Evening journal., 1891-09-28
LAS, Asst EDITION
MUM IS The WORD.

The much talked-of work OF the Levy
Oourt Iuvestigatl ng Committee began in
the Levy Court room this morning,
shortly after 10 o'clock. The room was
well filled with levy courtmen, witnesses
and spectators, who were anxious to
know the outcome Of the Mckee Dough
erty deal Commissioner Hutchison
presided Com missioner Jolls was made
clerk of the committee and Thomas
Griffen was selected as the notary public
to swear the witnesses.
Among the prominent politicians and
interested persons in the room were
George w. Mckee, hon Charles B. Lore.
his counsel; Hon. John b sCranston.
Charles Grooms, DR.. John G. Fahey.
sureties; Attorney E. g. Bradford
Postmaster Daniel F. Stewart, United
States Marshal Mshaffy, City Auditor
Billany, City Tax Collector Edmund
Mitchell, Jr. Clerk OF the Orphans Court
McWhorter, William Il. Pierson and DR..
E g. Shortlidge
Immediately after organization the
chair called for Senator Anthony Hig-
gins to take the stand and testify.
Levy Courtman Hickman. Demo
cratic member of the com
mttee, objected He said that
the tax receipts were not there, nor were
there any others papers, and he wanted
Senator higgins to testify when they
were there Mr. Bradford wanted the
collectors sworn first, and the objection
was sustained by the committee.
Mckee Under fire
When the name of George w. Mckee
was called he was the focus Of
All eyes He was duly sworn
and Attorney Bradford began PROFOUND
ing questions Mckee was not a
good witness for the Republicans and
did more to block their game than they
expected he would Question after aues-
tion was asked, but he would not give
auY satisfactory reply. The examination
was, in part, as follows
Attorney Bradford" You not,
about the first part of the present year,
obtain certain moneys from Daniel F
Stewart
Hickman-"The receipts ought to be
before the committee before such ques-
tion is put"
Mckee, decline to answer on the
ground that this is not the proper court
to bring this matter before
Bradford-"Is il not the court before
which you are called upon to settle with
for your receipts and expendituresg"
Mckee have paid every cent owe
the county. The Levy Court notified me
on June 90 what owed, and also noti-
fed my sureties what mr. indebtedness
was. That money made up
BradfOrd-"Do you decline TO answer
whether you received certain moneys
from Daniel F Stewards"
Mckee, do. +"
prod 4bo r...e
Mckee Yes"
Bradford-"Unless you give some
further reason for declining to answer
| shall advise the committee to apply to
the Superior Court for writ Of attach
ment for contempt"
Mckee, decline to answer. acting
on the advice Of my attorney"
BrNdford-"Didy ou, or not during the
early part Of January Of this year have
any understanding with Stewart or any
other person that you should furnish or
cause to be furnished a list of nsmes Of
persons on your tax duplicate who.
sp to that time, had failed to pay
taxesY'
Mckee, refuse to answer that
Brad ford-"0n the same grounds
Mckee Yes, sir. /"
Bradford-"Did you, during or about
the month January of the present year
give to Daniel F. Stewart or any other
person with the request that he should
pay to you the amount of taxes ef poll
taxables and other taxablss belonging to
the Republican party and with the as
surarce on your part that you would
would issue in due form tax receipts for
persons on whose account taxes should
be go paid"
McKee-"T decline to answer that
question"
Bradford-"Did you or not, in the
early part of January of the present
year, receive large amount of moley
from Daniel F. Stewart or others, on ac-
count of poll taxes of persons whose
names appeared on your duplicate for the
year 1902"
McKee-"I decline to answer that
question"
Bradford-"Did you or not thereafter
issue in due form tax receipts under the
appropriate county seal for the taxes SO
col ted by you or received BY your
Mckee, decline to answer"
Bradford-"Did you or not on or about
the 10Th day of March of the present
year receive from Daniel F Stewart 1r
others the sum of 81, O53 so in addition
to the sum of $500 received BY vou 81 Or
about the Sd day of January Of the pres
emit year, the two sums being in full nav
msnt without discount or deduction Of
taxes for which you issued tax receipts
in due form of lawf"
Mckee, decline TO answer that.
Bradford you any reason OF
pressing personal charaeter affecting
yourself which accounts for your refus
ing to answer these questions2'
Mckee, have, my attorney here.
By his advice refuse.
Bradford-"Mr. Mckee, the charge
has been formally and publicly made, not
only In prints but ia the resolutions Of
this body that you committed a gross
fraud upon the taxpayers of this col nty
in receiving large amount of money
from persons who were duly
assessed as taxablss for taxes Of
1890 and in thereafter returning
them as delinquent taxpayers, whereby
their names were struck from the assess
ment lists, and you were credited with
them in the settlement with the county.
Are you unwilling to state to this com.
mittee anythingsthat will enable IL TO get
at the truth or falsity of the charger
McKee-"Yes, at this time. / do at
this time.
Bradford-"Mr Chairman. cannot
see very well the proprlety of consuming
further time in conducting the examine
tion OF this witness have no further
questions to ask
Commissioner Jlark-"Do | under
stand that you decline TO answer any