Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-07
ALLEGED REPEATERS.
Assistant Fire Marshal wilkins Enters a
Disclaimer.


Philadelphia Ledger, Monday.
The complaints from Wilmington,
Del, that repeaters from this city had
been arranged for to register in that
city on Saturday, taken in connection
with the recent fatal shooting OF
Philadelphia election manipulation in
Camden, N. j., has revived interest in
q subject that is of the closest interest
in connection with our own general
elections. That repeaters have been
extensively and almost openly employed
in this city, especially Of late years,
admits of no question. Ledger re-
porters have watchednthem operate and
described their movements. AT an
election held in Wilmington a year or
so ago it was charged, and not success
fully denied, that man then and until
recently member of the Philadelphia
Police Department was in charge OF q
big gang Of repeaters from this city.
But one of the most interesting and
serious of the charges of this nature
was that of former Sergeant Semple,
who was removed by means OF Police
Court verdict, based upon hearing
from which his witnesses were ex-
cluded. In an open letter to the super
| intendent of police, Mr.. Semple charged
| that he had been bounded (by his
superiors in the department) since he
had refused to pilot gang Of repeaters
| through his fTacony) district. Inc
| officials of the department met MS
charge in absolute silence, although
Mr.. Semple offered to forfeit $50 to the
police pension fund if they would grant
him rehearing, have it with open
doors and again find him guilty after
hearing the witnesses he had sum
| moned, but who had not been permitted
to enter the hearing room.
Although MI. Semple did not name
any one in the letter he published, II
was we'll known that he charged Teddy
Wilkins with being at the head of the
repeaters that he asserted some one II
i authority tried to get him to pilot Mr..
Semple was evidently unwilling tt
stand Wilkins up in that connection
but it was not only an open secret Il
political leaders that he was priyatel,
naming Wilkins as the man in charg'
of the repeaters, but that some of then
gave confirmatory looking Information
on the subject
On Friday last Ledger reporte
brought the matter up, oonversa
tionally, with Wilkins. The latter
though familiarly known as Teddy, i
William F.. Wilkins, who was made a.
assistant fire marshal when Council
gave the director of public safety au
thority TO appoint, and the money t
pay, four assistants lat 81, 800 yea
each) TO help the fire marshal to loo
after incendiaries---wo that usual
had been done chiefly by detectives an
district special officers And this,
what tho assistant fire marshal had {
say, ia
any gang of repeaters up there tha
; day. AT that time 1 WAS with the dc
/ partment. | had been appointed jus
a short time before that. l was ser
3 up there along with Detective
. Donaghy and McKenty TO watch fo
: repeaters from the other side. TheI
r were four divisions that were unde
close watch all day, hut neither sid
did anything crooked. The. return
q showed that Sergeant Semple. we
s recollect, was very much excited tht
day. He was with the administrator
n then. He kept saying: If | only ha
q ten mon / would carry this or ths
n division We said to him: Why don
r you get them, then, and do it, an
stop making such fuss about it
d ! took nobody up there with me thu
8 day, and 1 was there on police bus
o ness alone. III Sergeant Semple b;
i said was up there for repeating worl
he says what is not true. Magistra
$ South has dropped him. Semple
r crazy on the subject of being dete
q | tive -