Evening journal., 1904-06-28
TAX RATE IS
RAISED 1C ON 500
Council Decides on Slight In
crease to Allow for Error
List
FOR RUNNING EXPENSES
speeIal 10 The Evenlng journal.

Special to The Evening Journal.
New Castle, June 2S.-It took City
Council but seventeen minutes last
evening to decide that it was necessary
to increase the tax rate for the ensu-
ing year in order to make up the error
list and to have a surplus for running
expenses.
Promptly at o'clock all members of
Council assembled i'm the Office of May
or Evan G. Boyd ready to wrestle with
the knotty problem of taxation, but
from the fact that no one was present
beyond the officials and newspaper
men it was evident that but little in
terest was taken in the meeting either
from the fact that il was not gener-
ally known that increased taxation
would be discussed or from apathy on
the part of the tax payers as to the re-
suit of the proceedings.
Increase Slight.
Shortly after the opening of the ses-
sion it was suggested that the subject
Of taxation be discussed. After some
preliminary sparring Mr.. Duffy pre-
sented motion to the effect that as
some increase was necessary to allow
for errors in the assessment list and
supply money for necessary running
expenses for the coming year he moved
that the tax rate be raised one cent on
the hundred dollars for the year 1904
After some discussion as to whether
this increase would be sufficient to meet
the needs of the city MI Duffy's up-
tion was adopted unanimously Upon
motion Assessor Murphys books were
accepted and Clerk Eckles directed to
make alduplicate Of the same.
So slight was the increase in the rate
that scarcely a ripple of discussion on
the subject was heard after Council
adjourned. The only comments made
were those Of a favorable nature, as
many expected "a much larger increase
would be necessary. As the rates now
stand they are divided as follows:
City. 30 cents on the $780, an increase Of
one cent; school, "A cents on the 800:
road 20 cents on the $780, The latter
two items remain at the same rate Of
taxation as the previous year. The
taxable property within the city limits
amounts to S1,5OO.OOO
Was i1suicide or murder? is the ques-
tion that is puzznng the community re-
gardlngthe finding of the body of an
unknown colored man i'm Grimes woods
by two colored women last Friday.
Opinion is divided to some extent as
to the manner in which the unknown
met death, although the greater num-
Der adhere to the theory Of suicide. In
discussing the subject Charles II. Clew-
ell the undertaken, says that while he
/ believes that the man took his own
/ life there is a possibility that he may
have been murdered and carried to the
| spot where he was found. His shoes
indicated that he had not worn them
to any extent. in fact they were prac-
tically new, and bore no evidence of
the man having walked any great dis
tance. His body was in such a posi-
/ ton as would make it appear that he
had sat upright when the fatal shot
was fired and then had fallen back
ward. The right arm lay partially
across the stomach and the revolver
was close beside the body Had the re-
mains been in better state of preser-
walton a more accurate examination
! could have been made. Beyond the
pocket knife and a purse containing
seven pennies no other articles We're
found in the mans clothing by which
he might be identified. Owing to the
condition Of the negros body it was
buried at Farnhurst the day after ii
was discovered and was inferred I'm
the ice box in which it was removed
to the morgue from the place where
it was found.
The Negro as a Suicide.
Since the finding of the man the sub
ject of the negro in general as a sui
eide has been discussed, many claim
ing that few are known to have had
the courage TO take their lives Mr.
Clewell says that in his experience OF
twenty years as an undertaken he has
never known a negro to take his own
life. 1t has been said by residents here
that three such cases have come with
in their observation, one at the county
workhouse, one at the Wilmington po-
lice station and one I'm the New Castle
jail.
In speaking Of negro suicides, Chief
Warden Meserve Of the New Castle
county workhouse, says that in hi.
many years experience as a keeper ol
prisoners ne has known OF but few
cases. About two years ago a negro
lad, aged IL years. hung himself from
the cell door, and another cut hi,
throat in the police station. Charlie.
years experience as an undertaken h,
has never encountered a negro suicide
Inquiries For Missing.
Although the man lies in his gray,
Mr.. Clewell has not given up the hope
Of solving the mystery and has mad,
inquiries in localities surrounding New
lCastle as to any colored man who ma,
have been absent from his accustomed
places of abode for any length Of tim'
and who has not been accounted for
He realizes the fact that as a rule &
is impossible for the majority Of peo
pie to distinguish one negro from an
other, especially If he has been seei
but few times. but viii continue hi
investigation further
Since the mans death he has receive,
numerous letters regarding missing
men who have been absent from hom
for some time. None, however an
swer the description Of the dead ne