Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-17
AIAHA FFY,S FREEUOLDE Rs.
A Scheme by which a Levy Dour
man Tries to Create Voters at 2

Henry c. Mahaffy is Republican
member OF the levy court, from Brandy
| wine hundred, and In conjunction with
his four Republican colleagues has been
indefatigable, during the past few
months, in getting the names Of Rspubli-
can voters upon the assessment lists, not
only for the purpose of qualifying them
to vote at this years elections, but with
the patriotic idea of securing the taxes
| which they must pay before voting,
for the benefit of the county treasury. In
the performance of this public duty,
| however, MIR. Mshaffy's political and
| patriotic zeal far outrau his discretion,
and he has accomplished the astounding
feat of making property owners out OF
men who were returned as delinquents
for not paying their oapitation tsxes,
and limiting their freehold to such
| infiniteBimal p opnrlions that the tax for
each man will be vastly smaller in
amount than his capitation, while the
ordinary cost OF collection will be several
times greater than the amount of revenue
realized. The facts of the case are IS
follows.
On last years. assessment WAS . piece
OF property comprising 81 acres Of wild
marsh land in Cherry Island marsh,
Ninth ward, assessed at 1925, to Henry G.
Mahaffy, who is the member of the levy
court. At the March sessions of the
court the transfers of property made dur
ing the year are always reported, and as
they are numerous the members fire.
quently report them in bulk for their
respective hundreds, and they are
recorded on the minute books of the
court by the clerk. Colonel Febiger, the
member for this city, reported many such
transfers, which were approved, but,
| upon investigation, 1t was found that
Mr.. Mahafy had taken q portion Of his
Cherry Island marsh lot, divided 1t into
lots of Skis feet each and transferred
these sections in the name OF H. G..
Mahaffy, to "a persons, at an assessed
valuation of S. each. The names of Mr..
Mahatfy's benefoiaries, as taken from the
records Of the levy court, are as follows /:
Robert Smith, Charles Scanlop, Alex-
ander Sparks, Amos D. Trump, John o.
Turner, William R. Wood, Winfield s.
Waters, William II. Groce, colored, John
II. Comegys, colored, John Caulk, oolored,
Levi Williams, oolored, Amos Wilson,
William II. Weaver, Charles P. Murray,
John H. Miller, John W. Walker, Jr.,
Arthur A. Brown, John Cathoart, Samuel
Clesver, Robert Cargill, Major Cochran,
George A. Cooley, James R. Baxter, Tbos.
W. Baldwin, John 7. Bradbury, Amos
Campbell, James B. Cadman, John
Msloney, William ]. MoCrea, Daniel
Dickson colored, William F. Groos col
ored, John W. Whey oolored, William F.
Maston, James Campbell, Thomas Kitchen,
John Lynn, James Moore, Augustus Mel
chor, Charles Megginson, Frank P. MAJ
sey, E gene o. Reef, Samuel ]. Psrr,
David Rhoads, Robert Reed, Joseph
Rylott, Joseph Russell, Thomas Rhodes,
David R. Reeder, William T. Pierce,
Amos Greenfield, Alonzo Getohel, Charles
Grier, Jr., William W. Guy, Howard Z.
Guest, John Huggins.
A further examination of the court
records disclosed the taot that OF tine
above named parties 81 were upon the
error list returned by the collector for the
Northern district OF Wilmington huud red
last month, who, according to the election
laws of the State are prohibited from
becoming assessed and qualifying them
selves for voting for the space OF
one year. This provision does
not, however, apply to owpsrs
of real estate, whose taxes can
be collected by levy and seizure, and no
can, therefore, vote at any election ulon
the payment of the amounts due. So all
that these 81 delinquents need do in
order to qualify themselves for voting ia
to pay the miserable pittance of taxation
upon the few dollars worth of real estate
with which Mr.. Mahaffy has generously
endowed them.
The tax on this property Is another re-
marksble feature in connection with Mr..
Mahatfy's transaction. At the prevail
rate of SO cen;e on the 800 the tax on
each mans little 5x15 lot would amount
only ~ cents or total of 81 so for the
entire "a, while the cost of making mp
the records, preparing the tax receipts
and collecting the tax would be at least
IS, so that the comfy would suffer to the
extent of about $3.40, If Mr.. Mahaffy's
little scheme was permitted to reach its
intended end.
An interview with number OF the
parties whose names are above enumerated
disoloses the fact that they are not aware
of the wonderful fortune that has befallep
them through Mr.. Mshaffy's generosity,
while aome are not even acquainted with
this amiable and benevolent gentleman.
This relieves them from any connivance
with his little plan to increase the Re-
publican vote at coming elections, and
leaves him, apparently solely responsible
for this brilliant political scheme.
The matter was brought to the atten-
ton OF the levy court this morning in
the form of a resolution which read as
| follows:
WHEREAS, The transfer of certain proper
| ties which were made on the 2lst. 25th 2Gth
2Sth and 3lst days of March, 1884, from H.
c. Mahaffy to sundry persons in the Ninth
| ward The names as cited above with the
number of the lot, Skis feet, value, IS, are
here givenl being In all 63 names, were made
under a mistaken apprehension az to the
facts, and do not represent bona fide trans
| fer OF property, evidence OF which has come
to the knowledge Of the court. Therefore,
be it
ResOlued, That for the reasons aforesaid,
the transfers above rected be rescinded and
| annulled and the assessment OF Henry O.
Mahaffy shall be and remain as before and
that the clerk of the peace is hereby directed
to carry out the provisions of this resolution
The clerk read also the statements made
by several of the men to whom the al.
legged transfers were made. Among them
James Campbell, says he does moi
know II. G. MsLaffy aud never had any
dealing with him; John Fl. Miller says
he has no deed and has not seen Mr.
Mahatfy John w. Viney states that ht
never owned lot, never bought one from
Mahaffy and did not expect to W. J
McCrea and Charles K. Megginson also
deny having purchased any land of Mr.
Mahatfy.
While the resolution was being reat
Mr.. Mahaffy tilted back in bis chair ant
with his head on the railing listened
attentively. Despite the forced effort o
Indifference, he showed considersb l,
annoyance and chagrin. Mr.. Sharples
turned and looked back at the generou.
donator Of marsh lands, and the latter re
turned suggestive wink and smil q
DR.. Ellison was absent from the court
Mr.. Silver WAS careful listener to tn
res ling and Col. Febigsr appeared mucl
enerossad over some accounts, but followed
the clerk closely.
A motion to adopt the resolutions wa
promptly made and seconded soon aftel
the question was called. The Chairman
asked, "Are you ready for the question:
aud receiving no reply put the motion
and 1t was carried unanimously. TIL
Republicans, however, declined to vote
There was no explanation whatever mad
by any of the Republican members
After court adjourned Mahaffy and Febi
ger turned to the digest and resd
with considerable earnestness for fey