The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-26
FOURTH edition
ANOTHER SENSATION.
Illegal for the deputy Clerk of the
Peace to Swear Vouchers.

Peace to Swear Vouchers.
The sensation in the Levy Court to-
day was the suddenly acquired know
ledge that Deputy Clerk of the Peace
Frazer Eliason, was not qualified to
administer the oath to vouchers for
persons desiring to be put upon the
| assessment duplicates. The Levy
Court opened at 1920 o'clock and com.
menced to move oil In the same old
groove.
w, G. Pennypacker and Philip r.
Clark vouchad for by Levy Colrtman
James Ii. Clark, and james A. Ross, of
Mill Creek Hundred, vouched for by
Levy Courtman Il. q. Buckingham
were placed upon the assessment,
Deputy Clerk Eliason adm inlstering
the oath of qualification to the youch'
ers.
| soon afterwards, John w. Cooch,
Register of Wills, came In, followed
by Jesse S. Kennedy, of tho Ninth
Ward, and approached the clerks
| desk, Mr.. Cooch, voucher for Mr..
Kennedy declined to be sworn by Dep
uty Clerk Eliason,, preferring to 10
| sworn by Clerk OF the Peace Biggs in u
| lawful manner.
| This was another bomb In the camp.
Democrats smiled, Republicans looked
Sht ~ l9cui hui CtpuLy ClcEk lIlill son
| looked cross. Mr.. Biggs however,
was hustled from his Office into tho
court room, where he administered the
oath to Mr.. Cuocli, and the name of
Jesse 3. Kennedy was Placed upon tho
| assessments In legal" manner
Then it began TO be whispered around
that 1t had been decided by the Demo-
cratic leaders that nobody was compe-
tent TO administer the oath to vouch-
ers but the clerk Of the peace In per-
son, tho law covering the case express
~ saying so.
IL is understood that orders emana-
ted from Mr.. Bayard, that Branch III.
Giles, Esq, who is with Mr.. Bayard,
carried the news to Mr.. Cooch and
other Democrats magnates about the
Court House.
Clerk BiggS left the court house to
hnnt up the matter. Mr. Eliason re-
mainei in no very amiabie mood at
tho idea Of being considered perfectly
competent to administer olths before
the Superior Court aud In all respects,
but uniit to qualify voucher.
1t having been reported that Senator
Gray Whcn he was attorney for the
Levy Court had decided that the depu-
ty clerk of the peace could swear
vouchers, Mr. Jol!s and Mr.. Hutchi5on
started on hunt through the old
Levy Court minutes in search of tho
record, but they failed to lind it.
shortly before adjournment at noon
Clerk l}iggs returned and qualified L.
). bradley as voucher for William
l4acklcn of tho First Ward and s. Her
sey as voucher for William Pyle of the
Fifth Ward and those gentlemen were
paced on the assessment. Then the
!qnestlun arose, We're the men placed
on the assessment by vouchers sworn
to by Deputy Clerk of the Peace Ella
son legally assessed? The impression
prevailed that they were not ana that
to escape dlsfranchlsement they had to
be assessed over again.
CLERK BiEgs said all that was requir
Ell to make the assessiuent legal was
that the oath should be attested by
himself illstead of his deputy,and that
the persons assessed need not apply
in person.
Under this decision, Tevy Courtman
James ii. Clark was sworn by Clerl,
BlSga, and w. Il. Pennypacker and
Philip IL. Clark were ordered on the
assessment. President Buckingham
was re sworn and james A. Ross was
ordered on the assessment.
3. Hersey, who was yesterday
qHalIiied as voucher Tor William Il
Long, William IL. Aloystin and DaviC
- LAt'VF wac IGtluaillltl 10 uuY DA
Clerk lilgg5 and tho voters NAMED
We're for a second time ordered on the
assessment
The law under which the decision
was made is very plain. 1t says in re.
lation to this matter: Nor shall 1t hC
lawful for such Levy Court or any
membct thereof, to add to any usssss
ment returned "a aforesaid, tho name
oil any person, unless the party him
SELF personally appears before the
: Levy Court, accompanied by some re
} spectacle fres-holdcr of the county wht
: shah Iuake onth or affirmation In tn,
form prescribed by section 3 of thi.
act; said oath or affirmation shql, be
made Ill open court before the clerk o
the peace, who 'aluue' is authorized t.
take an outh or affirmation Tor tina
purpose"
AT l. o'clock the court too& recess
until . y. Ill.