Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-08
some Questions for the Committee.


tories pertinent to the examination and
remarked that the investigation itself, as
It progressed, would be morally sure to
suggest other interrogatories. Some Of
the leading questions we then men,
toned have been answered directly and
satisfactorily by the witnesses whom
the committee called to the stand, and
we have freely given the committee due
credit for making very good begin.
ming. II has demonstrated, as we have
stated, that Ex-Colectors Mckee and
Dougherty have swindled somebody
either the Stewart syndicate or the
county-out of more than $4,000, and
the public will confidently expect to
see the ex-collectors prosecuted, and
that without let-up, for embezzlement
or obtaining money under false pre-
fences, or both. 1t has further demon
strated that certain individuals who
paid their taxes in person have been re-
turned by Mr.. Dougherty as delinquent;
each of which aggrieved taxables is en-.
Titled in law to recover peGuniary dam
ages.
so far, so good. We think il unfor
tunate, very unfortunate, that the cx-
animation of witnesses has been practi-
cally confined thus far to an attorney
belonging to the same political party as
the purchasers of these tax receipts.
Without any disrespect to Mr. Bradford
this cannot but influence the public
Judgment as to the scope of the inyesti-
cation. A feeling of dissatisfaction is
even now developing, and finding ex-
preston in regard to this very matter.
1t is already common criticism about
town that the scope of questioning has
been too narrow and has failed to give
opportunity for the recording of eyi.
dence that might have, with a little
patient interrogation, been obtained
In an investigation Of the present ma
ture, when both political parties are
avowedly anxious to tell all they know,
there is extreme criticism and impa.
tience expressed over the Interpolation
OF the public interrogator to some of
the witnesses that they are to tell only
what facts they are in direct individual
possession of-in other words, as the
witnesses probably in many instances
understood, they were not to make any
statements Of what they heard unless
ey personally knew that those Incl
ats or statements had in themselves
Ill basis of fact. Now several of the
theses undoubtedly heard things,
badly of vital importance in the in
alton, Of which they, the hearers,
in no position to be judges-but,
sney heard them, that is what the
committee wants to know and to hear.
The committee will themselves Judge of
their value.
With this idea in view statement to
the following purport might be ad-
dressed to the witnesses on the stand
You are recalled TO answer these dues.
tons in order that you may have oppor-
tunity OF adding to the testimony al
ready in hand such indirect but OBJ
viously important evidence, obtainable
outside the radius of direct personal
knowledge, as governed you in replying
10 all previous questions. You are re-
quested to answer these questions in re-
gard TO what you heard and all of it,
without qualifying your answer by your
own personal Judgment of the truth of
what you heard. This is asked you in
order that the committee and the public
may have opportunity of forming judg.
ment as to any basis of truth or what
pertinence the statements may have in
the matter.
A precedent has already been given
in the course of this investigation when.
in reply to instructed questions, Levy
Courtman Hickman testified simply
what he was told by Mr.. Hersey, and
that gentleman, in turn, had his infor-
nation upon what he heard-which
hearsay, however, afforded the pivot
which inspired and subsequently, form
ulated some Of the vital links in the his
tory of this case.
Now you, with other citizens, are pre-.
sumedly DESTROYS Of forwarding tho
business and purposes of this invcsti-
cation. With that idea in view will
you state:
In addition to your personal knowl-
edge, or the absence of such, accord.
ingly as you have already stated--is
there anything else that you arc coeni-
zant Of that TRANSFERRED in connection
with this matter?
When comparing the tax receipts
with List No 8 We're there any tax re-
ceipts left over and above those that
Tailed with this list?
When you made the comparison or
when you made the verifcation who
was or were prcsent2
Did any of the others find any tax
receipts over and above those on List
No. 3?
Did you or any one else inquire
whether there were any tax receipts left
over?
In whose possession is that excess of
tax receipts now?
Did you or anyone else that you may
know Of fill in the name to the body Of
tax receipts in order to tally with
List No. g?
We're any Of the tax receipts that
were received from Mckee or Dougherty
unsigned by the collector when they
came into the Republican committee
or managers possession?
We're any Of those receipts without
the collectors stampg
Ware o,,,, 49,; .. ..t