Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-05
4 cn1nGEnE nnIREnK.
Levy Court Commissioner Hutchiso
Makes Affidavit That Esquire Bratto
Tried TO Bride Him to Resign.

Levy Court Commissioner Hutchison
Makes Affidavit That Esquire Bratton
Tried TO Bride Him to Resign.
The hints and indirect illusions that
have been current during the past two
weeks about an attempt TO bride one of
the Republican members-elect of the
levy court TO resign were brought down
to the basis of fact, Monday, by the
announcement in EVERY EVENING that
the attempt had been made and that
David l.. Hutchinson of Appoquinimink
hundred was the member who was APP
preached. Tuesday Mr. Hutchinson's
affidavit, in which he gives the details
OF the attempt, has made public, as fol
lows:
STATE OF DELAWARE, NEW CASTLE
COUNTY, SIS Before me, Thomas r. Lally,
a notary public for the State of Delaware
in and for New Castle county, personally
appeared David p. Hutchison who, being
duly sworn according to law, doth deposc
and say:
That about o'clock in the morning Of
Friday, January sd last, while deponent
was engaged at his work at his dwelling
house in the village of Townsend, in APP
poqunimink hundred, one Thomas Brat
ton, who is a justice of the peace and
notary public, and we'll known to this de-
ponent, approached this deponent and
said +:
u want to see you some time to-day"
That at about 20 minutes to l2 o'clock of
the same day deponent met said Bratton in
front OF the store of w. A. Scott, in said
village of Townsend, and said Bratton
then said to this deponent
what time are You coming up, and will
you come in the Officer meaning said
Bratton's office.
That this deponent then went to the said
office of said Bratton, in said Townsend, at
about IL O'Clock, when said Bratton talked
to deponent about Mr.. w, A. Scott con-
testing this deponent's seat as a levy court
commissioner, and that said Bratton con-
yersed about the Five Commissioners bill
now pending in the General Assembly,
and as to the uncertainty Of the levy court
elected last November ever taking their
seats, and said Bratton, by such CONVERSE
ton, endeavoring to make this deponent
believe that there was but little chance of
this deponent ever serving his term as lew
court commissioner. This deponent then
started to leave said Bratton, and had
arisen to do So when said Bratton said
Dave, have YOU ever thought anything
about resigning?"
This deponent replied '.No."
Said Bratton then said; you are willing
then to take your chances?n
The deponent replied: Eyes, will have
to be-"
Said Bratton then said: "Well, then,
there could not be any inducement offered
you to resignY'
This deponent replid No, nothing I'M
der the heavens
That on Thursday, January Goth last
past said Bratton again met deponent at
SAID store of w. A. Scott, in said Town
send, and asked deponent to come to his,
said Brattons office, saying that he, said
Bratton, wanted to see this deponent. This
deponent then stated that he would be at
said office in twenty minutes.
That this deponent then went to said
Office OF said Bratton at about 5 o'clock,
p. M, on said Thursday, January Goth.
Said Bratton was seated at his desk and
then deponent took a seat about six feet
from said Bratton. Said Bratton then said:
Dave, move your chair up close to me.
don't want any one to hear
This deponent then moved up close to
said Bratton, when said Bratton said: II
don't want you to think hard of me at
what am going to say 1t is very deli
cate matter. and did not want to do it,
but they forced 1t upon me- You will never
breathe it, and never will l. mentioned
to you about your resignation the other
day Now could there be any inducements
offered you to resign?"
This deponent then said "Well, don't
know. What is the amount ?"
Said Brntton then said; 1--WE will give
you one thousand dollars cash, and /
think you are verv foolish man if you
don't take it,
This deponent then inquired: "Who is
back of this-is it Herbert ~
Said Bratton replied: YES"
The deponent then said; 'What will
become Of the Five Commissioners bill if
resignY'
Said Bratton then said: "They will
have to take their chances on that"
Deponent then inquired "What benefit
would it be to them if the bill did pass ?''
Said Bratton then replied IAN we
whether we get it by the passage of the |
Five Commissioners bill or by your re-
signing.n
Deponent then said ''That amount is
not enough, Isn't there more ?"
Said Bratton then replied: "We will |
give you fifteen hundred dollars, and will
go to his office with you to get the money
at any time You say
Deponent then said II want little
time to consider the Natter
Said Bratton then asked "How long ~
Deponent replied: Until Saturday,
Said Bratton then said: at is too long,
because have to report. I would like to
know i'll the morning.
Deponent then said: .tAll right
And said deponent further deposeth that
ieponent has not spoken to said Bratton
on said subject since the day and date last
above. DAVID P. HurcHIsoN.
MIR. HERBERT DON'T KNOW.
THE GAzETTE's New Castle CORE
'pondent Tuesday morning asked State
Treasurer Herbert about the use of his
name in Mr.. Hutchinson's affidavit.
Mr.. Herbert said he had not yet read
he affidavit" | don't know anything
lbout il" he added, "nor do l know the
of the levy court who SAYS lie
vas approached with BRIDE"
AN EMPHATIC DENIAL.
Continuing, Mr.. Herbert said : $50
ar as | am charged with being impli-
ated in this affair, / deny ever having
lad anything to do with it.
81 don't know Mr. Hutchinson, and
s for Esquire Bratton | had not seen
i'm for several years until u few days
go, when | met him in Wilmington.
SUIT during our conversation then moth
ng was mentioned about the bribery.
"Any intimation that | was back of
his alleged attempt to bride is a false
God. The declaration that man came
0 my office after the money is also
alse.
"sOf course said Mr.. Herbert, in
my name might have been
sed, but if so, it was done without my
or consent and l am not re- I
ponsible. l emphatically deny having i,
ad anything to do with the affair.""
NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY. j
Levy Court Commissioner Hutchinson
'as seen by The GAZETTE re- 4
Nrta,. ~, aud nelyal aI,.,,4 a..
latter. "The affidavit as published is !
1prant ~ bo eaid lII,,f baynn5 tl,;. 7 =