Daily Republican., 1889-06-13
Mss III LISTS.
SOME MORE FOUND OUT
ABOUT THEM.
MIR. Osborne Troubled Over the Affair
ami Feels Like Resigning
Illegal Voters to be Pros
ecuted, Etc, Etc.


Understanding that Francis NJ. Walker,
Esq, was one of the parties who had last
seen the error lists, representative of
the REPUBLICAN called upon him yester-
day afternoon, to ascertain exactly what
he knew about them.
Mr.. Walker was seen, when he stated
that be and other members OF the bar
had called upon Deputy Clerk Osborne
with a request that he show them the
error lists for Wilmington hundred, re-
turned March last by the collectors.
Mr.. Osborne declined to show them the
II. ts upon the plea that they we've the pro-
perty OF the Levy Court and he had no
right to show them. The same refusal
had been Bsader to George A. Elliott
Esq, and other Republican members OF
the bar.
The lists were at last obtained through
the positive demand of United States
senator Higgins and Edward G.. Brad
ford, Esq, who called together on Mr..
Osborne.
bat call and see Philip Churchman
over in Senator Higgins office; he can
tell you better how the lists were OBJ.
tanned said Mr.. Walker.
Mr., Walker was emphatic In his con-
demnitlon Of such high-handed proceed
ings, and said that it was high time such
wo was broken up, as nobody knew
! when their rights were safe.
From Mr.. Walkers office the REPUB-
LIcAN representative went down and
across Market street to Senator Higgins
| Office, where Philip Chnrchman, who
promises to be one of the brightest young
members of the Wilmington bar, was
seen.
Mr.. Churchman graphically and with
much feeling referred to the refusal of
Clerk Osborne to show the error lists at
first. When he refused to let the young
members of the bar see them the matter
was reported to Senator Higgins and to
Edward G. Bradford, Esq, and they
went In company to Clerk Osborne's $
office. Mr.. Higgins Immediately stated
his object, that he bad desire with
other members of tie bar TO see the error
lists OF 1889.
81 don't think Can letyou have them,
as they are the property of the Levy
Court aud In possession of that boly,h
said Mr.. Osborne.
"What" exclaimed Mr.. Higgins and
Mr.. Bradford, mot see the records of
the court OF New Castle County. We
are members Of the bar of this County
and have right to see them, and we de-
mand that they be produced"
u ust wait few minutes, gentlemen,
until see about It," said Mr.. Osberne,
as he took his hat aud passed out of the
office.
lie was away about twenty minutes
when he returned with the information
that they and other members OF the bar
could see them.
This ended, then came the examination
OF the lists by Mr.. George A. Elliott,
Esq T. NJ. Walker, Esq, and Henry q.
Mahalfy and others, an examina, ion that
IT suited in showing that 10 persons IN the
Ninth ward, all Democrats, were return
ed as errors last March, and vet these
persons were registered and voted at the
last city election upon tax receipts issued
by Patrick Neary for the same year lSS
some of them for 1857, for which they
were returned as delinquents.
The same examination was made for
the Eighth ward, and the same results
were obtained. Whenever a sharp CON
test was made these Illegal yoters pre
vailed. In the sure Democratic ana Re-
publican wards no effort was made to
get out this illegal surplus vote, though
large bulk of 1t was pOlled. 1t Is estl-
mated that not less than 1900 of this
Illegal Democratic vote was polled at the
late election.
The idea of the error lists being stolen
and put where they could not be got at In
moment Is laughed at. Neither can
the prose secutions commenced against
these illegal voters be stopped on ac-
count OF their disappearance The error
list OF 1883 is Just as efiectual TO prove
the illegal voting as that of 1889.
The law fofbids any person returned
as an error being put on the assessment
again until one year shall have elapsed,
consequently those voting on tax receipts
Issued for taxes paid In 1883 voted ille-
gally. 1t requires no error list for 1889
to prove that. Even II all the error lists
oi all the years, and the assessment dupli-
Gates as well, should be stolen or put
where they can be found without much
trouble, there is proof enough to secure
conviction before an honest and non
partisan jury. The Democrats have got
to face the music, and no matter which
way they look conviction stares them in
the face, no matter how many records
they may steal.
''There will be no 'et up In this mat
ter" said Mr.. Chufchman, mo matter
whether conviction is obtained or not.
The Democratic methods Of carrying elec. |
tions in this State have got to be exposed, |
and that can be done before jury that !
does not convict as well as before one |
that will convict. The theft of public |
documents will only fasten the guilt of |
infamy the iirmer upon the Democratic |
party"
Mr.. Osborne, deputy Clerk of the
Peace, was also seen yesterday by the
REPUBLICAN representative and asked In |
regard to the missing error lists.
"Yes," said MIR. Osborne, at is true
that the lists are missing, but who took
them l do not know. 1t is no wonder
though that n body cannot keep them
after you Republicans have them so often
and SO long. Why, they were here look
ng over the lists up until after O'Clock
he night before the election, and kept
me here after the time had set TO leave.
Mr.. Elliott, Mr.. Mahafiy and Mr.. Wal
ker were the last that handled the books,
Go not know when l have been so wor-
rled over anything, indeed sometimes 1
mad hal notion TO hand in my resigna-
lion of the Office"
Ibid not the gentlemen you have
named hand you back the error lists
when they left on that evening before the
'lection?" was asked OF Mr. Osborne.
"Yes, believe they did," was the re.
ply. /
"And you locked them up in your
'Yes, locked them up, but that was
he last saw OF them"
"And you had the only key to the
lrawerP'
"Yea, there was no other key"
well, then, very plainly, somebody
must iava had skeleton keys and opened
1Our drawer and abstractpd the liat - |