The sun., 1901-04-17
MR.. WILLLTTS
IS BARRED OUT
Not Allowed to Select Grand
Jurors.
INTERESTING DISCUSSION
Chairman John Lynn Made a Peculiar
Ruling in the Levy Court
Regarding the Work of
New Members.
INTERESTING DISCUSSION

AT the meeting of the Levy Court
yesterday, the question as to whether
the two new members OF the Levy Court
are to be allowed the privileges accord
ed the other members arose. President
Lynn practically said that Messrs. Ell
liott and Willitts We're not in it. Yes
terday the jury boxes We're returned to
the Levy Court as the grand jury boxes
only contained about 80 names. They
should contain 100.
Merritt N. Willitts, one of the new
commissioners, inquired on behalf of
himself and Isaac G. Elliott, the other
new commissioner, whether they We're to
participate in the addition of names to
the grand jury list.
President Lynn stated that the former
list had been made up without their
help. Mr.. Willitts then remarked that
they We're, however, members of the
court at the time.
Mr.. Lynn retorted that when the act
was passed creating the additional
commissioners it was the understanding
that the new members should have no
part in the distribution of patronage
for the present year.
is that the law" asked Mr.. Willitts.
Commissioner Meggnson confirmed Mr..
iynn's statement as to the existence
of an understanding about the patron
age.
Mr. Lynn ruled that Mr.. Willitts could
not add any names to the grand jury
box because the list for the lower part
of the county was full, and that some.
of the names would have to be selected
from Brandywine hundred. Mr.. Elliott
will be allowed to add some names.
During the session Commissioner
Chandler declared that Mr.. Megginson
was the man who wanted to get all
the patronage possible for the lower
part of the county and vet stood against
him (Chandler) when the latter tried to
get his share in Wilmington hundred.
Mr.. Elliott presented fifteen names
to be placed in the grand jury box and
during tbs Jiee NJ s WHillttf lilly frrss ta
lputit jury boxes did not contain the re-
auired number Of names and We're re-
turned to the Levy Court to be filled.
At the afternoon session the members
Of the court spent some time in ex-
nmining these boxes. President Lynn
passed ont the boxes.
The work of adding names was not
cOnlpltItu uS tle ~ 'h> S"eiS
were in a hurry to get away to make
nm inspection of Third street bridge.
In speaking about the matter after
| the meeting was over Commissioner
Chandler said he brought to the at
tention of Attorney Horace G. Knowles
the mater of the shortage.
Attorney Knowles in speaking OF the
short jury lists said
"The Levy Court put in the grand
| ,lry boxes the same number the former
courts put in, or more than former
courts did, but even then did not have
| the full 100 names required by law.
The full number has not been IN the
hoxes for many years.
| "Whilc was looking into the law.
[ found that the petit jury boxes had
| 10 have 300 names, and L asked the
Levy Courtmcn how many they had
Iput in They added mp their lists and
lii made a total of 2S1. | told them
they would have to add 10 names more.
as otherwise the jury list might be
questioned.
Mr.. Knowles added that former courts
had also less than the required 300
names on the petit list and that some
of the old grand jury lists showed only
1.-TWO names in box.