Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22

ten. These are required by law for tho
Levy Court, for tho duplicates. for the
court record, and for the State auditor.
Lie county clerk receives 81 cents for
each name transcribed
Bills AS follows were passed Jail Com
m,issioners, total S547; CharlesW hann, SIS;
Hiram Pleasaiiton, for sheep killed $lj
TO Henry Baird. A. G.. Wilson and J. Har.
vey Whiteman, auditing committee, $3.50;
commitment fees, Mayor Herbert Of New
Castle, s4j0.G5; Held & Co., s22; Jackson
Sharp. 1881; Luther W. Palmer
s390.50; court officers, s2l0.4i; Victor 4.
Pyle, $780, j. j. Mealey, $40, Enoch
Moore, $lS.67; P. +. Walsh. $l5.l6, DR..
kuntz for examining James Booth, in
sane, So.
There was some discussion over the fact
OF the numerous bills for insane examiua-
lions that came into court. Commissioner
Mealey stated that n payment Of $40 had
been made for examining certain patient
alleged to be insane who was seen two
weeks afterwards fishing at Third street
bridge. Court adjourned at 2 p. III.
IL was not altoge ether an April day In
the Levy Court chamber Tuesday after
noon. As the weather prophet would say
there were slight disturbances in the Chris
tiana hundred region and a strong wind
storm gave indications of its approach
from the desk of Commissioner Arm.
strong. But that gentleman, in his usual
aIable way, SAID everything he had to say
with smile, which of course kept every
one from feeling badly,
The trouble was mostly over the effort
of vouchers TO get their men on the list
without complying with the law, which
requires positive personal knowledge of
the applicant.
A. u. Mcpherson Johnson, colored,
voucher-at-large for his colored friends,
assumed an air of injury because Chair
man Scott declined to accept the vouching
by a certain colored man, who was not a
freeholder. johnson thought it very
strange ruling, when his friend was ready
to swear positively ast to his knowledge, &c,
A SAMPLE INCIDENT.
James p. Frasier, very light-colored,
and notwithstanding negro, came in,
escorted by A. b. Mcpherson johnson,
who offered himself as voucher. The
youthfulness of the applicant suggested
the usual questions from Chairman Scott.
Mcpherson johnson stated the man is
% years old, that he has known him for
the necessary time and that he is ready to
swear to it all.
when were you born2" Mr.. Scott
asked of Frasier.
II was born in Maryland in 1876"
Everyone in the court room stared at the
y
more. The chairman waited for moment
when Frazier nodded his head in quiet
confirmation of his reply.
Chairman Scott turned to Mcpherson
Johnson, the voucher. Are You still
ready to swear that this man is q ~ Mr..
Scott asked.
Yes sir. will" was the reply.
Mr.. Scott turned his face again to the
members OF the court and in no very good
humor slapped the desk in front Of him
and remarked deliberately: "Gentlemen.
can't vote TO put that man on the list"
Commissioners Armstrong. who did not
seem quite satisfied, addressed the appli-
cant:
When did you say you were born ?"
that makes me 81"
10 Chairman Scott-"pve been away
from there year."
There was u painful pause, when Clerk
Biggs asked the chairman what he should
do with Mcpherson Johnson's voucher
paper.
The Chairman to the applicant" will
have to bring someone here who knows
you better than Johnson doesm
Commissioner Gallagher-"Are your
parents liying" ....s
Eyes sir, my father is in MARYLAND"
The end of it all was that both Frasier
and Mcpherson johnson left the Levy
Court chamber without the applicants
name being put on the list of the Eighth
ward as requested.
ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION. .
Frank Kendall offered to youch for
Samuel Laws, colored. Mfr. Kendall did
not positively know that Laws is 2l years
old. He got the information from Laws
In reply to Chairman Scott the voucher
admitted that his knowledge was only
hearsay.
Mr.. Scott again brought the attention of
the court and also OF Mr.. Kendall the
voucher, to the necessity of positive and
not hearsay information. in order to meet
the requirements of the oath.
Il shall not vote" said Chairman Scott,
ITO put any man on in that way. 1t is ali
wrong. The voucher must do this of his |
own knowledge"
AN OATH Is A SERIOUS MATTER.
Commissioner Arnstrong-"Mr. Chair. |
man, i want to ask you-how do YOU |
know that this man is not II years of age? |
how are you going to say he Is not2 that |
is the question. | want You to take that |
point into consideration If you please. BE
very careful when you say he is not 81 |
years of age"
Chairman Scott replied to the effect that
the burden of proof is on the voucher. He |
(Mr. ScotD did not say he was or was not |
q years old. He continued II propose to |
do what Is just and to stay within the |
bounds OF the law. don't propose to put |
a man on the list unless his voucher
knows him to be of age. If this man
brings freeholder here who knows him
there will be no difficulty.
Commissioner Armstrong-"Why,c chair.
man, can you swear that you know your
age yourself?"
Commissioner Mealey then suggested
that the oath be read in the presence OF |
the members of the court and then they
all would be informed OF its exact
nature.
Clerk Biggs did this when it was seen
that the voucher must know exactly OF
what he speaks.
Commissioner Armstrong remarked that
II the voucher is ready to be sworn he
should he accepted. The chairman here
Informed Mr.. Armstrong that tho law
made the Levy Court. the judges as to the
nature of the vouchers testimony, &c. He
the pages where those powers are given to
the commissioners.
Commissioner Gallagher Ito the appli-
canti-" Anyone else in town know you
beside this voucher?"
"Ies, sir; Mr.. Smith (Beaton smith)
md my father"
"Well, bring your father up"
That's right; bring your father up, If
he is freeholder," Mr.. Scott added.
THE SAME MAN AGAIN.
Soon after this A. b. Mcpherson John.
sons juvenile colored friend and also the
voucher himself entered the Levy Court
chamber again. Mr.. johnson had brought
along man who claimed to be able to
swear positively that he knew the appli-
cant is q years old.
Chairman Scott asked him two or three