Daily Republican., 1886-05-18
,,oard Of Education.

Board Of Education.
The Board of Education met last
evening pursuant to adjournment for
the purpose Of hearing the report OF the
appointed to investigate the
right Of T Elwood Singley to seat In
the Board from the Fourth ward. All
the mem ers were in their places ex-
cept Mr.. Kyne, from the First ward,
and Mr.. Hayes, from the Second ward
After calling the Board to order Presi-
dent Baird stated that the report OF the
committee would be In order.
Chairman Webster, Of the investigat-
ing committee, then read the following
report: .ooo
WILMINGTON, May II, 1886.
To the Board OF Public Education.
Your committee, to whom was re-
fsrred the reported Irregularities In the
election held in the Fourth ward, for
one member of your board, ON May l.,
1886, report that upon inquiry they
learn:
First-That the inspector Of said cleo
ton, e. II. Whalen, was not o qualified
voter in the city or ward In which he
held said election, not having been
assessed, or paid city or school tax,
bis name not appearing upon the city
Assessment list, and that he. therefore.
was disqualified from holding said
election.
second-That neither the inspector
nor his assistant took the oath required
by law to qualify them for the duty.
Third-That the inspector was disor+
Derby and insulting to voters, and re-
fused to receive votes of well known
and respected citizens Of the ward who
were duly qualified to vote.
Fourth-That the inspector informed
John Dougherty that II there was ANY
thing in 1t" the election could be turned
over TO any one paying for 1t, rs they
(the officers Of the eleotion) would not
be sworn.
Fifth-That the acting assistant In
spector was not legally elected, but was
merely chosen by the inspector, COR
trary to law and custom.
The foregoing counts, being substan'
tiatad by competent witnesses, your
committee would respectfully recon-
mend that the election In the Fourth
ward, city OF Wilmington, held May l,
1885 for one member of the Board oil
Public Education, be and ID hereby de
clared illegal, and is, therefore, nul
and void.
A. s. WEBSTER,
A. II. GRIMsHAw,
j. FRANK RUTH,
8. N. TRUMP,
j. p. THEODORE FUEKEL.
A motion being made and seconded
to adopt the report, Mr.. Trump said h
held in his hand two affldAvits. which
II L - ho
deciding that they were q part of The
report they were handed to Mr.. Wtb,
ster, who read them. The first read
was from John Dougherty, who asserted
that he was at the same place where
the inspector was the night before The
election, and he there he ard him bay
that II there was anything In 1t the
election could be turned over to any
one paying for 1t, as they, the ofticer'
OF the election, would not be sworn
The second affidavit was from ia mel
| L. Good, stating that he was present 8
the opening of the election and assitte'
lin arranging for taking in votes, anC
that neither the inspector nor assist ian
had taken the oath Of office.
Mr.. Trump further stated that mum
Der OF witnesses were present, whom h'
proposed should be examined, and b!
whom it was proposed TO prove 81 tn
counts in the report, and then al th
members could vote intelliRently upoI
the subject.
DIR. Grimshaw did not think II neces
bary to go any further in an exanln
ton, al 1t was an undisputed fact tia
the inspectors were not sworn Officers
and could not hold legal election
Mr.. Ruth agreed with DR.. GrimehaV
and said there WAS nothing to do bu
TO accept the report and declare the elet
ltion null and void.
Mr.. Webster read from the city char
ter to show that the Inspector was dil
IQualitied from holding the election, Us
!, was not o qualified voter.
Il Mr.. Smith argued that the repol
should first be accepted by the board
land then O resolution offered dec arin
the election null and void.
DR.. Grimshaw said the report ende
with resolution declaring the electio
null and void, and the adoption of Ii
report would be the adoption of the res
luton.
Mr.. Simmons thought that tho vii
ntsses ought to be examined before u
i. board.
II Mr.. SiDgley wanted the men WI
' voted for him examined. He said
seemed that all the blame for the Ill
D gality of this election fell upon hin
fl How was be to have any knowledge
z the time Of the election whether II
Q officers were qualified or not, or Wheth,
Q they had been sworn?
I'll He could not be there to watch then
neither was 1t his duty to be there.
there was any illegality In the eleotic
1t was not on his part and how cou
he be blamed for 1t. He only kne
that ex-Chief Engineer of the Wat
+ Department Murphy had been Ghost
AZ assistant inspector last June, but as
al was detained from being there on a
i count Of the death OF his father, NJ
a. Whslen, the inspector, had select
A Mr.. Kane in his place. AS theIelecto
If had elected Whalen inspector of t
Il election and the law provided that
! should hold the scheol election,
!, failed to see what the Board GOULD
- but accept him.
DIR. Grimshsw said the Fantlem
: knew better than that. Suppose
70 people elected q negro inspector Oh
: Chinaman, would the board lie bou
"a to accept them when the election "
A in defiance of law.
~ The vote vas tnen taken on the ado
n tion OF the report, when 1t rec sived
Unanimous affirmative vote except y
IA Simmons, who votes mo"
~ Several members suggested the p
n priety Of filing the vacancy, hut it v
4 thought beet 10 let the election 90 o.
for one week, and it wias suggested Il
MIR. Hanson, tie Other mem Der fir
the Fourth ward, Recommend can
IfAta