Evening journal., 1901-05-14
COMMISSIONERS
In DISCUSSION
Subjects We're Of Issue Of
Bonds and Of Seventh
Street Bridge

which the court will make. Mr. Willis |
preeiptated the argument by opposing
the insertion of a clause in the original
resolution extending the time for the re-
demption OF the first series of bonds until |
ll92i. II was sr Willits contention that
for the court TO alter. by resolution. the
certificates authorized by the state,
it would render them invalid.
In reply Mr.. Lynn said the court had
the opinion of Horace G. Knowles that
the court could extend the time Of re-
demption of any or all the bond certih- |
Gates. wheroupon the argument was
closed
Mr. Chandler referred TO the dilatory
faction of the contractor who Is building
Seventh street bridge and urged that the
court insist that the work be done im-
me.liately Mr. Lynn replied that the
work is being done as rapidly as the con-
tractor can do il. The court cannot in
s.st that the work be completed at AM
early day. the contractor having been re-
leased from any time limit In which tOI
build the bridge
il is said that the work which has been
done on the br..ge viii have TO be torn
out the ahutments not being parallel.
The bridge viii not be finished this year.
The terms Of the present Democratic
county tax collectors will expire this
, month and the court win elect their snc-
cessors this afternoon or at the next
/ meeting.
p In speaking with member OF the Levy
Court ia reference to the method in which
the grand jury was drawn, he made the
following statement:
I'VE placed the names In the jury
T boxes ia accordance with the custom eX-
isting for many years, and SO sure We're
we that that custom was based upon the
requirements of the law that we did not
consider 10 even necessary To consult the
attorney Of the Levy Court In regard to
selecting the names for the jury boxes.
We acted at all times in good faith, and
, did what we thought was right. ana when
che error was discovered. we corrected Il
IN accordance with the suggestion OF our
y attorney and what we understood 10 be
Z also the suggestion of the judges. We
I appreciate the fact that through a mis-
2 understanding. growing out of the custom
Z referred to. the names selected were not
Q as io the time OF doing il according TO the
law. We did not object 10 the entire
panel being quashcd. We did make oh
lection. however. 10 the panel ON the
ground that it was not legally and prop
erly drawn, but was drawn In such a way
as 20 give It strong suspicious of having
been packed for some vicious and vin-
dictive purpose. Previous 10 drawing
the grand jury there were rumors that il
legal and improper methods would be
used 10 pick names from the boxes and
thus pack the jury. Hearing such IA re-
port, the Levy Court, through its repre-
sentative. requested that the members of
the Levy Court. or its representative. be
notified when il was intended TO draw the
jury BY one OF the officers authorized
by law To draw the jury, promise with
his word of honor was given that such
modification would be sent In ample
time for someone representing the public
and the Levy Court TO be present. Not
withstanding such a promise and definite
understanding. Clerk OF the Peace Quig-
ley. so we are informed. insisted that the
promised notice should not be given. and
he proceeded 10 draw the jury az time
when a part Of the time at least no one
but Clerk OF the Peace Quigley and mis-
associate officer were present We also
understand that the ballots containing the
names Of the jurors were taken out Of
the boxes and picked over previous TO the
. jury being drawn. an act unprecedented
IN this State and In open violation of the
law Five members OF the grand jury
were allotted to Levy Court Commissioner
Lynns district, which IS composed OF
} three hundreds. Christiana, Mnn creek
and Brandywlne. To the two smaller
2 hundreds two grand jurors were allotted.
and 90 the largest hundred I'm the district,
Chrlstiana, being the hundred In which
Commissioner Lynn lives. only one juror
was drawn. Five jurors were allotted TO
Commissioner Megginsons district, which
Is also composed of three hundreds 10
the three smalled hundreds. White clay
Creek Pencader and Red Lion. two grand
iurors each were drawn, and only one
from New Castle hundred, the largest IN
% the district and in which Mr. Megginson
lives In the Wilmington hundred box
there were twenty-four names, twelve
n placed there by Commissioner Chandler,
5 land twelve by Commissioner Mealey, and
8 the drawing was done I'm such way that
n the six names allowed from Wilmington
o hundred were all taken from Commission
r er Chambers list and not one from the
r twelve names selected by Mr.. Mealey.
In Brandywine hundred there were
eight names in the box, six placed
there by Commissioner Lynn. and two
II by Commissioner Elliott The result in
drawing frcm the box was that tht
two names of Mr.. Elicit were drawn
: cut, and not one Of the six placed in
= the box by Mr.. Lynn. Under the cir.
II cumstances. there was so much appar-
ent fraud and illegality and malicious
intent surrounding the drawing Of the
jury, as appears from the incidents re-
IL, ferred to, that we felt, as matter oi
y Justice to the county. and as a respect
for line law, that that panel Of erand
jurors, as drawn by the clerk of peace
and his associate officer, should be
r quashed. and had the encouragement
n not made such a motion, the Levy
d Court intended and was ready to dc
So"