The New York herald., 1870-05-17
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PECCADlLLO.
THE HENNEssEY BRIBERY CHARGE
Continuance Of the Examination Before Com
mittee Of School Commissioners The Ac-
cused Gives His Side Of the Story
He Denies Having Received
That 500 Letter.


Pursuant 10 adIournmenL the examination Ia fne
ease OF Hon. Iohn Il. Hennessey, sehoo, Tgus,ee OF
the Seventeenth ward accused by Miss Mary r. oa,.
non Of accepting bribe OF 500 nom her for her
appointment last winter teacher IN an EVENING
school, was resumed at four T. NJ. yesterday In the
hall OF the Board OF Education, before Conmls sou.
ers Lewis, Sands and Gross, appointed to make the
investigation. The Interest !et in the ease was
shown by the large number In attendance. Including
the political friends OF Mr. Hennessey the one side
and the adnerents OF the complainant with large
sprinkling OF male and female teachers nom the
various public schools In the CITY, on The other AZ
at the previous examinations, both Sides repre-
sented by counsel, with an additional legal repre-.
sentative OF the Board or Education.
Mr.. William Fischer, one OF the School Trustees OF
the Seventeenth ward, was the 1rst witness called.
He testified that he was present 1T meeting OF the
school officers Of the Seventeenth ward on the even
ing OF the Goth or April last; he heard the charges
then made by Mr.. Mills against Mr. Hennessey, ono
Of the Trustees accusing him OF accepting 500 from
Miss Cannon for her appointment as teacher; Me-.
Hennessey denied receiving the money, bu, said he
could not say what might have been gwen to his
wife and children.
Mr.. Harvey III. Woods, School Inspector or the
same ward, was the next witness IL gave clear
was cognizant OF the facts After detailing the CIR
cumstances of The charge he stated, on his cross
examination that he did not tell the complainant
what she should swear to; MI. Mis told her TO tell
the truth, and he added the truth and the whole
truth; he saw in newspaper Tint Mr. Hennessey
was going to offer BILL or hal one -el one, in the
Legislature aboishing Inspectors Of publc Schools;
he could not swear that n had told Mr. Hen
nessey that he pleased with the Charter and its
II
him that he would attend to the complaint OF Miss
Cannon, aud did not wish him Qhe witness) TO have
anything TO do with il.
Mr.. John Byrnes the next wtness, testified that
he present at the meeting OF the Board OF Trus-
tees previously referred TO; he sat alongside OF Mr.
Hennessey; he had heard so many squabbles among
school onlcers since he had been school ocer that
he had learned mol to pay much attention 10 them,
and, consequently, paid hut little heed TO what WAS
said on this occasion; he heard Mr. Hennessey say,
Cannon and would receive none from any teacher;
MIR. Hennessey added that he was not responsible
there Was considerable bad feeling between Mr..
Miles and Mr. Hennesscy.
teenth ward, testified that he was present al the
me- ting to which reference had been 80 repeatedly
Mr. Minis made his charges against sr. Hennessey,
and he could not tell accurately what was said; he
was looking out for a row and paid more attention
TO actions than words.
| Mr.. Andrew Mis-. the complainant, who WAS next
| called, testified about Mss Cannon telling him OF
her paying 500 70 Mr.. Hennessey and the circum-
was nlst given TO him by Mr. Byrncs; he ac-
said he would have tue facts examined INTO 3, the
Board OF Education; Mr. Hennessey sad he was VIII
ling TO submit 10 any examination on his cross
| animation which was kept up al considerable length.
he sald that he kpey J0n nj lelaG q this money
the legislature: he did not think that IL he had
It would prevent the latter taking his eat he did
wax up broadway not long since with Mi. hennes.
stood up for Miss Cannon not that he wlshe 10 n.
jure MIR. Hennesscy, but to put stop t. such cor
ruption as the latter had been charged with
The testimony for tile complain mt being ended,
COUNSEL Tor Mr. Hennessey moved the srnissa OF the
complaint lie insisted that no ploJf had been
brought forward In suDstantiaton OF the accusation.
To prove this assertion ne rev cwed the testimony AT
length. lie also urged that this complaint WIS made
TO injure the political standing OF Mr.. henn-ss "
| Counsel for the Board OF Education said the com.
plant could not be dismissed b. the exam min 60
missioners All they could do. he ur1eI, 10 re.
port the facts 10 the Board ana let the latter take
such acton rs 1t deemed best. This argument was
pursued at some length, when the delen called
MIR. HESNEssEY As A WITNESS.
Mr.. John X. Hennessey testified that he hal been
Trustee o. tne seventeenth ward for the past year
Mr.. Rocheli, grocer in the Third avenue; Mr. R0-
cheli said she was very worthy person 60 appoint
as teacher; Miss Cannon never promised him any
money for an appointment as teacher.
q Dld she give you an envelope containing
| circumstances A. No, sir.
| ". ENct give any W your WIG OF cnlldfeng A. j
| don't know; not TO my knowledge.
q. why did you appoint herr A. Because she was
an orphan.
q. Have you appointed other lady teachers A.
Yes, sir, some dozen or more.
q. Did you receive any money other presents
| from any OF them Tor their appointment. A. No.
| Sir.
Crossexamlnation.- Did you write the letter
pu forward IN evidence as written by yourself 10
MISS Cannon from Albany, about this 500 business
| A. No, sir.
a. DO you know who wrote it2 A. Yes. sir; my
clerk; gave him ntimat what he should
write; received letter 10 which 10 answer.
gave II 10 my clerk ana he wrote such reply as he
chose.
Mr.. HeDnessey was submitted 10 a further lengthy
cross examination, but additional facts OF Inte-
rest were eiciled.
MIR. Henry T.. Fitzsimmons clerk 30 the Commit
Lee on Trade and Manufac ureS, or which tn, Hon.
john H. HeDncssey was chairman In the Assembly,
was next examined, and testified that he wrote the
letter oil which Mr.. Hennessey denied any know
ledge on the nrst day OF the investigations; that he
took the letter from MIR. uennese7 and replied TO u
without consulting Mr. Heunessey; In 10 he tHen.
nessey) dd not tell him what to wife IN the letter.
After a severe cross-examlnatiOn by Mr. Aaron j.
Vanderpoe, counsel OF the Board OF Education, tho
committee adjourned 10 meet on Thursday next at
loui r. VI.