Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-24
moRn nooD1E CHARGES.
The Use of Money in the Contest for
City Auditor Asserted and Denied

The Use of Money in the Contest for
City Auditor Asserted and Denied
The result of the recent cRucus of the
Democratic members of City Council for
q candidate for city auditor has brought
forth another charge of the use of money
ns Q factor in determining the choice OF
the members of Council. The charge
was openly made, hut, like other charges
of 'tboodlen made recently, the proof
WAS not offered when those who preferred
the charge were asked to sustain their
declarations.
Whether it is deserved or not there has
been O suspicion OF fraud and wrong
doing with respect to the election OF
public officers by the City Council for
the past two years. II started with the
election of building inspector, and the
rumors have been continuous since.
There is story that goes back year or
two further, to the etfeot that an aspirant
for city position promised two members
OF City Council $50 apiece to vote for
him. They took third boodler into
their confidence, and after securing the
election of the man who was apparently
willing to pay $50 spieoe for votes, they
struck him for $3.50, instead of the 300
he had originally contracted to pay. He
kicked and insisted that he wRs obligated
for only 300. How the trouble was
finally adjusted is not known, but it was
said at the time that tho amount was
limited to the original agreement OF $50.
| Following close upon ex-c3uncilmsn
Chambsrs' open ohasge that money was
used to influence tie votes of members
of Council upon tho award of the con.
| tract for the police patrol System, comes
the latest assertion that money also de-
termined the est for city auditoH.
The charge was infsTentially made by
City Auditor Newell, who was defeatsd
for reelection and who, in the presence
of q large crowd on the city hell pave
plent declared that CounoilmOn Asrnn 8.
Bsale had taken 3100 TO vote for him,
but had rstnsuel tbs money on deter
mining to vote for Aitcbell, the Suecass
ful candidate. BeNie met the accusation
with the declaration that ho had never
received dallar from Newell, to which
the latter replied, significantly, "Well
didn't sou see Bill Blake ?"
This pertinent remark revived some
talk that had been iudu!gea in during
the pendency of the p7ii1s patrol con
t.act, to tha effect that Mr. Blake Was tn:
intermediary employed 10 make the tinRp
oial arrangements with the members oi
Council and see that the contracts. were
duly carried out. But with respect u
the latest operation sir. Blake told
GAZETTE reporisr, 1hpradsy morning
that ne had nothing 30 do with it. -.
dida't say that / gsvs money to Me
Beals to vote for NGwsl,, sAii Mr. Blake
81 had noihins TO do with e."
City Auditor Newell was not in hi
Office this M jrning aud had not ruads hi
Appearance there up TO noon. His las
utteranoa upon the question at issue wa
, made last night when he dgclared the
! thers were plenty OF witnesses TO hi
! original charge and infeten,iRliy dehe
, any one 10 deny his chasge.
; aiuch OF the opposition to the Ia.elaC
, tion al City Auditor Newell came freI
t.3 Directors Of tne Street and Sever d.
, panmsnt. They did not consider the
! ha was suficiently Jealous in the wof
| OF collecting tha curpiag and paving lieI
} for the department, which constitutes o
, important part Of the auditors daties.
, yhe expectant auditor, John 4
4 Mncnoll, most empha;icaliy asserts th'
> as far sg he ID coneesned, no briDes {
j promises of bribes were used to seoul
| his nomination BY the caucus.