Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-15
MRS. CHAPMaN.S CLAIM.
The Widow of a Former Mayor Oh
baltimore.

Mrs. Alice T. Chapman, widow of Mr. John
Lee Chapman, the republican mayor Of Bal
tinore who was legislated out OF office by
the adoption of the constitution of 1867, has
been in Baltimore this week looking after
the petition which she has submitted TO the
city council, asking 5000, which, she
claims, was due her husband for the year
from November 4, 1867, to November 4, 1868,
in which he was prevented from serving,
although elected by the people. She also
asks TO be compensated, at the rate of 81 900
a year, for the service of Mayor Chapman as
police commissioner for the Term of five
years ten months and thirteea days, for
which he was not paid. In speaking of her
claim against the city, Mrs. Chapman said:
Il am glad of an opportunity to explain
the matter. The late S. Teackle Wallis adj
'vised my husband not to bring "A suit against
the city, and for this reason he never insti-
tuted suit, but he did not allow his claims
to be forgotten, and 1t the opinion of
MIR. Wallis and also of many other prorni-
nent gentlemen now deceased, such as John
H. b. Latrcbe, Charles ]. Baker. ia lles w
Allnutt and Others that the city ought to
have made Mr.. Chapman Il reasonable, even
a liberal, compensation, for the services he
rendered gratuitously, and for the subse-
quent loss of his official position, Many OF
my friends now think that, in view of the
entire failure of the city to recognize its
obligations in this respect, and OF my strait.
ened circumstances, / have strong grounds
for consideration by the present city council.
1T may not be generally remembered,
since SO many persons living at the time are
now dead, that, although the late Judge
Brown was, when mayor of the city pre-
vented by the action of the military authori-
ties of the United States from discharging
the duties of his ice for a large part of the
term for which he had been elected Chose
duties being, in fact, discharged by rsy late
hGshandl, the city government, although
under the control of the opposite party paid
Mayor Brown, with the approval Of all fair
minded people, the full amount of his salary
for the time OF his Imprisonment
- P" zen MI Chapman was deprived OF his
once by the adoption of the constitution Of
iho', q full year before the expiration Of his
term the democratic city council which
lnen came INTO Office refused TO rero,1sze
his claim for the balance OF his SALARY al
though it is fair to say that MANY of Tho
most respected and influential members Of
the democratic party dlsapproved of This
proscflptiVe course. 1t is too late for the
CITY TO repair this Injustice (as he ALWAYS
felt it TO hei to Mr.. Chapman himself Inn
thlnk may reasonably ask for the reuaro
ton of what he ever looked upo,1 as a
wrong a. "
Mrs. chapman is lady of delicate health.
Alter the death of her husband she was for
number of years employed in one of tho
government departments here but lost her
position for political reasons There are two
children of Mayor Chapman living. namely.
Mrs. Margaret McComaS a daurbter nv a
former marriage, who lives at Rlua Ridee
summit, and a son, John Lee Chapn1an ir
now completing his educat ion 4 n,ln,bar
OF weil-known gentlemen in the CITY have
Lnteresteu themselves quite actively on Mrs
Chapmdn's behalf.
MS. Chapman is sister of the late John
H. thompson, for many years conspicuously
connected with the local public schools ana
mas many warm friends in Washington