Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-25
THE DEPUTY CORoNERSHlP.
Conflicting Statements Concerning the Fill
ing OF the Place.


Statements Concerning the Fill
ing OF the Place.
Samuel Mccormick, coroner-elect of
New Castle county, was seen by a re-
porter of The Gazette Monday morning
and denied the charge that he had
been asking local undertakers to bid
on the position of deputy coroner.
While the coroner-elect makes this
statement in most emphatic language,
there are undertakers who say that
they were asked to bid on the position
and figures are quoted.
At his residence, 1905 West Thir-
teenth street, Monday morning, MIR.
Mccormick said;
/ never offered the position to any
one, but have had several offers made
to me for the appointment. Harvey
Z. Nichols and Ferris Giles both made
me offers of money. When. Nichols
asked me aoout it | told him that
had spent about 81, 400 in getting
elected and that he would have to help
pay it back If appointed him. just
said this to try him. He consented to
give me money for the appointment.
Ferris Giles almost worried the life
out of me. He was here two and three
times week. He offered me 5000 If /
would make him my deputy, and went
80 far as to say, right in the presence
of my wife and a man whom he did
not know, that he would give anything
for the appointment. /"
Ibid you ask them to make bids for
the appointment Mr.. Mccormick
was asked.
No, did not,n he replied. 'sThey
came to see me and made their offers.
l could have accepted them, but 1
preferred appointing j. r. Kilmer, who
is a friend OF, mine and man who did
not make me any offer of money for the
position. mad to go to his house and
ask him to accept the appointment
and there was no bargain offered or
made.
NICHOLS WILLING TO SWEAR.
Harvey Z. Nichols, who is mentioned
in connection with the matter, said
Monday that he had had several
conferences with Mr.. Mccormick but
that he could not afford 10 give what
the coroner demanded as a price for
the appointment.
II asked Mr.. Mccormick for the
appointment, be said, and he told
| me that his election cost him 81, 600.
He said that he would appoint me if |
! would help to pay back what it had
COST him. l offered him $500 and half
| of the witness fees. He said that he
| wanted 500. / said | would give it to
him. He next called me up on the
\ telephone and told me that Mr.. Giles
had offered him $500 cash for the ap-
| pointment but said that l should have
it if / would give him 800, half of
the witness and jury fees and half OF
the morgue rent The county allows S200
| for morgue rent. l refused to agree to
/ give what he. wanted. "
when was this conversation held?n
he was asked.
sit was last Monday, and if had
| agreed TO give him what be asked i
could have been appointed. / am will
ing to go before a notary ana take
oath to what / have told you"
MR.. KILMEH's STATEMENT.
j. r. Kilmer, who was appointed
deputy coroner, made the following
statement Monday morning to a reporter
Of The Gazette. ''The job was moi
given to the highest bidder. did not
bid cent for it. 1t was gotten for me
by my friends and | was surprised
when informed that 1 had been ap-
| pointed. "
WAS there any cash consideration? ?''
the reporter asked.
1T was private agreement between
Mr.. NJ eOormiok and myself" said Mr..
KilmeE, and refused to say anything
further concerning this agreement,
saying it was not his custom to dis.
close his private business affairs.
Mr., Kilmer's place of business is
considered. a good location for the
deputy coroner. 1t is the northwest
corner of Ninth and French streets,
with frontage on both streets MIR.
Kilmer says he will fit up first-clas:
morgue. The new coroner takes charge
January 9th.
| James T.. Chandler, present coroner.
undertaken when asked if he had beer
requested to bid for the position, said
that he was not in the muss and .had
nothing to say.
The witness fees and Jury fees re,
ferred to are 331s cents for each juror
and 80 cents for each witness. The
jurors generally are paid off with 2i
cents each, which leaves the deputy
balance of 1873 cents on each juror.
Some OF the witnesses do not ask fol
their fees which means so cents to thu
deputy for each failure to collect.
NO PRECEDENT.
Some who are ci reulating the stor,
that undertakers were bidding for thI
Office say that that has been d one be
fore. James I. Chandler, who i,
Coroner Frick's assistant, says hi
knows of no precedent. g did not pay
one cent for the appointment, b,
said, land did not make any bid fo
the present job Mr.. Chandler wa
compensated for his snare of the worl
by receiving everything connected
with the Office of coroner except tbs
salary, which was not a very largl
amount. The advantage in having th,
appointment was chiefly in being abl,
to control most of the coroner's work
Jenries Nearly Put Out.
Butte, Mont, Dec. 22.-Champion James
Jeifries Saturday night lost a decision in
four round contest with Jack Munroe afte
four rounds Of the fercest lighting Butte ha
has seen for some time. At one time tn
champion went to his knees and knee
ont looked possible. Jefiries and his mana