Evening journal., 1909-04-28
EX-SHERIFFS
DON'T OWE COUNTY
MeSSerS GiIIiS and Stafford
Say They Paid Over FOR
felt Money

There IS evidently some misunderstand-
ing over the question raised yesterday in
Levy Court as to whether or not the
former sheriffs owe the county the ten per
cent. forfeit money that had been paid 10
the sheriffs on properties sold by them and
on which other conditions were not met.
Former sherins Harry !. ellis and Harry
Stafford assert that they do not owe the
county any of the forfeit money. and say
they have transferred the money TO other
persons in accord with an opinion Of the
judges delivered in the Supreme Court OF
the State.
County Treasurer Robert NJ. Burns this
morning made an examination OF the
books Of the former sheriffs and found
that the forfeit money had been trans-
ferred in accord with the courts decision
that il should go to the holder Of the first
lien, instead of into the county treasury.
1t thus appears that the action OF the
Levy Court yesterday in requesting the
county comptroller and county treasurer
to examine the doclxets Of the former
sherifs 10 see how much forget and tax
money they owe the county was taken
under misunderstanding Of the situation.
MT. Glilis Statement.
The resolution did not apply to the pres
ent sheriff, Charles H. Lippineott. but 10
the former sheriIs. The situation was
cleared up as to them this morning, how
ever, when it became known that the
forfeit money was being diverted by the
shcri1s TO the holders Of arst liens against
the properties in question.
Former Sheriff Harry I. ellis this
morning made the following statement
regarding the matter:
Il went TO see County Treasurer
Burns this morning and asked him
how much owed him. Ho had me
charged UP with about S4,65O only
had three sales in which the ten Der
cent. was posted and the other pur-
chase conditions were not compiled
with. The first was the old VIII
mington Club property, No 10O6 King
street. owned by j. Edward Addicks.
which was sold to Francis $. Bradley
for $3.50. The ten per cent. was
paid and the other conditions were not
complied with l paid the ten par
cent. into court. Herbert II. Ward
and William 5. Hilles argued in court
as to where the money should 60
/
court disposed of the question. Mr..
Hilles winning his contention that the
ten per cent. should go to the holder
of the first lien against the property
and not back to the person who post
ed the ten per cent, or to anyone
else.
The next sale by me was the Ad-
dicks farm in Brandywine hundred.
A p
S34,5O0, the $500 forfeit money or ten
per cent. being paid but the other con-
/ ditions not being complied with. /
,Said that 50 400 to Mr.. Hilles, represent
ing a first judgment held by Mrs.
/ Shaw, of New Castle, and have his
! receipt for it.
! THE other property / received ten
/ per cent. on was the Naudain property
at Eighth and Monroe streets, on
which Robert Adair, the purchaser,
paid 1850 and did not comply with the
conditions. The property was sold at
later sale and was bought by Harry
Emmons. attorney, for $3.50. The
$3.50 forfeit Of the first sale was paid in
addition TO the S2950 realized at the
second sale to meet the claim OF Harry
Emmons. for which / have the receipt.
went over tne docket Win AOun-
~ Treasurer Burns this morning and
found owed s945 which I paid. It
was for taxes on a property and the
money came into my possession since
my last settlement with Mr.. Burns If
I had this forfeit money in my possess
sion I would not have paid II to the
county treasurer. as the court has de-
cided where the ten per cent. should
go-to the first lien holders against the
properties"