he'll have to pay
tho cost, then. The goods won't bring
enough to pay for them" The claim
of the execution creditor was 81. 500.
Instead of any goods being carried
away that were not sold there were
| fused todeliver when the buyers went
for them, claiming them among the re-.
versions. William B. Jefferis, of Ne.
509 Market street, was one of those pur-
chasers. The goods carried out by the
colored men were bought by John Tay.
lor, his bill amounting to $40, and ev.
cry article down OH the sale books.
Best is rascal, and his statement
that unsold goods were removed is an
Infamous lie. No goods sold at private
sale were delivered to any one but Best
himself.
The inference that Best had any
trouble to get into the store to get a pat
tern is wholly untrue. for he came to me
as stood upon the sidewalk and let
him in, we tGo alone being present.
Messrs. Hopes and Haynes had
nothing whatever to do with sorting out
and arranging the goods. Mr.. Gsorge
and / arranged the stock on Thursday
and Friday.
| employed 4 l.. Haynes {, act as
clerk of the sale, and he acted in that
capacity except during short, period,
when he was relieved by +. M. Hoopes.
Mr.. Cummins, of Phila., was present
with Best, and ON Monday morning they
bought goods in Bests nameand they are
so entered on the sale book. Af:sr din.
ner he came and asked to have them
charged % Bright, as he feared it was not
legal for him to buy. Mr.. Bright came
in and wanted to know why the goods
were being charged to him. 7 told him
that bost had ordered it done, and
Bright and he had a conversation
about it and the thing went on, the
goods being charged to Bright.
Messrs. Hopes and Haynes both
bought goods, and they are charged to
them on the book and were paid for.
George also bought and paid for his
goods, as can be sean by the book.
Best attempted 10 prevent Taylcr and
Haynes from carrying away the goods
that they had bought. 1 did not buy
one cents worth and did not, carry q
single article away. Best was admitted
within the rail- and given every oppor-
tunity to looS after his interests. No
| relative of mine except ny father, the
Sheriff, was inside and he only for short
periods. The persons inside were E. HI.
HoAglSnd, w. H. Mullen, William j I.
Maxwell, Charles j. Kyle, John NJ.
Dunn, Edward T. Smith, clerk for Re-
COrder Rolcomb Thomas M. Smith,.
crier OF the court Lexington Barney,
John Tay ,or, who helped TO handle the
goods Me. Evans, the execution credi-
tor; Best, Cummips, George, Haynes
and lady purchasers. Mr.. Hopes
bought from outside the rail. Best ask
I'd Taylor not 10 bid against him and
said he would not bid against him. Mr..
Bright told me that ha would not be-
l lieve Bert on his oath.
The story about Mr.. Hopes being
suspected of carrying away goods from
the Wood & Bancroft sale il infamous.
Goods bought and paid for by Hoopes
and another purchaser were placed in q
drawer. but when We looked for them
they had disappeared, and we concluded d
that some ore mad carried theIa of with
loshsr purchas ases by mistake. They were
worth less than 81
Mr.. Hoopos WAS seen last evening,
land he said he had no statement to
fmake at IEesent, further than to deny
the entire story. He has. placed the
lmatter in the hands of two.ot the bes,
lattorneys in this city and will be gov,
Ierned by their advice. Hs stated thai
he had been called upon yesterday by a
large number Of his friends, all Of
whom sy mpathized with him deeply
and pEged BIN 10 spare no expense &c
vindicate his character against these
uncalleo for attacks, some of which he
has patiently borne for over year.
Monthly Report.