The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-06
WHERE is
THE MONEY?
School Clerk Hawthorne
Fails to Tell the Conf
miSSiOnerS.

At q regular stated meeting of school
district, No. AZ, at .Ogleton, Saturday,
James 2. Ra'leuge was elected chairman
and William II. Lyman, secretary. Chas,
M. Davidson, Oliver Rothwel land Chas.
Currinder were appointed committee to
audit the accounts Of the district. The
audit showed s41, 0j to tho districts credit.
The meeting was then opened for the nom.
inalion of Commissioners. James p. Rat
ledge and Robert B. Morrison were noni-
ted and Mr.. Ratledge was elected over Mr.,
Morrison by a voc Of 16 to 3. William
Sheppard secured ono vote.
A vote for or against tax WAS taken and
resulted in majority vote for tax 1t
WAS thereupon decided I, o raise 800.
Robert Hawthorne. clerk, reported % L.
males and rs males in the district. The
report to be sont to the schoolt uditor was
filled and signed by the old commission
ers Robert Hawthorne. William Hall
and Harry +. Sutton. The auditing com.
mittee's report caused some discussion
MIR. Hawthorne claimed there was mis-
take in tho amount reported MS on hand
and the chair recommittcd the books to tho
committee and Mr.. Hawthorne for another
audit.
The examination revealed the supposed
correctness Of the first report Mr.. Sutton
then called tho attention of the voters to
the fact that $3.50 had been appropriated
by the Legislature for the relief of the dis.
trict, the amount made payable to Mr..
Hawthorne, the clerk. AS the boOks did
not show the credit. and MS he nor MI
Hall the other commissioner knew Moth
ing OF it, only as hereshy, he thought an
investigation should DO made, as the clerk
had refused to permit the other commits.
sioners to SEQ the books or give them any
Information concerning tue money. 1t
will be remembered that last year suit
against the district resulted in q verdict
for 1854, and the district had hoped to pay
the judgment out Of the States approprla-
ton and devote the balance to necessary
repairs to the buildings
While tho discussion was in progress
Chairman Ratledge notified tho voters
that Mr. Hawthorne was not present there
fore further consideration would have TO
DO postponed until the clerk could he sent
for. Mr.. llawthornos son volunteered to
bring his father but upon returning said,
his fIther refused to c1lne before the meet.
ing again for alt tic matter of that kind"
If the voters wanted to know about the
$3.50, Mr., Hawthorne said, William f.
Smalley, Jr., would explain the matter to
them before magistrate rs he proposed
to have them all arrested.
Then MessrS Sutton and Hall were np-
pointed committee 10 wait on Mr.. HaW-
thorne and they reported that clerk re-
fused to send tho books or explain what
had become of tho money
Another motion was adopted that Mr..
hawthorne return to the secretary Of tho
meeting the report signed before by tho
auditing committee as it was not com.
plete, but this Mr. Hawthorne also re-
fused The motion by which the signed
report was adopted was then reconsidorad
and the report was unanimously rejected
At this stage the commissioners became
cnrdgcd over tn" action Of Mr. Hawthorne
and passed motion to appoint commit.
too to wait on him and request him to
make an Immediate report or send his
resignation and the books Mr. Hawthorne
again refused, wLereuppn the voters de.
inandud Of the new commissioners that
they make thorough investigation of
the matter and report at a special meeting
OF he district as soon as possible.
Before adjournment the secretary was
instructed to forward n copy of the min.
utes Of the meeting to the auditor of school
accounts in order that he might be in.
formed Of the matter