Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-06
AsUssEx -rNsArIoN.
Probable SuicioeOE kEuEus O. Eghe

its first manifestation ct about 10 o'clock
this morning in the report that Rufus e.
Wheetley, sx-deputy clerk of the peace,
had attempted suicide by taking choral.
Wheatley, who had been notified Of
the discovery of crookedness in the &C.
counts of the clerk of the peace's office,
came here on the evening train last night.
Persons who met aud conversed with him
noticed that he was very nervous, and
his ailusione to the affairs of the county
were characterized by mournful forebod-
Jugs as to what might befal him. He
came here TO be present ct the session OF
the levy court, where 1t was exp cited
that he would give some important testi-
mony.
Late last night il wan reported that he
was preparing TO remove his family to
Philadelphia, where hs has been en-
ployed as book-keeper In his broiher's
store since his removal from the deputy
clerkship last autumn because Of ntem-
perate habits. II was therefore expected
that he would take the early train north
this morning. In lieu of that cana the
report that he had attempted suicide.
at O'clock DIR. Layton reported that
Wheatley wal still unconscious and had
bNoh nv FhhSo Az Jaw nun hb AZ v b1SShs
At $50 o'clock Wneatley died.
Wheatley arrived here last night, and
1t was his first visit to his family in four
months. He met ]. Francis Bacon, EBq.,
counsel for the levy court, and asked for
delay in the proceedings. That WAS
refused. This morning he wrote letter
10 Bacon again asking for delay on &C.
count Of i'll health. The second request
was also refused.
At 1890 O'Clock this morning he took
the dose of choral, which his wife thought
was medicine, for cholera morbus. After
he took the poison, giving himself an
overdose unintentionaliy, his friends say,
he was very much enfeebled. He had
been very much depressed in spirits and
feared that he would have TO go to Jail.
He intimated to J. Francis Bacon, Daniel
j. Layton, DIR. Layton and A. r. Robin
son the guilt OF some others who were
concerned in the frauds.
At IL o'clock it was found that all eff
forts to save him were unsVailing, and he
became unconscious, never reviving at
any time before his death.
The report OF the committee of the
levy court, in which it was declared that
evidences Of great fraud had been un.
esrthed, was adopted while Wheatley was
dying. 1t was passed by a party vote.
The report reflects upon Ebe W.Tunnell,
tho clesk OF the peace, who demands the
closest scrutiny.
Wheatley was 40 years OF age and
leaves wife and two children, with
whom the people deeply sympathize.
The death Of Wheatley Is very much re.
GREETED, MS it closes all avenues of infor.
nation.
Most of the bogus orders were issued
by Wheatley, who held tho key to be situa'
ton and he promised revelations thni
were relied upon to clear the matter up.
A correspondent OF the Ne,os sends the
following from Georgetown, concerning
this Sussex levy court:
EARLY in the morning Representatives
of the various hundreds began to arrive
in the town, and before 10 o'clock the
horse rail around the venerable court
house was crowded with the teams OF
visitorR.
The tax collectors OF ths various hun
dredB were on hand ehrlyin the morning
each ready and anxious to make hi.
return OF delinquents to the court.
There were also q number of beleteG
Democratic taxables anIiously LOOKING
for the collectors, to avail themselves OF
the last opportunity to qualify themselves
for voting. 1t was an unusual condition
of things. The squirming of these Dem.
ocrats under the pinching OF shoes they
had made for Republican feet caused
some witty ssllies and q good many broad
smiles.
The court convened at O'Clock. The
courtroom was crowded to auf1ocatior
and q large crowd stood outside the door
The FIRST business was the adoption OF q
motion that the tax collectors return
their accounts to the clerk of the court
The collectors were called and the re-
turns were made as ordered without {
protest being made.
The following report from the com
mstes TO fix u tax rate for the year 1885,
was submitted:
To he LeUy Court Of lSusseG County: We
the underslgned tho COMMITTEES appointed
| b your honorable body TO ascertain /! tn,
| tax rate could be- reduced In THIS county
beg leave to submit the following report:
4 The totnl assessed valuation OF the
county In iSSl was. ..............f $40 i52 $50. o
this year 1910. ......,...t,......,. I5l,59O.O
Total. SIC, 6o3 90
would realiIo, 80. ..,.......... 4e,i1i7
| Amount payable to poor treasurer
would not exceed. 49,. ................ 10000
Loaving .,.................,..S 3s4i47
| Commissions Mt S per cont on
i4a,4ll.72 would bc..,............. $780,
Leaving. .......................$ a5,N2l.5
| Delinluents will not oNcoed..-... 1000 0
/
3iO2l.5
| The court expenses for the past
three years have averaged
! abOut'..., ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2,65OU
Leaving for county purposes...$ al,37l.5
The rentals, fines, forfeltures, &C., vii
pay the Sunday-sehool allowances.
The total allowances made In 1885,
amounted to $50, 99s.S4.
The expen es OF the county properly man
aged ought not to exceed that amount; II
fact, should not exceed $50 10000.
Expenses could and should be curtsile(
In many eases. For instance, the allow
ances made TO the clerk OF Sour own body
IL out OF proportion to the work done. Tn
work done by outside parties should b.
charged to the CO laty at Its cost, and tn
work done by the clerk himself should b.
paid for at the rate privata work OF tn,
Same class costs and nothing more.
The allowance or percentage struck fo
the poor should be- reduced, because tina
class OF inmates OF the aim shouse whici
gave the most trouble and cost, the insane
have been removed.
The road allowances for every year Ii
which m election has occurred have aver
aged for several years about $4,000 NOR,
than In tho of year, or years Ia which n,
elections have been held, and we eau fin
no reason Tor it, other than that said Ia
crease was used ia some way for partisan
purposes. We believe the regular legiti
mate expenses IN average years should no
exceed $4,000.
Your committee further states that It ma