Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-01
HIGH-HANDED HICKMAN
1870 PAID FOE Sss.fs W0RrH on
ChOOKERR.
How the County Paid 400 aud SOC
Fer Gent Above the Price harged
by ihe Manufacturers ak Crockert
--NHr. Htchman's Check and China,

Some weeks ago tho GAZETTE made
reference to the high handed and fisQranI
manner the tax payers of this county had
been robbed through a Transaction in.
voivtng the purchase of some crockery
ware by Henry d. Hickman, at that tius
trustee of the poor. This paper stated
In general way the extent Of the rob,
berry and the manner in which Nathaniel
Williams, q member of the board Of poor
trustees, had detected the raacality and,
in part checked the same. The details 81
Htckman's transaction have lust beer
obtained by the GAZETTE and are given
with the view Of making the public IA.
miiisr with the crooked methods Of Hick.
man who 10 seeking election to the most
important Office in this county. THROUGH.
the courtesy of the manufacturers oi
what may be designated as indestructibls
crockery ware, It is possible to eivS
figures and show the broad scope Of
Hiokman's pilferiDgs.
For the first bill Of goods purchased
early in 1885 the manufacturert
were paid $82 16. They were pur.
chased on the order OF MIR. Hiok.
man through Market street mer,
chant, and the former charged the county
$370 for precisely the same goods. Il,
this lot of ware were so vessels, consid,
cred requisite to every bed chamber,
These were furnished by the manufac.
turer st ~ cents each, and were sun lIie5
to the county at few cents less than AZ
each. Pie plates costing 0 cents verf
sold to the county at so cents each, and
wnter pitchers holding from from one q
four quarts for SLIGO to 80 so each,
varying according to size. In each case
the county paid Just 500 per cent more thar
the manufacturers charged. Tea ketklet
holding four and five quarts cost ths
county 90 so to So so each, five times
their original cost to Trustee Hickman.
The committee on accounts paid the
above bill, when another invoice Of the
same goods Was ordered by Mr.. Hickman
and delivered at the almshouse. For the
second lot the county was charged $3.50,
while the manufacturers bill shows thai
they supplied the same ware for $64, 80.
In thin invoice pie plates, costing "a
csrts, were sold to the county at 20 osnts
each, and cups and saucers for which the
manufacturers charged As cents, were
billed TO the county at SI.66.
1t will be remembered that after the second
invoice had baen furnished, Mr.. Williarof
got hold of the bill and refused 10 re.
commend its payment. he held it over
while he Investigated the matter. Upon
going to New York and interviewing the
manufacturers, he discovered the extent
OF Hiakman's tspeoulation, and forever
after refused to have the bill brought
before the board. The local dealer who
represented Hickman made one or two
applications for the payment OF the bill,
but upon ascertaining as to the extent OF
Mr.. Williams enlightenment upon The
transaction, the matter was dropped. The
dealer, was, however, paid for the dishes
their cost value by some one; who, il
may be easily inferred.
For giving the first order for wares Mr..
Hickman was presented with handsome
china dinner service by the Market stree.
dealer, and as reward for his second
order the trustee accepted the local mer-
chants check for $35. In as much as the
bill was never paid the check was re.
turned. This tfansaetion serves to but
illustrate Mr.. aickman's public career as
a "boodler" and numerous others are al
hand to further show the public the nature
of the man who is put forward as a ring
nominee for levy court.