The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-12-31

son went with Jabez Cooper and John
Farra, two reputable colored mon OF the
Fifth ward to the tax Office, the color
ell men wishing to pay their taxes and
asked Mr.. Piorson to go with them, as
one OF them. Ia ira, had boon there be-
fore aud had been refused. OF the
success or rather want OF success by
Mt Person anu the two eolored men
at the tax Office, Deputy Receiver OF
Taxes. George j. Finck gives the fol-
lowing report:
We'll, you see. yesterday (Tuesday)
William II. Person, sash manufacture
Or, on West Front street, came to this
office with five or six negroes who
wanted to pay their poll taxes. Among
the men were JGbez Cooper and John
Farrell Cooper was not on the list
aud neither was Farrell. Tho last.
named negro you will remember was
refused several days ago, he giving
the name of Farrell and wanting to
pay tax on the name OF john Farra.
We refused to take their money. Pier
son, who was coaching the party, did
n good deal OF talking and told tho
men to leave their money on the
counter They did 80, and there 1t Is,
SS.lt. Icing the sl.5S poll tux OF both
men. We showed Plerson the books
and he saw for himself that the names
were not there, hut despite this fuct he
gave the negroes this adAlce."
This morning Mr.. Persons atten-
ton was called TO the above as to its
truth or falslty, when he authorized
by telephone tho following statement
to be made:
ut is true that won't to the tax Of
flee with five or six negroes, but Jabez
Cooper and John Fhrra, both of whom
live In the the Filth ward, came to me
and asked me to go down to Mr..
Dlckey's Office and see thEt they got
their tax receipts. Both said they
we're 10 5essed and Farra showed me u
certificate from Clerk Of the Pc tee
Biggs showing that he was assessed.
] Went down to the tax Office with tho
inen. Some ono, i think IL was i'inck,
took their names on a slip of papeE
and went up stairs. Soon Afterwards
Mr.. Dtckey came down and speaking
to me asked II | was being waited on.
The man who took the names then
came down and reported that Cooper
was not assessed and that farra was
refused as John Farrell / asked II |
could see the books. Alter hesitating,
MIR. Dickey said; Yes, you can see
them upstairs
"a went upstairs saw Mitchell and
Andrew q. Wilson there. l asked Mr..
Mitchell to let me see the Fifth ward
books. Ho said could not see them.
added that Mr.. Dickey had given me
permission TO examine them. Mr..
Mitchell asked: 'Dld he?" Ireplled !;
Yes"
''He still declined to let me look at
the books. but Mr.. Dlckey coming up
- hui Mt ltuF IA
II he had given me permission to OK
anime the books Mr.. Dickey said
that he had and then taking the dupli-
cate said z: I'll show you the C's'
where Coopers name should be found.
He did not permit me to handle the
book. but permitted me to look as he
run down over page OF "C's" but the
name of Jabez Cooper was not there.
1T occurred to me afterwards that
he might have showed Inc the proper
ty tax list as there were a number OF
colored '"Cs. in the Firth ward that
l did not see and who l know were MS.
sessed, and l recollect OF seeing tho
name of Ceulk on the list who know
is property owner.
"Mr. DicSey then turned to the F's.
taking care that should not handle
the books and showed me the name of
John Fanra. He said that he could not
pay his tax as he had been there once
before and had spelled his name as
Farrell, and he nor no other man for
him could get his receipt. ten said
to Mr.. Dickey that did not KNOW thu [
the tax Office had been turned into a
spelling school and a man had to know
how to spell to get his tax receipt.
MIR. Dickey replied that FaI1a could
not get his receipt anyhow. Mr.. An
drew G. Wilson, one of tine committee
appointed by Judge Grubb to audit
Mr. Dickey's accounts, was siLLing be-
side Mr.. Mitehnll during our CONVEX
sation, when | turned to him and said.
Nh. Wilson you see tho way we are
permitted to pay taxes" MIR. Wilson
replied, saying Mr. Pierson, haven't
anything TO DO with it."
Going down stairs / said to the col
ored men: They won't give you your
tax receipts, Just leave the money
there. l do not know how much
money they had or where they got it.
] have known Farra for several years
and Cooper for about six months. /
do not know who first waited on
them"
1t will be recollected that few
weeks ago John Farra went to the
tax Office - pay his taxes. He was
not permitted the courtesy to go up
stairs himself but was asked through
II speaking tube how he spelled his
name. He insists that he spelled his
name right, but Mr.. Dickey and Mr..
Mitchell who worked the tube insists
that he spelled it Farrell FaIra went
to Clerk OF the Peace W. p. Biggs. who
had no trouble in finding his name
without forcing him to say Farrell.
He gave him a certificate and with
this he went back to Mr. Dickey who
stIll refused to give him receipt and
swOre TINT he was about tired giving
out receipts on certificates. MIR.
Dlekey's duties as receiver of taxes
expires to-day.
"For there was ne,.er vet n Phllnso.