Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-18

ndineS were put ON tne NEW CaSttc llSt
AT II o'clock the committee returned.
Chairman Clark reported that the
majority, (Republican) members had
their report ready but the minority are
not prepared, and they desired more
time.
On Mr.. Jolls request it was arranged
to hear the report after dinner.
Levy Court adjourned to 1. p. m.
ASSESSOR HANoE wHITEwAsHED.
Early in the afternoon the committee
appointed Thursday to investigate
Assessor Hance's surreptitious 'padd-
ing" of the assessment lists handed in
two reports. The majority report was
signed by Messrs. Clark, Jolls and
ellis; the minority report by Messrs.
Sutton and Eliason.
Mr.. Jolls submitted the majority re-
port, which was adopted by a straight
party vote. 1t was to the effect that the
responsibility for what was done be-
longed to Committeeman ellis, and
exonerated Assessor Hance on the
ground that he was acting under the
direction of Mr.. ellis, who thought
that he was doing what was right and
proper.
This is equivalent to making Mr..
ellis the party scapegoat; the plea
being essentially that the levy court
mans ignorance is responsible for the
assessors covert irregularity.
Mr.. Sutton presented the minority re-
port. 1t places the direct responsibility
upon Assessor Hance; holds that what
he did was done fraudulently and un-
lawfully and after the list had passed
out of his custody. The report closes
with recommendation that the attorney
of the court bring the matter to the at
tention of the encouragement.
THE NAMES STRICKEN OFF.
The question was then ordered on the
motion that the names were illegally
put on and should be stricken off.
Mr.. Grub said in his eight years
service he had never known names to
be stricken off. The last attorney of the
last court said it could not be legally
done.
The motion was adopted by strict
party vote.
Fridays perfunctory vote on the
Hance investigation committees report in
the Levy Court chamber was of course a
foregone conclusion.
The majority by their vote justified the
names on the list and then in similar per-
functory action passed motion that the
names he stricken off.
In this public acton of the Levy Court
the citizens will perceive that the order to
| strike the names off must logically indicate
| that they were put on wrongfully in the
| first place by Mr.. lIance.
Again, this action refers to two names
only. Friday afternoon when the
| deputy clerk of the court, Mr.. Eliason, was
| given the New Castle assessment list to
which Assessor Hance added the names
| after he had filed the list with the court,
]. c. with the clerk of the peace, when
he had no moro right to touch it for the
| purpose of writing in names than an I'M
| known citizen from Cedar Swamp, the
deputy clerk found that there were four
| names added.
These were: Brinton w. Roberts,
| William S. Kramer, Sylvester J. Gibney
and William Wyatt.
All these names were in pale blue ink,
showing they had only recently been writ
| ten in.
Friday, when Mr.. Eliason was
searching the list in presence of a number
of the members of the Levy Court. he
found the Brinton name scratched out,
roughly and coarsely as with a blunt
knife. What was left of the capitals OF
the name indicated here and there suffi.
GENTLY to identify it.
These facts only showed the sound ideas
upon which Mr.. Hickman's suspicious
were based.
What is in order now is that another in.
vestigation and other report be made us tc
how the two additional names got upon
the New Castle assessor'slist after it had
been filed with the clerk of the peace, and
were placed on the list "illegally' that is
in direct violation OF the statute as quoted
by Mr.. Jolls yesterday which says CHAP
ter 800, section 6, Vol. XVI, Laws of Della
ware,) Nor shall it be lawful for such
Levy Court, or any member thereof, tc
add to any assessment returned as afore
said the name of any person. unless the
party himself personally appears before
the Levy Court, accompanied by some re
spectacle free holder of the county who
shall make oath or affirmation, &c,
in open court, before the clerk of the
peace, who alone is authorized to take ar
oath, &C.
Yet all this Claw was let go idly BY
and no reference TO it whatever was madt
by the Republican MEMBERS who durint
all the rest of the session were calling
loudly their professions of chewing
closely" 20 the letter and also to the spiri
of the law.
Indeed at that moment when the mem
bers surrounded the clerk one of the Re
publicans had the temerity to tell hin
strike the new names also off the New
Castle list.
To his credit it must be stated the expires
sion on Mr.. Eliason's face as he LOOKED
up ut the person making the reques
clearly indicated that he, at least, knev
what the laws restrictions and Limitations
are.
There was a feeling pervading the Re
publican majority, clearly apprehensibl
to all persons in the court room that i
was their desire that mutual admission b
Inl
: been done on both sides-and therefore
would be best to let up-to make cleal
: slate and begin again.
FORCED LovE-FEAsT.
IL was forced attempt at n love-feas
} which however did not fully materializt
An effort was made to drive the Demo
, Gratis into the fold by sharp ''snap" ques
, tons.
Didn't YOU queried quick-witte
Republican levy courtman, addressing him
self to Assessor 0'Hara of the First dis
trict. "add names from your voucher
J after you had finished your assessment
/ list on the closing day-now, now, answe
; that straight p the questioner added.
Eyes, | did answered Mr.. O'Har
straight out and clearly.
: "Ha-hal" laughed the Republican wit
$ a triumphant glance around as he metz
5 phorically held up the assessor to publ
. view.
"But, wait" Mr. 0Hara replied firml,
81 took vouchers for everyone of thos
names in my regular printed and author
lied voucher book-no writtcn-in mani
script names-and You all can sec tina
T, record as il was made that afternoon
When | went home | added the names I
< the listimmedatcly.
Q Now also," continued Mr.. 0'Harra, nd
: dressing the whole court, Il did that fo
the sake of the citizens applying that a
ternoon. Had waited and transcribe