Smyrna times., 1894-03-07
A Collector Who Didn't Want to
Collect

- w uO O4uA w dub W
Collect.
PURSUED BY TAXPAYERS TO PHILA-
DELPHIA.
The Philadelphia papers had a rich
item for Sunday and Mondays papers.
one of them full illustration of the
scenes, all the result of some peculiar
Delaware practices. 1t was a novel
event for collector to run away from
taxpayers, a feature of politics they
had never known before in Philadel-
phia, of and course interesting. The cir.
cumstances are stated as follows:
The collector of East Dover Hundred
is K. q. Powell. For long time the
Republicans of the hundred have been
unable TO find Mr. Powell when thew
wished to pay their taxes and they fin.
ally came to the conclusion that he
was evading them. This state of af-
fairs is said to have continued for five
weeks and during all that time they
were unable to find Powell. Last
Monday Powell and his wife left their
home in this State and went to Phila-
delphia, the purpose being, it was an
nounced, to consult physician. When
be failed to return the Republican
leaders came to the conclusion that he
intended to stay in Philadelphia until
the time in which he could legally col
lect taxes had expired. They, there
fore, saw that something had to be
done.
J. Frank Alice, the chairman of the
Republican committee of Kent county.
went to Philadel phia on last Thursday
and learned that Powell and his wife
were stopping at the Windsor Hotel.
which is the house at which the Demo-
cratic politicians of Delaware stop
when they are in Philadelphia. He
also fouud that Powell was going to re-
main there until Tuesday, when be
was coming to Wilmington.
On Saturday Mr.. Alice, ACCOMPANIED
by the fourteen voters of East Dover
hundred who would be DISTINGUISHED
if they did not get to pay their taxes
to Powell, went to Philadelphia. In
the meantime they had consulted
Phillip @. Churchman, of Wilmington.
and he DECIDED that legal Offee to pay
the taxes might lie made in Philadel.
phia. He accompanied the party to
Philadelphia and Fred E. Bach also
went with them.
On their arrival in Philadelphia thew
found that the Democrats had dis.
covered their plan. 1t was said that
John d. Hawkins, the Secretary of
State of Delaware, had called at the
Windsor Hotel early ia the morning
and when he left the tax collector sent
word to the clerk not to send any cards
to his room. In short time, however,
Franklin Temple, messenger in the
United States Senate, called and went
to POwell's room.
1t was, therefore, necessary to resort
to strategy in order to gain admission
to POwelPs room. Harry Moore, a for
mer Delawareap, who was az Que time
cleFk IN the hotel, but is now a clerk in
the cOmptrOller's office, was given
charge OF the arrangements aud he
was an excellent man to aid them.
The fourteen men arranged themsel-
yes along the wall near the door to
POWelPs room and then Moore got the
chambermaid to go to the door and
knock. A voice within asked if she
was sure that it was, and being an
swered yes, the door was opened.
Emory Marvel, who headed the line
pushed in the room by the girl and
offered Powell the amount of his tax.
Powell replied: II do not know you and
l will not take it," Marvel then threw
the money on the floor and also threw
down 3 slip Of pqper on which he had
written hls name, and said "All right
will get the receipt when see YOU in
Dover"
The other voters followed Marvel
and did as he had done. When the
ceremony had been completed the vot.
ers left. There was then a nile of
money n the floor and fourteen slins
OF paper containing the names of the
men who had offered to pay their taxes.
In the meantime Mrs. Powell ordered
the men ont Of the room, but they did
not go until they had offered to nav
their taxes and left their names. AS
soon as they were gone Powell kicked
the money out into the hall. It was
picked up and placed in the safe of the
hotel, where it will be held subject to
Mr., POwell's order Considerable ex,
cltement was caused about the hotel by
the protfer OF the taxes. It is said that
shortly after the Republicans had left
the hotel Colonel E. Il. Cooper of Dover
arrived and went to Powell's room.
The fourteen men who offered to nav
their taxes we're: Elmer r. Cross. q
professor In the Conference Academy
of Dover E. Marvel, Jr., a student at
the University Of Pennsylvania, ]. T.
Bonsall, Sr., William Honey, William
a. Hartnett, John Windolph, William
Callahan, Clement Carney, George IT
Jones, William Laws, Isaao Moslev.
James HatsOn, George w. Mosley and
James Fisher.
The law governing the case saws that
II any collector refuse to accent a le.
galiy assessed tax when offered him be
shall be liable to fine of 800, and
also may be compelled to pay a like |
sum to the person whose tax he re.
fuses. The law does not say that the
offer to pay shall be made In anv mar.
ticular place, but on the contrary seems |
TO mean that 1t may be offered at anv |
place. Collector Powell can therefore, |
be compelled to issue receipts 10 the
men Who offered to pay him their taxes
In Philadelphia. %
Every EUening gives another version
that the law was comDlled
with by the collector in every resoeet
going to Philadelphia on the advice of
bis physician.
President Reid of Washington Col.
.ege, ,Chestertown, has received a Bill
rom farmer claiming damages fora
pig dishgured, 1t is claimed, by col
ege students. The sides Of the pig