Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20
THE STATE DETECTIVES.

Doubt Exists as to tho Power of Cover
nor Marvil, Under the Law, 10 App0int
Successors to Detectives Mcfey and
Witsil.
There is surprise in store for office.
seekers who are anxious to succeed
State Detectives Witsil and McVey
when their terms expire on June 10th,
1895. The wording of the act creating
tho offices of State detectives renders it
doubtful whether Governor Marvil will
have the power to appoint their success
sors.
The men who have announced them
selves as candidates for the Offices OF
State detectives are: Ex.Chief of Po-
lice Theodore W. Francis, ex-Sergeant
of Police James b. Tucker, ex-Chief of
Police and ex-City Detective James L.
Hawkins, ex- Patrolman James Z. Her
shock, ex. Patrolman Simon Cohen aud
ex-City Detective George Il. Hatton.
The act provides for the appointment
of two detectives at salary of 5000 n
year, but there is nothing to provide for
the appointment of two detectives to
succeed the present incumbcnts.
The act is found in chapter AZ, Vol
ume NIX, Laws of Delaware, and reads
us follows
Sec. l. That the Governor, as soon as con.
yeniently may be after the passage of this
act. shall appoint two suitable persons,
residents of the city of Wilmington, to be
detectives for the county of New Castle. IL
shall be the business of the said persons to
ferret out crime, and when not under
orders from the attorney-ge or his
deputy, shall be subject the orders of the
chief of police of the city of Wilmington.
They shall make to the said chief of police
weekly reports of their dOingS.
Sec. 2. They shall have authority to
make arrests and serve writs anywhere in
the State.
Sec. 3. They, or one of them, shall serve
all acquisitions made by the Governor,
and for this shall not receive any COM
pensation except for their actual expenses,
which expenses shall be paid by the State
treasurer upon the production OF their
vouchers which shall first be approved by
the Attorney-General and the Secretary of
State.
Sec. 4. They shall receive for their SER
vices the sum of nine hundred dollars per
annrlm each, payable in equal (monthly)
instruments by the treasurer of the city OF
Wilmington, and for this the City Council
of said city is hereby required to make
provision.
Sec. .. They shall be appointed for the
term of -four years, but may be removed ut
any time, and for this purpose, it shall be
sufficient for written notices by and from
the Governor to be served upon them or
either of them. Such notice so served
shall be a revocation of the commission
and the removal from office of them or
either Of them.
1t will be seen by the act quoted
above that there is nothing to provide
for the appointment of two detectives
to succeed the present incumbents, who
were appointed by Governor Reynolds
for II term of four years. The act
merely says tina. they "shall be APP
pointed for the term Of four years" 1t
does not provide for the appointment of
two detectives thereafter" and the
men who drew the statute acknowledge
that they overlooked the matter of up.
pointing the successors of the present
incumbents, and there is no such pro.
vision in the above act.
II is stated that the Encouragement
will be asked TO give an opinion in the
matter. Meantime, there will be much
weeping, wailiug and crashing of teeth
among the applicants who are anxious
to secure the plums next June, when
the terms Of Witsil and McNey expire.