The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-29
Mr.. PERRY E~YONERATED
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
ALDERMEN LAST NIGHT
The streets and Wharves COMMITTEES
Makes a Report ofIts Investigation Of
money-Other Business Transacted
by the BOARD

the aAo NAC AGStA
money-Other Business Transacted
by the Board |
Mayor A. Nj. Waddell called a special
meeting of the board Of aldermen last
night to finish up some matters which,
were in hand by the administrator
which expires today.
The board met with Mayor Waddeh
and Aldermen I4ttleton. Woolard.
Handy, West. Spencer. Taylor WORTH
and parker present. Absent, Alderman
Springer.
On que from Alderman Worth. OF
the finance committee. City Clerk and
Treasurer B. F, King stated that OIL
the $3.50 APPROPRIATED recently for addi-
tional tax collectors not over 500 has
been expended, with the result that he
has collected from $500 to $500 in taxes,
principally polls, which otherwise would
not have been collected.
THE LATE JAMES WALKER.
Mayor waddeIl submitted the follow
lIlk dh0 IL Woo
The board of aldermen of the city OF
| Wilmington, in special meeting assem-
| bled, having been informed Of the death
of Mr.. James Walker, the n OF
the james Walker Memorial Hospital,
and desiring to give expression to their
feeling upon this sad n
event. dc hereby resolve,
That in the death of Mr.. Walker the
city of Wilmington has experienced the
loss of a valuable citizen and n to
whose generous and unselfish bench
cence this community is indebted for
the splendid hospital building which
now adorns the city, and which is and
will remain. a noble monument to his
m
Resolved further. That this action Of
the board be spread upon its minutes
and that a copy be furnished to the
press for publication.
A. NJ. WADDELL,
J.. A. TAYLOR.
w. E. SPRINGER.
Alderman Taylor. of the streets and
wharves committee. reported that the
committee had made investigation OF
charges against Police Sergeant Will
liams for having used language disre-
spectful of the mayor. while in Spen
GERS store. The testimony of the ac-
cused and the accuser was directly op-
/ DOSlle, so Int IeSpOIlSlDlllly COulu ho'
be fixed upon Sergeant Williams. The
committee, however. stated that re-
marks calculated to lower the respect
for superior officers had been used.
MIR. PERRY EXONERATED.
Alderman Taylor, Of the streets anC
wharves committee called the attention
of the board to the alleged charges at
fecting Mr.. James A. Perry, superin'
tendent of streets, and stated that tn
4 4-o~o;Ft44 --4% - rNr,nrInu -;ohf mn
investigated the matter. He submitted
yoluminous typewriter testimony
taken By a ~Stenographer at the inves'
tigation and handed it to City Clerk B
r. King, together with a report on TIT
matter by the committee. The city
clerk then read the report of the com
mittee and the testimony. The report
was as follows:
1T having come to the notice of the
chairman of the streets and wharves
committee that Mr.. F. T.. Mills was
credited with having made the state
ment that superintendent of Streets J
A. Perry had received bonuses from
hom on every team sold by him to the
city. the chairman called on Mr.. Mills
and asked for a confirmation Of the re-
port. Mr.. Mills stated in reply to the
inquiry. substantially. that he had paid
Mr.. Perry $40 in cash on a mule tina
he sold the city for s135. and that on a
sale of three mules by him to the city,
had paid Mr.. Perry s. in cash and given
him a new set of harness valued at
$3.50 wholesale. the said S. cash n set
of harness being the price demanded by
Mr.. Perry for his approval of the mules.
NJ Perry, being confronted with the
charge. stated hat he had never re-
ceived any consideration whatever from
MIR. Mills an purchases made by the
city, but that on one occasion Mr.. Mills
had voluntarily given him a set of
secondhand harness. The chairman, in
company with Mr.. Perry. subsequently
interviewed Mr.. Mills and requested
that the statement be made in MI.
Perry's presence. Mr.. Mills thereupon
repeated the charge. which Mr.. Perry
positively denied.
The committee thought the matter
of sufficient gravity to demand an in
vestigation. and Mr.. Perry was accord
ingly called to trial. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that Mr.. Mills was absent from
the city, but as the charge against
Mr.. Perry a been made In the pres
ence of several witnesses at the time
of the interview between Mr.. Mills and
Mr.. Perry in company with the chair
man. as we'll as to others on different
occasions. all such witnesses to the
fact of Mr.. Mills charge were sum-
moned to appear and testify before the
committee. thus making it competent
to act upon the charge on the basis Of
such testimony. 1t vas thought ad-
Yisable to make e. searching investiga-
ton Of Mr.. Per1y's purchases for ac-
count of the city. n the testimony
appended thoroughly covers the ase
-idence We given under oath
and taken down by a competent ste
nographer. IS a matter Of fact, the
city never bought a mule or horse from
Mr.. Mills for s135 between the dates af
November 10. 1898, ands the present
time. which covers the period Of Mr..
Perry's service as superintendent of
streets. Nor has the right to purchase
teams ever been delegated to h SD
perintendent OF streets. but in the ma
tur OF the case the superintendent has
been required to try new teams and re-
port on their soundness. Without ex-
ception. every witness who had sold
goods to the city through Mr.. Perry