The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-28
LEES $50 FLYER.
MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Secretary of the Board VIM. II. Lee Ac.
cepts $50 0Bribe-Contractor Pagan
Bought His Infuence-Afidsvits
Generating the Members and
Other Ofiicers of the Board.


An important meeting OF the Board
of Health was held last night, DR.. j. p.
Wales, president, In the chair. Dr. Il.
G. Shortlidge, DIR. Willard Springer J..
G. Van Trump and David H. Coyle, the
| other members, also answered roll
call, but DR.. Springer was called away
to attend professional call soon after
the board met Executive Officers
Schultz and Mcconnell were also pres
ent, as were the garbage contractors,
Thomas Pagan, Lelion Collins and
Fred Winchester. Secretary William
II. Lee being absent, by the invitation
of the board, s. Hersey filled the posi-
ton. During the proceedings Mayor
Harrington came in and took seat.
After the transaction of considerable
routine business, President Wales
stated that he believed that there was
special business to be brought before
the board. He called attention to the
| fact that certain charges had been
alleged against the board and its ex-
| ecutive officers by the secretary of the
board, William H. Lee, for crooked
ness. In short 1t had been intimated
\ that bribes had been accepted by some
members OF the board and It's execu-
! tive officers. He thought it quite
necessary to preserve the honest char
acter and standing of the board that
| these charges should be investigated.
DIR. Shortlldge was OF the same opin-
ion as were all the members of the
| board.
Thomas Pagan, the contractor for re-
moving the garbage from the Third
and Fourth Districts was then called
and asked to make statement.
Mr.. Pagan took a seat and gave the
following answers TO questions that
were propounded to him by members
of the board II never directly or In
, directly offered any bribe to members
| of this board or an officer of the same.
i have been a contractor before under
the old board In 1887. / know of brl-
berry, for / gave William H. Lee $50 as
bribe too help me get the contract.
This was the only time l was
ever contractor under any board
but this. | am ready to make affidavit
to that effect. Neither Of the executive
officers OF the board have any interest
in my contract. The bribe of $50 was
given to Mr.. Lee for his influence. /
supposed it was to include everything,
but he did not keep down the COM
plants"
Second district, was then called, and
stated that he never gave a brlbe or
| offered a bribe to any member of the
Board OF Health or to any of It's OIL
GERS, only that he gave Mr., Lee 25
cents for filling up his bid except the
price.
Frederick Winchester, contractor for
the Second district, was called upon
TO make statement, but he made the
same that Collins had made. Neither
of them had been contractors further
back than 1880.
Executive Officer Hugh Mcconnell
being asked II he had not some adj
davlts to offer, handed four docu-
ments to the secretary TO read. Three
| of them were from the three contrac-
tors and referred to the board in gen
eral, while a second one from Mr.
Pagan referred to Officer Mcdonnell
especially.
The following Is the affidavit of
Thomas Fagan relating in general to
the Board:
"SrATE OF DELAWARE.
COUNTY OF NEw CASTLE. ss'
'sBe it remembered, that on this 18th
day of January, A. d., 1891, personally
came before me. James Monaghan, a
notary public for the State OF Della
ware, Thomas Pagan, who, being by
me first soiemnly sworn In due form
according to law. deposcs and says
that he is the Thomas Pagan who Is
one of the contractors for the removal
of garbage in the city of Wilmington;
that in securing the contracts made
by him in the month of january, A..
d., 1870, and In the month OF January,
A. D., 1891, or in presenting his bids
for the same, he never, directly or in
| directly, paid cent OF money or gave
any consideration or promise what
| ever to any person or persons what
ever connected with the Board OF
Health, either as member, officer,
agent, servant or employe. or toany
| other person or persons whatever, at
any time or at any place, nor has he
made any secret aggeeme4t With any
person or persons whatever to bay any
money, or to. giyo any property, favor
| or services OF any nature whatever In
consideration that his bids should be
accepted or that said contracts should
be made with him.
THOMAS y FAGAS.
mark.
"James W. Yarnall, witness.
Sworn and subscribed to before
me the day and year aforesaid. Wit
ness my hand and official seal.
IsEAL. JAMES MONAGHAN,
Notary Public"
The ailldaylts of Lellon Collins and
Frederick Winchester were copies of
Mr.. Fagan's, but sworn to by them
selves before Squire Monaghan.
The following is the affidavit Of
Thomas Pagan, relating especially 10
Executive Officer Hugh Mcconnell:
'iSTATT OF DFIAwAuE
NEW CASTLE COUNTY. ss'
''Be II remembered that on this 18th
day OF January, A. D., 1891, personally
came before me, James Monaghan, a
notary public for the State of Della
ware, Thomas Pagan, who, being by