Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-02
THE COUNTY IS NOT
HELD BY THE THROAT
By the Imprisoned President Of the
Levy Court, John Lynn,
A RICH CROP OF NEWSPAPER LIES
The County is Protected by
Ample Remedies.
EWING SUGGESTED TO SUCCEED LYNN

The Philadelphia North American,
under Wilmington date line, Saturday
prints luxurious crop OF lies apropcs
OF the Imprisonment of John Lynn,
president OF the Levy Court, in the
county workhouse The article in ques.
tior starts out as follows:
''Iohn Lynn, president of the Levy
Court and prisoner in the county work
house, has New Castle county by the
purse strings and is determined to foroe
il into securing his pardon. New Castle
county has John Lynn president. &C.,
in the workhouse, and has practically
announced that unless he resigns his
office and yields the oounty's purse to
some other person, the county will try
him on 10 more counts in the indiot-
ment against him aud keep him in jul
for an indefinite period OF time. 1t is
now a matter of fine diplomacy to pre-
vent Lynn remaining in Jail and the
county being placed in position where
1t cannot pay it's bills -
The foregoing 10 Incorrect in several
respects: John Lynn has not got New
Castle county by the purse strings, and
1t is not matter of fine diplomacy to
prevent his remaining in jail and the
county being pIscad in a position where
it cannot pay its bills True, one of
the conditions imposed upon Lynn was
that he resign bis place in the Levy
Court, but 1t is not apyrehended that
there will lie any difficulty on that
score; for If he does not live up to the
condition, Coy. Hum has the power,
under the Constitution, to remove him
and appoint his successor.
Again the North American article
says;
Also Mr.. Lynn's signature as presi-
dent OF the Levy Court was required
before bills due by the county could be
paid. When the bills were presented to
him Mr.. Lynn refused to sign them,
They called his attention to the fact
that he had been tried ON only one of
the counts against him, the other 10
being dropped in consideration Of his
promising to resign the presidency of
the court. To this Lynn calmly replied
shat he was perfectly aware of the facts,
lie was also aware that, SO long as he
chose to hold his office as president
there was no way of deposing him and
putting another man in his place. He
added that without his signature the
county could pay no bills. and that
while he remained in jail he would
sign no papers. This brought the cues
tion up in a startling manner. He has
a number of years yet to serve as prssi
dent of the Levy Court and if he is
tried and convicted on other counts in
the indictment against him he would be
able to cause the county very serious
Inconvenience and possibly considerable
loss.
The lsst-quoted section of the article
ls filled with errors. Every warrant
drawn up for bills passed by the Levy
Court during Mr.. lynn term as presi.
dent, has been duly signed by him.
This is stated upon the authority Of the
oierk OF the peace's office, where the
WARRANTS are drawn up after their
passage by the court. 1t is also con.
filmed by the statement OF Lew Court.
man Charles Megginson, who WAS in
town today. Mr.. Megginson said that
the court at its meeting on Monday
PASSED only three warrants, and thew
we're signed by Mr.. Lynn possibly an
hour before the Jury returned the YER
dict OF conviction against him. All the
warrants passed before those last three
had also been signed by Mr.. Lynn.
Inc hnal sentence OF the quoted geo
tion OF the North American article saws
Lynn has a number of years to serve as
president OF the Levy Court. He WAS
elected president at the beginning OF
the present year, and under the cus
tom OF the court, an election for presi
dent would come at the first meetjnp
next year. AS that meeting ia to be
held january 9Th, the election day will
be Oh that date, ard would have been
whether Mr.. Lynn was present or not.
There Is no agitation to secure LYNN q
pardon from any fear that county bust
ness Will suffer while he is in Jail,
Levy Courtmsn Megginsun was much
amused to read, yesterday, the report
that he had said he would not accent
the support of the Democratic members
OF the court. He declared that he had
not said anything to anyone about it
and that he would abide by the vote of
the court, When asked If he would
stand by ths Republican caucus for fine
presidency, he would not say ANYTHING
either way. Mr.. Megginson expected
to pay visit to Mr.. Lynn at the work .
mouse to discuss matters of county bust
ness.
A new name in tho field of those
mentioned for the vacancy that will
occur 10 the Levy Court when Mr., LYNN
steps out, is that of Representative
Frank Ewing Of Brandyuine hnpdred
Mr.. Ewing is said to have been actively
IN favor OF the bill to increase the
Levy Court from five TO seven commIs.
sioners. lie might have the backing of
the Union Republicans for the pjsce.
HIS appointment would scarcely be as
satisfactory 10 the reformers. Tor oh
vi9us reasons as would that of some
other person.