Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-18


1t was suddenly noticed that all the
Republican members had withdrawn
from the court room and on further in
, yestigation, the ianitor was discovered
sitting with tip-tilted chair across the door.
way palpably guarding it from all ingress.
COMMISSIONER Grubb strolled up to the
; man and attempted to open the door. Al
the same time he inquired If him
what he was doing there. He was little
SLOW IN his explanations, but got quicker
gait on his actions as the sturdy member
from Brandywine hundred summarily
burst the door open.
BACH THE KING BEE.
The spectacle inside was a Republican
caucus hobnohhing together with II. Eden
Bach seated as king bee In the centre. Mr.,
Grnbb'si ncursion cooled matters down for
awhile
Things went along quietly for awhile
again when suddenly Commissioner Hick
man discovered the ianitor in his old
position and his shoulders squared against
the doorway His pose spoke more elo-
queutly still that no one should 60 inside.
Mr.. Hickman walked up to the man and
quietly babe him put his feet down. The
levy courtmen then inquired as to who
told him to bar the doorway As Mr.
Hickman walked into the committee
room the janitor replied chairman Buck.
ingham told me to allow no one inside
| here"
u was understood that the Republicans
under Mr.. Rach's cautious advice were
attempting to formulate some policy for
making a test case Of the Churchman
incident.
i MR., CURTIS UNINFoMED.
City Solicitorelect Charles NJ. Curtis
ventiired his advice to knot of levy
cutrtmen of both parties. As against Mr..
Churchman's statementthat he had paid his
nit,f 4. g.
be on the assessment list, all that antago.
nlzed these facts, Mr.. Curtis claimed, was
| SIMPLY Mr.. 1orghertys return to the
court 81 his name among the delinquents.
The city otiicial-elect was reminded that
the collectors return of delinquents COM
| prlsed also an affidavit that those men had
not paid their tax.
Mr.. Curtis expressed a doubt that any
such document existed. Ii was then
shown to him by Clerk Eliason who
fetched the book from the office for the
purpose, Then Mr., Curtis claimed that
the affidavit was not signed. This was
actually SO. But being of the nature Of a
document sworn before the proper officials
ana attested by them the signature was
not necessary.
MR., LORE uNRAyELs THE KNOT.
Mr., Curtis insisted on his point when
the question was left with Mr. Lore, who
happened to be in the court room at the
time. He in turn cited facts to show that
the affidavit was all right and sufficient
The value Of this is that the collectors alii-
daNlt must be accepted as an offset against
Mr' churchman's statement Mr.. Lore
was OF the opinion that an affidavit sworn
to and attested in the presence Of the
proper officers who 50 attest, although not
subscribed to by the one taking the oath |
is still a sufficient affidavit.
IN expressing himself to other members
OF the court he said that the levy court can
do nothing more in such cases as that of |
Mr.. Churchman. The court revised ''t The
lists in February and March. The adding
OF any more names to the list is all over
now The law is clear upon that point |
and cant be gotten over now.
Following further discussion Commits |
sloner Hutchinson arose and offered the |
following resolution:
Resoiced, That Philip @ Churchman'S name |
be continued on he assessment for 1891 n /, he |
mas been Illegally dropped from the assess |
ment OF the Seventh ward, Wilmington hund. |
RED, a. his receipts show and that the clerk Of |
mis- court Is hereby authorized to place his |
name on the collectors duplicate sor 1891.
MIR. Jolls then arose and offered his
former resolution as substitute This was
seconded by Mr.. Clarke.
MIR. Hickman Immediately called for the
yeas and nays.
THE JUDICIARY TIMED.
Mr.. Hutehison asked how much time IL
would he proper to give the judges Of the
opinion.
Inc question was received with roars of
of laughter by everyone. Evidently, how
ever, the speaker had not an idea to curtail
the honorable court in its dignitied duties.
bnt was inspired only by most commend
ahle desire to secure quick opinion in
order that the empty county treasury NAV
be the sooner replenished.
commissioner Hickman pleasantly re-
marked u fear the decision NAV not an
pear in time, and that the court will lose
churehman's as well as the taxes Of
numbers OF Others
Chairman Buckingham explained that
Mr.. Jolls' resolution asked for an opinion
during the present month.
Jolls substitute
soMEDoDY HAS SWORN TO A LIE.
Mr., Clarke then took the chair and Mr..
bucklngham made brief address. TJe
referred to the fact of the extreme import
ance OF the matter under discussion. He
claimed that the chief business of the
levy court is for providing for the county
expenditures Mr.. Chnrchman has paid
his taxes, Somebody has either lied or .
made big bunder in the affidayits. Mr.,
advised the greatest care in !
The premises. The present case, If allowed t
wouldd, open the door for hundreds, per-
haps thousands. Of Others" He closed by
stating he would vote for the resolution G
Mr.. Hickman-"The proper action in ]
ny opinion, would be for Mr. Churchman,
/ he Is sure of what he says is true, to sue
Me- Dougherty. | don't think the lew =
s !. mas anything to 40 with the matter.
Y 4 should 60. to the upper court. MIR. I
5nllrchman did not see Collector Dough- a
,rty sign that tax receipt. 1 shall vote I
'gainst this resolution t
CREATURE OF THE COURT. !.
Mr.. ,Iolls did not agree with Tia se,,t;.
nents OF either of the previous speakers. 9
,Dougherty,' he said sis creature ~
lis acts ~ T
Mr. Hickman-"We can't fetch Dough.
rtN up and give him trial, There are
70 more any county tax collectors. We U
an move against his bondsmen. don't (
, " or look on it in the way that !,
Ihurchman can be continued on the list \
10 not believe that the receiver can ac. ?
ept MN as taxpayer on this receipt" /
Mr, Trnob-"l do not think the court o,
~, ~ az thing 10 90 IN the premises. Mr.. p
edress' e. = 81 "
Mr.. ellis thought Mr. Churchman'S no. ),
ton was right and that the levy court VI
an legally continue his name on the list. u
Mr.. Simpler-"D ougherty has nothing &c
: " WI y. lutIiig Inurchman on the as ol
list. What he wants TO do Is to dt
ay his tax for next year. ri
THE COURT CANNOT Acr. III
The vote on the Jolls substitute was IF
zen taken. II resulted in n strict IF
1rty vote as follows: Yeas, Buckingham,
larke, Jols, ellis, Hutchison and
mpleri nays, Ellison. Hickman, Kill.
ore, Sutton and Grub. III
The majority in the affirmative denies
tst,fa 4 - /
le levy court Tor its majority is of tile ola
ONION that the count eannnt act in snnh u.