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

NhI b0HsASh vi Nlp lbNy Cbufl "
committee Yves appointed to investigate
and ascertain IL the affairs OF the county
cou!d not be conducted upon lower tax
rete. This committee consisted of my
self, Oouaty Treasurer Steele, President
Pepper and Mr.. Prettyman. Our real
object WAS TO get at these defaloRtions.
Mr.. Steele and 1 took the county orders,
made list of them and compared them
with the clerks docket. Some allowances
appeared on the docket that we knew to
be bogus, so we got the auditors, re-
ports, which showed the discrepancies.
The matter was kept profound secret
until 1t was sprung upon the public ut
Tuesdays meeting Of the levy court.
.tLast Saturday went TO Philadelphia
and saw Wheatley. Monday evening he
came down TO Georgetown. 1 met him
st tue station and had talk with him.
We then went together to Daniel J. Lay
toms office and had a conference"
Here Mr.. Bacon was asked il WheRtley
during this interview made any statement
duplicating any other parties in his d.
falcation.
A PERTINENT QUESTION EvADED.
II mu decline TO say" replied Mr..
Bacon, whether he implicated any one
else or not"
Continuing, Mr.. Bacon said: az do not
think that Mr.. Wheatley Intentionally
took an overdose OF chIoral for the pur-
pcse of committing suicide. He was
assured that no criminal proceedings
would be instituted against him."
"What right had you to give Kim such
Rssuranoe?" was asked.
well, his offence WAS not an indict-
able one" responded Mr.. Bacon, smil-
ingly. "Mr. Whestley seemed to be in
somewhat nervous condition Monday
night. think he wanted to EtGve of tie
Investigation q day or two SO as to get
his family away some place, and then,
after telling his story to the committee, to
skip out OF town"
DID he COMMIT suIoIDE2
This is the question that is now sgi-
tAtipg Georgetown. Every man who had
sny part in bringing Wheatley here to
tell the story of his wrong-doing ad-
venceH the belief that his death was dus
to an accident in taking On overdose OF
ohloEal. Others believe that after yield
ing to the persuasion of Bacon to come
here and tell story that would impli-
cate prominent Democrats. some Of them
old friends, and involve them in on uu-
On rited disgrace, his heart failed him
and he took his life sooner than go
through the o. deal. He was known to
have been hard drinker for years, and
several weeks ago, when he stopped using
alcoholic liquors, he reBorted to the use
OF Narcotic stimulants 10 brace up his
shattered nerves. lie WAS too familiar
with their use, 1t is urged, TO have taken
an overdose by mi take.
WHAT DR., LAYTON SAYS.
Tuesday morning, inst before he was
expected to appear az the levy court and
tell hiB atoty. Whpatley was taken ill.
He complained of something liks cholera
morbus and took desc OF cholera mix
/ ture, few minutes later he took dose
from the bottle which the doctors think
contained chloral and morphie. The
drink he took exhausted the contents OF
the bottle save few drops. 1t was q
bottle he had brought from Philadelphia
with him and bore no directions or label.
Shortly afterwards his condition became
such that DR.. O. Il. Layton was called in,
and later DIR. o. ID. Robinson. They re-
manned with him until his death, about
$3.50 O'Clock in the afternoon.
When asIed, yesterday afternoon,
whether Mr.. Whestley had committed
suicide, DR.. Layton said: 81 cannot
make any deduction. think his death
was due to a mixture Of chloral and
morphia. When first saw him, at 10. SO
O'Clock Tuesday morning, he was unoon-
scous. The pupils of his eyes were con.
traoted and he was in oomatose sleep.
There were indications OF loss of power
his breathing was aterterous, his skin
moltlsd with pink and white dots, cold
sweat stood out upon him, and the action
OF the heart was feeble aud intermittent.
at once summoned Dr.. Robinson and
We tried, by meaus OF a galvauio battery
to restore the action Of the heart, but II
was impossible. He never moved OIL
eyelid and remained in this condition
until his DEATH"
PLEA Fur TIME.
a short time before Wheatley sank into
Inconsistencies he wrote the following
note to j. Frank Bacon
DEAR Franz: ike to Of died last might
Had severe attack Of cholera maronI
CAN'T hold my head up this morning. Lee
tho committee wait until tomorrow, and
will SEQ you In the morning and glvs yol
ali. Tell Layton also.
Keep 1t quiet until tomorrow. Nov
please do.
Whether this note teads to confirm o.
disprove the suicide theory is question
upon which pu lie opinion Is divided.
BURIED WITHOUT AN INQUEST.
DR.. Layton said that, under the cir
cunlstances OF the case, he could no
issue certificate testitying to the oaUs
of death. In Wilmington this woul,
make an inquest necessary, but hero !
Beemed to maks no difference The Ger
oner was not summoned, and Under
: tGkcr George Hatiield went right on will
toe funeral arrangements. The funera
} took place this morning aud ntarted a
, $50 O'clock for Bethel NJ. 10. Church
J neGt Laurel, where inte-ment took place
! | Deputy coroner John W. Poole Of Selby
J vile, was in town ip1t night and talke
, OF holding "A inquest, but did not do Sc
INDUCEMENTS held cur.
. While no one hero il erieved ct tn
discovery of the doFalchti ln--Yhioh vii
, hsve to be made good to the count
, either by the ole q the peace, ia
: county treasureSs or the collectofs-th
rnethots adopted by j. frank Bacon I
induce WheRtlay to come TO Georgetow
o are generally condemned. Ono Of th
!. Inducements, eco riding 10 the authorit
a OF brother Of tie deceased, il this
4 Bacon offered WheRtley IS snd MS raj
n ROAD faye 10 CO 10 TO Georgetown an
< testify. On Monday mcrniug Daco
tsleRraphed to him, "Rest easy. Wi
send for you when we want you.n TueI
day morning NhsStley sent q postal car
d 70 his brGthei stating that rs would b
Z back in Philadelphia Wstnesdey morning
r Bacon's offer to saws Whestley frol
n prosecution, and ais declaration tuat Il
a offence of uh:cl no wac emily il NOT n