Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-08
To the Application of Collec-
tor George w. Mckee.
THE PRACTICE OF FRAUD CLAIMED
l,112 Tax Receipts Bought of
Collector Mckee.
The Levy Court Knew Nothing of the
Transaction--Fraud Upsets the Legal
settiement--Levy Court Now EXAMINE
Ing Dougherty's Affairs.

COURTS investigating committee.
General opinion among the legal
fraternity seems to be that the testimony
tn the case has arrived at such stage Of
accumulated information and of such a
nature as to be ripe for action from the
direction of the authorities. Ii is stated
that the evidence indicates an offence
covered by section of the act entitled,
"otfences against Private Property" as
follows:
SEC. 4. Every receiver or collector of
public taxes belonging to the State, or to
any county, city, town, village. or borough,
who fraudulently appropriates to his own
use, or wilfully and fraudulently misap-
plies any moneys, funds, securities, or
credits which shall be in his possession or
custody as such receiver or collector. shall
be deemed guilty OF a misdemeanor, and
shall on conviction thereof be imprisoned
TOR term not less than one year or more
than five years,
and that it is the duty of the States
attorney now to step in and take action.
A feeling seems to grow, also, that the
more important matter yet to be ascer-
tanned will never be secured until the
whole matter is properly in the hands
, Of the superior court. Deputy Clerk of
United States Court W. G. Mahaffy was
sworn to make true copies Of any papers
handed to him by the court. The copies
to be made were of list No. for The
use of the committee.
Late in the afternoon ex-tax collector
George w. Mckee visited the committee
room, but did not stay long
William r. Long of the Eighth ward
was sworn. He testified that he had re-
sided there for 10 years. He produced his
tax receipt for 1890, given him by Mr.
Dougherty. His name is on the assess
ment list for 1890 but he is marked de-
linqent. There was difference in the
lists. One showed an assessment of
$500 and tax Of S1.20 and the other
$40 with tax of so cents. MIR. Long
held receipt for the latter sum. He
explained that that was the amount Mr.
Dougherty asked him for which he got
a receipt. His name is returned as an
error The witness son, w. II. Long
was also returned as an error although
holding receipt.
Mark III. Cleaver also testified to his
having paid his capitation tax and also
his property tax for both of which he
received the usual receipt from Mr..
Dougherty.
Mr.. Bradford informed Mr.. Cleaver
that he was returned capitation delin-
,quent. The latter's surprise at hearing
the news was simply laughable. 1t was
complete news to him. Hisproperty tax
was returned all right.
Here's an instance" remarked Mr..
Bradford, "where distinction is made
by the collector on the same individual
tax the property tax being returned to
the county and the capitation tax not !"
In all the above cases where citizens
testified they were instances Of fraudu-
lent returning independent of the names
in the 1000 list.
The difference In the spelling of
names and the confounding of white
and colored persons continues to impede
the work of calling off.
There was an informal meeting of all
the members Of Levy Court at $50
O'Clock Thursday morning 1t was held in
the committee room with closed doors.
On inquiry of one Of the members it
was ascertained that subject of discus
sion was the answer to be given to the
superior court mandamus in the Mckee
! sureties' case.
The discussion in the committee room
was informal. The Republican mem
bers of Levy Court united in an express
w. Mckee should not be satisfied. The
Democratic members stood by their
former vote to satisfy the bond. On
vote instruction was given TO the courts
attorney, Mr.. Bradford, to prepare his
answer in conformity with the opinion
of the majority that Mckee's returns
are fraudulent, that he has received
county money which he has failed to
account for and therefore, in general
terms, the court refuses to satisfy his
bond.
The committee having charge of com
pairing lists then resumed work.
As a sample Of what Is being done, a
page on the court record showed SO
names in Tenth ward and all but three
returned as delinquents. Many of these,
OF course, must be Democrats.
50 far in the comparison of list No. 3,
in connection with George w. Mckee
tax district the committee has found
In First ward, 215 names with six Of
these names not on the office record; in
ehe Second, 272 names, six not on record
Third, lbs names, four not on record
Fourth ward, 234 names, notion record
Tenth ward, l1S names 2 not on record
Eleventh ward ~ names, Q not on record
Twelfth ward, 1883 names, not on
record. This gives total of / 1858 name:
and 81 yet to be explained.
This closes the comparison of MeKee's
district So far as names are concerned
1t shows in the total probable equivo.
lent in the amount Of money received by
the ex-tax collector. The negro tax
amounts would run over the sum uf 81
The result of the comparison show.
that list No. 3, so far as information OK.
lists, contains names Of men properly
assessed. This is the authority If TIC
court record. The score or so Of name:
that do not appear in the record may
be reduced yet more from the names on
the Levy Court minutes and also from
the lists Of the assessors found in The
applications when those lists are oper
for i've days in the spring.
1t IS 10 be remembered that at thi.
stage OF the comparing Of the Mckee
names that the tax receipts have no
yet been compared. When these ar,
produced, and the genulneness of til,
signatures sworn TO, &c, the clain q
evidence as regards exCollector Mcl[e,
will be complete, that the names werj
assessed, the money paid for them, til,
tax receipts received, and that the mel
were marked off as delinquents.
HE is NATURALIzED.
Paul Gillis, Levy courtman iron
White Clay Creek, was informed Thurs
day morning of rumor current on til
streets to the effect that he is foreigne
not yet naturalized.
IF you look up the United State
court record" replied Mr.. ellis, "som
years back, when United States Marsha
Dunn was in office you will find IN,
.ratan thnrn " Me Eillia ahtn ind Ii