Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-13

0EohaEIOWN, hhTOu Us SUSSEX COUNTY
is now reyeling in the greatest sensation
known here for years-a detslcation fol-
lowed by the death OF the defaulter
under circumstances that strongly point
to the conclusion that he took his own
life rather than face the consequences of
his exposure. A defalcation on tho part
Of public official ia sufficiently rare
event--oply two having happened in this
county during the past 80 yesrs--and
this one, attended as it is By surroundings
Of suoh Q highly sensational character,
has set all tongues to furiously vagging
and all minds to wondering what will be
ths outcome of the affair.
soHtME THAT FAILED.
As telegraphed to last weeks GAZETTE
the scheme of exposure proved more
of o boomerang than tho political
bomb that was inteuted by Dan layton,
j. Frank Bacon and the other Repub,i-
cans who brought the startling affair to
focus. It was intended to be grand ex-
posure of general Democratic dishonesty
and Encouragement, but il proved only
TO be a revelation Of peraonai dishonesty
and BETRAYAL on the part OF ono sub.
ordinate official who had been placed in
position that gave him an opportunity OF
defraudiug the public treasury for term
Of years without detection. While the
astounding aud tragic termination OF the
plot that was intended to be browning
Republican ooup-d'etAt, has overwhelmed
the originators with confusion and de-
prived them of whatever credit they
otherwise would have received for the
pIaisew rthy net of bringing defalcation
TO light and defaalter to Justice, there
seems to be no doubt that one Of the chief
aims of the coterie who run the Republi.
can politics OF Sussex county wasto bring
shame and discredit upon Ebe W. Tunnell,
the Democratic clerk of the peace. That
Ebe W. Tunnel is discouraged and heart
sick over the discovery that histrusted EN-
employe betrayed his confidence and
robbed the public, there is no doubt. lie 1t
completely broken down over the unscr.
tunate affair. But to-day he stands higher
than ever in the, estimation of the people
and confidence is expressed in the :n-
yestigaticn which the Republican major
ity OF the levy court granted only after his
persistent importantly, will show that his
skirts are clear, and that the defalcation
was an abuse of his confidence as well as
betrayal of the people.
now THE DErALcAToN OCCURRED.
1t is now known that the dsfalca.icn
for which Rutus Z. Wheatley, late deputy
clerk of the peace, was responsible, will
amount to between LOO and 81 200,
and it was committed by means OF bogus
county orders, itsued by him and cashed
by county collectors, who accepted them
as genuine, evidently without thought
that they wore fraudulent. Il ia the Gus
nF ha 81 o.,
Rions, to make lowancaa for claims
against tae county, which allowances are
duly entered on the minutes by the elegs
OF the peace. As the parties call fol
these orders they are given then
by the clerk, the chairman Of the
cau-t, who is required TO sign
them, leaving number of orders signed
10 blank for the convenience OF the
clerk. Tho latter also occasionally signs
SONS in blank 80 that bis deputy can pay
in his absence, although the custom has
been of late years for the deputy to at.
tsch the clerks name, which action hel
no until this time been questioned. Thus
il was that o few Of the bogus ORDER
actually bore Mr.. Tunnells genuine
signature, though the bulk OF them wer,
simply sigued by Wheatley in the form o,
~ W. SAGth Va L GhUc
par W." This signature was attached Il
good orders as we'll rs bad ones, ard 81
far as this feature ia concerned there il
no difference between the two.
1t ia 8 lamen'sble fact that the orde
OF Sussex county have not Of late year
been "as good as wheat" and they ar
constantly hawked about the county an,
disposed of at discount. For thi
u f1prtiau tutI nj NJ
lowed not infrsquently wait a long whi
before applying or their orders. II was thi
fact probably that gave Whsstley his sug
Festion, as orders presented year or tw
subsequent to their allowance wer
always accepted without suspicion
WheEtley's plan OF operations was yer,
simple. He would draw an order il
favor Of some imaginary person, endora
Che name of this payee on the back
and then tender Il TO som
county collector for psymen.
claim ng that he had csshed i
for the party TO whom it was drawn. III
collector, as he is allowed by law, woul
cash the order and turn it over to Ia
county treasurer in settlement OF his az
corntg. Although tue dates o; thss
fraudulent orders issued by Wheatle
rRnged only trorn March, 1883, to March
1880, get the yarioug terms OF the lev
court 20 which the allowances we're GREG
itsd extended back IS far as 1884. III
strange discrepancy seems to have Doe
accepted as q matter of fact, ON accom-
OF the notorious slovnass of the count
il honosing It's orders, and the habit {
many people in keeping orders +,
months before even trying to get the,
Gashed.
WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.
The following list, taken during q
session Of the levy court investigator
committee ysststdEy afternoon, shcv
the extent OF Whestley's defalcstion,
far as known. It contains the amount
of the bogus orders, the terms Of cou
Of which they were ellsged to have bsi
drawn AID the names OF the parties
whom they were made payable:
1sss.
Ortun"r term, Eph-Hin Wiler.a......s 20
November term Eiluh Ilur, " .t..-., 10
Euo lWulhaufG...t. ~
October torn, E2"t3Ul iiGEtpnH .., g3
Npgrubrr tern, Howard Is, vincent. IL
trhr7lHry term. Hurkrr l.. MU-s3uy,.. -
S"Ntmner itlm5 Ahthply enAih.,.... si
Mnltterm, EuEh west ,............ "a
t9tl lNlLs..-t....,...... ~
Mu.ca term, Harry Stag -.%........ IL
Chlsulrs $ ploEil......s.
Charles EFUEu......... IN
%greHr.r irr}u, ErUest T.. jones...-.. -
@arh trrll, afp11 &, hHl.a,,.t....., ~
Fa Vi rim. tlruy G@hio ..,..,.. II
Nnlr,r E.,"rlnld, ...... .!
hsbDHy frfu. AlIr"A Jput.H ...... gi
~pv.AA%! ,otHl husnah ". MWRute, VI
frrgtprr 'erp. Geort smith go, u
|'s7s torn, AEgtrr +. liruly .,.s,..,-.. II
..l i