Middletown transcript., 1899-07-22
MORE LOSSES TO THE COUNTY


As an evidence of the miserable sysr
tenn Of county finances, or rather want
of system, the showing of the accounts
of the late collector of delinquent taxes
for Christiana hundred are in point.
And the condition in that hundred is
not unlike any other we presume.
An exchange gives the following state
ment of the matter:
''The amount Of taxes standing
charged against the late Fredus A.
Sturgeon, collector Of delinquent taxes
for Christiana hundred, who died on
July 4th, aggregate more than ST 900.
That total is for the years 1895 and
1896, and does not include the more
than Sc, 900 of uDcollected taxes on his
duplicates for the years 1892, 1893 and
1894. The balances Of uncollectsd
taxes on his accounts with the Levy
Court on January 4th, 1898, were as
follows:
"For 1892, S2,515.91; 1898, $2,O23;
1894, 81, ,915.54; 1895, $3,772.49; 1896,
$4.075.45. These figures incl lde the
classes of taxes, county and poor,
negro school, dog and road. For the
first three years mentioned, the books
of the then comptroller. J. F. Stats,
show the word ''uncollected" written
against the balances, which indicates
that no more receipts were to be ex,
pected from those taxes.
"Since January 4th 1898, Sturgeon
paid to the county $299. 81 for county
and poor taxes and $179.50 for road
taxes on the 1896 account, which leaves
q balance against him of $3,596.1
BE made no reduction in the figures
for 1895, SO that the total held against
him is 81, ,36s.67.
"The question for the Levy Court to
ascertain, il it can do so, will be
what portion of that amont has been
collected. Mr.. Sturgeon was under
Sc, 900 bond, his sureties being Charles
and M. F. Hayden, the bond
being held by John T. Dickey, who as
receiver of taxes and county treasurer,
had appointed Sturgeon and had re
ceived his bond.
"This matter of delinquent collect
Ors' bonds was discussed by the county
in their report for the year
ended January 4th, 1898. They had
desired to examine the collectors
bonds, to ascertain the liability of the
collectors and their sureties there
under, but were unable to obtain pos
session thereof for that purpose.
"It had not been the practice to
make formal allowance to collectors of {
delinquent taxes for errors, although,
more recently, the plan is to charge the
collector with the whole amount of his
lnplicate, so that he must either col. /,
ect or show cause why allowances
hould be made. "a
AAS 0O0A4Ao w 10 . ROAb VA VIC 1 y
ounty financial system where the a
ounty can lose much money, with 8
title prospect OF recovery.
''Former Receiver Of Taxes John T.
)ickey does not seem to agree with
ohm 81. Rodney, attorney Of the Levy
,ourt, with reference to the matter of : !,
be bond Of the late Fredus A. Stur- =
con. delinquent tax collector Of Chris
lana hundred. AS Mr.. Sturgeon q
onded direct to Mr.. Dickey, Mr.. Rod. hi
ey's opinion was that Mr.. Dickey tr
TODD nearer to the bondsmen, than o.
be Levy Court did. Mr.. Dickey says y
be bondsmen are liable to the Levy : :
'ourt and not to him. He was told :
hat Mr.. Rodney had said the court 4,
ID not have the bond. The former 81
sceiver said be had the bond and ID. fr
Icatsd chat he would turn 1t over to D
Is court