Evening journal., 1897-07-14
LEWIS DEED IS 0. X
Council Decides That Lewis Is
Qualified to Hold Office.
UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR DISMISSAL

DISMISSAL, AND EVERY MEM
BER OF COUNCIL VOTES
AGAINST THE PETITION-RE-
PUBLICANs PUT UP A GREAT
FIGHT.
Thomas s. Lewis is entitled TO theof-
flee Of assessor and collector for the
Northern district So decided the menu
bers of City Council at the special
meeting held last night
Council chamber was packed with
Democratic and Republican politicians.
The decision of Council caused very lit
tie surprise, as 1t was predicted that the
contest would end as it did. Philip O..
Churchman occupied seat near Mr..
Robertson and kept him supplied with
questions.
When the meeting was called Mr..
Robertson presented a communication
from Mr.. Lewis, asking that Council
dismiss the petition of Sayers. 1t was
read, but the hearing went on.
Mr.. Robertson then moved that il be
filed, and the motion prevailed.
SAVERS BILL OF COMPLAINT
President Leitch ordered that the bill
of contest be read, and Clerk Morrison
did so. II was as follows:
To the Members of the City Council Of
the City of Wilmington:
That on Saturday, June 8. A. ID. 1897.
an election was held in the said city
of Wilmington, in accordance with the
provisions of law, for officers of the
said city. That among the officers so
voted for was an assessor and collector
! for the Northern district of said city.
! That at said election one Thomas b.
Lewis was the candidate upon the Re
publican ticket, and your petitioner
was the candidate upon the Democratic
ticket respectively for the said office of
assessor and collector of the said
Northern district of said city. That II
was declared as the result of the said
election that the said Thomas S. Lewis
| had received the highest number OF
votes and was elected. That by section
/ rs, of the charter of the city of Will
mingion. as amended (being on page &C
of the charter of the city of Whining
ton. as published by order of the Coun
ciD which provides as follows: 'Noper'
sons shall be elected an assessor anC
: collector of aforesaid city who shall no
I have been for at least six months before
his election the owner of a freehold es
tate within the said city, the value o
which. according to the city assess
ment, made next before his election
shall be at least $500, clear of all in
: cumbranees."
Z That your petitioner has good grounl
for believing and does believe that tn
said Thomas j. Lewis was not and Il
not eligible to the office of assessor ant
collector to which he has been declared
elected. for the reason that he was no
I at the time of said election, nor for tn
! period of six months prior thereto, tn
owner of a freehold estate within tn
said city, the value of which, according
to city assessment, made next befor
his election, was at least $500, clear O
!, all incumbrance, as is now provided II
the said charter.
Your petitioner therefore present
b this petition and formal protest in &C
cordance with the provision of the ac
I of the General Assembly, passed q
j Dover. April 6. 1898, and contests tn
. fright Of the said Thomas J. Lewis I
=, hold the said office of assessor and col
lector for the Northern district OF th
? city of which he claims tn have bee
elected.
J Your petitioner therefore prays thf
II the said Thomas S. Lewis may be dc
u clared ineligible for election to, or
hold the said office Of assessor and co
y lector of the Northern district of th
3 said city. and that the same may
u declared vacant.
President Leitch then asked tn,
j some authorized person be selected
= administer the Oaths TO the witnesse
Mr.. Smith moved that James b. Moni
CHAN. the ex-squire, be chosen, and
was carried.
The first witness called was Alfre
Hurlock a county constable. WI
served the summons on Mr.. Lewis r.
D. garding the hearing of the contest. NJ
lg Smith questioned Mr.. Hurlock. TT
De witness told of his having served Il
le summons on Mr.. Lewis. Mr.. Robertsc
III asked Mr.. HurlOck if the summons tn
y he served on Mr.. Lewis was that az
ID the same as read in Council. Witne
IL replied in the affirmative. He was ne
OF asked at what time was the summon
served. Hurlock said at o'clock
r the evening, on July l.
Mr.. O'Neil moved that Clerk MorI
son INdu lnt nUlNtc VI Auf WlNnNant
or II was carried and each witness a
-e swered to the call of his name.
The next witness called was Record
= Of Deeds Courtland Montgomery, wi
said, en- being examined by Mr.. Smit
that he has no record of a deed sho'
ing that Thomas S. Lewis has proper
on record at the County Court Hous'
d Prothonotary Victor b. Woolley VIII
," examined by Mr.. Smith, was asked If
- had any judgments entered on {
books against Thomas S. Lewes.
said that he had.
How much?" asked Mr.. Smith.
Il will have to figure" said y
St Woolley. He did so and these judgmer
- against Mr.. Lewis were given: Ma
Callahan, May 80, 1874, use of Equ
{ able Guarantee and Trust Compar
$144.y5; cost, interest and debt, S166.5
Evan T. Evans. use of same trust col
= pany, 1874, S14947; total SS77.O
; Clausen & Co., December 80 IS
: s1416, debt, interest and costs, S23.S
o George w. Lodge & Son, S27.63, dc
interest and costs, S3336. That juo