Evening journal., 1890-03-06
SUSSEX SENSATIONS.
ONE PARTY ACCUSES THE OTHER
OF FRAUD.

the County in Fever Heat or Excite-
ment.
The Philadelphia Record Of to-day has
the following despatch dated George.
town, Del
The Republicans are endeavoring
to make party capital out of Wheatley' 5
suicide and confessions, and as he lay
dying yesterday the Levy Court, which
is now under Republican control, dopted
by party vote report making most
serious charges regarding the uses to
which the county money has been put
The report says that the county has been
robbed Of thousands, If not tens of thou
sands, of dollars. and charges that
through road allowances $3 600 more has
been spent in election years than IN off
years for partisan purposes.
The Republicans profess to believe that
the Democrats have drawn their cam
paign funds from the county treasury,
and that the money has been used to pay
the taxes Of delinquent Democrats. They
charge that in 1886 and 1888 $0,s40 Of
the county money was used in this way
in excessive road allowances. and in
bogus orders issued by the clerk of the
peace and that further frauds will be un-
earthed by the Levy Court that is now
making an investigation.
The Democrats Indignantly deny these
charges, and A. F. Robinson, the Demo
cratic leader Of the county, has published
card in which he says that he knew
nothing of the alleged frauds until he
heard that Wheatley was dying f. W.
Tunnel, the clerk of the peace, and lead.
ing Democrats court the fullest investi-
a. 41.s.
Never before in the history OF this
ancient county seat of Sussex has any
event created such a decided sensation
as has the suicide of Rufus E. Wheatley.
the defaulting exdeputy clerk of the
about 40 years old, and had lived in Sus.
sex county all his life. He was born in
Laurel, but resided in Georgetown for a
number of years. He was respected by
every body, and had a commanding voice
in the affairs of Delaware Democracy
He had wife and two children, and was
up to last fall one Of the
best known citizens of the county.
For five years prior to last October
Wheatley was deputy under Clerk of the
Peace Eli w. Tunnell, and during the
latters absence from his office, the deputy
advantage of this, and during Tunnell's
absence the bogus road orders were is
sued. Thus far they aggregate about
81, 100, but the indications are that the
total defalcation will foot up at least
So, 900. When Clerk Tunnel deposed
Wheatley from Office last October the
latter went to Philadelphia and took
charge of his brothers William Wheatleyl
interest in the produce firm Of Wheatley,
Tunnel Co. The brother being in poor
health, he remained in this connection
until his death.
For some time the Levy Court of this
county has been cognizant that something
was wrong with the county finances, but
the matter was kept quiet. On last Sat.
urday j. Frank Bacon. the Courts law
yer, went to Philadelphia and informed
Rufus E. Wheatley that he was wanted
in Georgeto Wn to explain why the bogus
orders were issued, and, in general, to
give a detailed explanation before the
Levy Court, and rs to how much they
amounted to. Wheatley became pale, snd
| asked Bacon what could be done with him
for the offense. The counselor said that
there Was no statute under which he
could be held, but that he had better
come to Georgetown.
Wheatley arrived here on Monday
night, telling his family, who were In ig.
norance of there being anything wrong
and who live here permanently, that he
came to boom spring trade. He said he
wanted them to pack up Immediately and
move to Philadelphia. The presumption
now is that he wanted to get his family
out Of town before the inevitable expos.
ure occurred.
Wheatley wanted the investigation de-
layed, but this WITS refused. Yesterday
morning Attorney Bacon received the
following letter from Wheatley, the
writing of which is the last known act of
the deceased, and which was written at
/ his home here on Monday night:
DEAR FRANK: like to of died last
night. Had a severe attack OF cholera
morbus. Can't hold my head up this
morning. Let the committee wait until
tomorrow, and l will see you in the
morning and will give you all. Tell Lay
ton also. Keep it quiet until tomorrow.
Now, please do. RUFus."
Soon after Mr.. Bacon got this episile
the news was spread that Wheatley had
taken dose of morphine and choral
about g. M, and was unconscious. Drs
c. Layton and o. ID. Robinson were sum-
moned, but they could do nothing, and at
3. 30 p. M, Wheatley died without having
regained consciousness.
A few minutes before Wheatley' Is
death the Levy Court passed a resolution
to thoroughly investigate the affair. This
morning the court again met, and ap-
pointed a committee to make the invesUi-
cation. The committee summoned Clerk
Of the Peace Eli w. Tunnel, who exam
lned and identified forty-two of the
bogus orders which were in the hands Of
Attorney j. Frank Bacon. The orders
represented a deficit Of about $500.
County Treasurer Jesse B. Stephenson
then produced twelve other fictitious
orders, which represented an outlay Of
$25S. The orders were mostly for work
alleged TO have been done.
The committee has subpenaed State
Auditor James H. Boyce and ex-Tax Col
lectors Elias r. Wetson Of George
town Hundred. and William p. Jefferson
of Cedar Greek Hundred. The auditor
will produce all orders in his Office since
1880. The general opinion is that Clerk
Of the Peace Tunnel will be held ac-
countable for the the entire defalcation,
inasmuch as all the bogus orders were is.