Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-01
chester MAYOR
BECIRS REFORMS
Forces Out Alderman Will
liam !. Leary as Commit
ting Magistrate
END OF FAVORITISM
TO NEGROES SEEN

Wesley s. Mcdowell demanded and
received yesterday the resignation Of
Committing Magistrate William J.
Leary. a member Of the local Board
Of Aldermen and leader in political
affairs. Pending the appointment Of
q successor, the mayor will sit in the
central police court, where he will
? dispose personally Of the more i'm
portant cases taken there.
q have taken this step for the good
of the administration" Mayor Nc
Dowell said last evening. After I
had talked matters over with Mr.
Leary and assured him that had re-
ceived many complaints from well
known citizens Of this city about the
conduct Of affairs in the Office he
agreed that It would be well to re-
sign
The mayor added that he had not
been guided by others, but that he
had made up his mind to make such
changes as he deemed necessary in
The conduct Of the affairs Of the city.
In addition to the resignation OF the
magistrate, the mayor said that he
would investigate reports OF favorit-
Ism shown by local officials to the
proprietor Of one Of the hotels which
has been a meeting place Of Negroes
ln political favor
1--WE believe that we have succeed
ed in clearing up the race war, and
now we want TO take such action as
will insure us against any further
trouble Of that kind the mayor said
ITO do this / shall weed out such per.
sons as are in any way likely to be an
obstacle to the success Of my admin
stration."-
Magistrate Leary said that no would
explain his position in letter to the
mayor. He consented to resign, he
added. after the mayor said this &C
lion would relieve him of a great dea
Of criticism. The request was verbal
Mr.. Leary added, and he agreed no
10 resume the bench when cour
opens today
There IS nothing for me to say a
present" the magistrate continued E"
have complied with the wishes OF thI
mayor and will retire from office. al
though ! believe that in the year
was at the Central Court I made |
record. having imposed fines Of $40,
200, while only about SO 900 was col
lected I'm the previous year. In civ
ing up my position ] retain my friend
ship for the mayor and will do every
hing possible TO make his admins
ration q success
Mayor Mcdowell in intimating tina
be intends TO make changes In hi
cabinet. said that he would at one
begin a searching investigation q
The appointment of Policeman Charlie
Caldwell. a Negro The mayor say
Caldwell has served a prison term 70
halls box frauds and has been dis
iranchised in connectio with a dior
ieny house conviction.
Tho mayor also is determined, h
saws. TO get at the bottom OF the stoi
les circulated TO the effect that sew
eral policemen we're the guests OF
local saloonkeeper last Friday ever
ing, when. by special proclamation
every bar in the county was suppose
10 he closed.
while ] feel sure that none Of N
officers was in this saloon. / shall ne
let the matter 20 without personal II
CURRY" the mayor said
Mayor Mcdowell asserted that
would permit no more fayoritism
be shown 10 Negro residents Of III
city, and for that reason he woul
conduct the cases on the crimini
docket of the Central Station. II
added that the prisoners, white {
black. would be more severely dea
With in the future than in the, past,
Sheriff John b. Hepburn, Jr., II
duced the number of deputies guar
Ing the black belt" 10 half the nun
her OF men on duty Monday nigh
while only thirty of the EddystoI
Ammunition Corporation guards wei
called upon to do patrol work TT
task OF preventing any further on
break will be left TO the State polio
Saloonkeepers. who are again pc
mitted to keep their places open, we
warned by the police not TO soil al
large quantities Of liquor to Negro
md for the rest Of the week thu
will be held Strictly to the o'clo'
.losing hour.
Mayor Mcdowell also revoked &
appointment Of Special Officer J
Jackson, who attacked William AS
worth at Third and Franklin stree
The latter was raising a disturban
md Jackson in trying to arrest hi
Used a blackjack, it is alleged. JAG
ION is a pawnbroker. and was swo
IN at his own request in order
maintain order at his establishmei
he MAYOR asserts Jackson was