Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-01

tlls tlC Obntl HiCntbCl VI
the committee, testified.
Mr.. Hutchinson said he worked with
Mr.. Hickman in examining McKee's
error list. "Mr. Dougherty's," he said,
al never saw until signed it,"
lie said he and Hickman carefully
went over McKee's list, and he found
no names on it that were not on the
duplicate. He had no idea, until long
afterwards, Of the fraud that had been
perpetrated upon the county. No one
even suggested to him that the collectors
had returned as errors persons who had
duly paid their taxes.
"When Dougherty's error list was ex-
amined," said Mr.. Clark, ~ was busy
for awhile. Afterwards I started to-
wards the desk where it was being ex-
amined, when Dougherty suddenly had
business out, and closing up his book he
left. Again, in the committee room, l
went to look at the book, and again
Dougherty picked 1t up and went away.
l signed the list only as certification
of the correctness of the calculations"
added Mr.. Hutchinson. "Mr. Hickman
said it was all right, and the collectors
oath was in the book"
Mr.. Hickman said the Wilmington
error lists lay on the desks in the court
room from March 18th until the 9th,
when they were allowed
'Were your suspicious aroused when
Dougherty closed his books and took
them away?" asked Mr.. Ei..ason.
eyes, thought it was queer and that
q member of the committee had right
to see the books"
uNo,, bad f,,I1 oanf;Iaoons,, NJ, Hit
man, had you notT queried Mr.. Brad
ford.
"Yes," replied Mr.. Hutchinson.
PAID, BUT RETURNED AS ERRORS.
Mark L. Garrett was called aud Mr..
Jolls, examining the books, said Mr..
Garrett was returned as an error for
1890 taxes. Mr.. Garrett said he had
paid his taxes, and produced receipt
for $3.50, dated January 9th, 1891, II
paid this tax myself" said Mr.. Garrett,
Ito Mr.. Dougherty."
Peter B. Ayars of the Third ward,
was called as similar example, but an
examination showed that he had not
been returned as an error.
Richard G.. Buckingham, chairman Of
the Levy Court, said lie was member
Va eho NOIiliAlhttC VII tlAC w tOl
assessments, but being otherwise busy
did not work with the committee and
therefore did not sign the report. He
had no suspicion of anything wrong.
MR.. HERsEY's SUSPICION.
Solomon Hersey, editor of the Daily
Republican,, was called by Mr.. Hickman,
EIe said that during March last he went
to Mr.. Hickman and said to him, "You
certainly know that great many delin-
quents have been fraudulently returned
men who have paid their taxes. He
also added, 81 think the committee who
paid their taxes know they have been
wrongfully returned"
"This was an hour after the error lists
had been allowed" said Mr.. Hickman.
Mr.. Hersey said he did not know Of
the payment of taxes to the collectors,
but had heard that they had been paid.
He examined the error lists as soon as
possible and found there the names of
men whose taxes he had been informed
had been paid.
Mr.. Hersey said he had heard rumors
of the action Of the collectors, but did
not know of it positively until it was
brought out officially by the Levy Court.
There were some developments during
trial in the municipal court. He was
in the habit Of attending to the payment
of taxes for several of his neighbors, but
when he went to pay this year was in
formed by Mr.. Dougherty that they had
been paid.
Mr. Jersey said he had no knowledge
of tho fraud when the error lists were
returned, but had very strong sus-
picion. He remarked about them one
day to Sewell Biggs That is a stu
pendous fraud, and some day you will
hear something drop" The fact that
he had received information that the
taxes of all Republicans had been paid
aroused his suspicious about the cor
rectness of the lists.
Mr.. Hersey said he had no recollec-
ton of speaking to any member of the
court, except Mr. Hickman about the
suspicious character of the error lists.
He saw them day or two after they
We're presented to the court
"When you looked at them and saw
the names Of men you thought had been
paid, why didn't you tell some member
of the Court 7" asked Mr.. Eliason.
swell, thought the members of the
Court ought to have known" replied
Mr.. Hersey.
Mr.. Eliason said that when Mr.. Kick.
man told him what Mr.. Hersey had said
he supposed the latter was merely kick.
ing because so many Republicans had
been returned as errors.
Following the testimony of Mr.
Hersey Tuesday afternoon the work 4
comparing the lists commenced. In
these duties, however, the tax receipts
formed no part of the test. They were
not produced.
COMPARING BEGINS.
Mr.. Bradford-"I suggest now that
! the committee take in hand the assess,
ment list and the error list of 1890 in
connection with list No. for the pur.
pose of ascertaining whether all the
names appear on the error list of 1890
| 1t will probably consume some time
But it is the only satisfactory way Of
procedure that | can suggest. There is
already in hand evidence that this
money has been paid and for what pur.
pose, and also that the money was paid
ON the basis OF list No. 8. In addition
we have sworn evidence that tax re.
ceipts were delivered for each and
every one of the names appearing on
| list No. g."
Mr.. Jolls--"I move that the commit.
tee compare list No. 8 with the errol
list and assessment list"
Mr.. Eliason--"It seems to me that
the proper thing would be to compare
the tax receipts, not the list No. 8, with
the assessment"
Mr.. Bradford--"W is necessary is
to fix the amount chargeable against the
collectors as money due the county
This can be done by comparing the
| verified LIST with tho nesnsstnent list nd