The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-05
THE SCHOOL FRAUDS.
A Last Word from Ex-school Commits
sIoner Emery.
COOPER RIVER, December 2.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

TO THE EUlIOR OF IdE NEWS.
Sir-I must beg again, and for the last time,
to be heard through your columns in reply to
Mr.. E. Montague Grimke's communication of
yesterday.
He says that if will establish the truth of
my assertions through any three unprejudiced
citizens Of this community he will be among
the first to acknowledge my innocence. In
deed! It is generally believed to be maxim
of law that one is innocent till proved guilty.
When he can establish the truth of his asser-
tion will be among the first to acknowledge
that he is not calumniator.
He calls upon me, ifinnocent, to unite with
him in fixing the guilt. Why did he not ex-
tend this invitation before rushing into print
to ssperse me? have met him frequently in
conversation, but never word of explana-
ton did he ask.
In my previous communication I. clearly
explained my connection with the school
house transact;on-that 1t was confined eXclu-
sively to approving an order which believed
at the time TO be just, and to receiving for the
same through the board of trustees, who drew
the order, what supposed to be the voucher
of the person in whose name 1t was drawn.
/ took the official word of that board, and he
the word of lis successor. I do not find that
he ever went to examine for himself, nor did
go. If he, in his perturbed yet magnanl-
nous soul, cannot allow me average honesty,
can he not at least acQuit me Of the imputa-
ton of stupidity? If he bestows upon the re-
cords of the office but 1.-THE of the time he
has devoted to my disparagement, he can
very easily ascertain whence came the irreg-
ularities.
Mr. Grimke's only conception of has sworn
duties seems to have been not to organize
schools and look after their welfare, but to
Dry into my conduct, and subject me, If posi-
Bile, to reproach. His chief business during
the past year, according to his own showing,
has been to put to every teacher entering bis
Office the. question, s'Did Mr.. Emery offer to
purchase your claim ?" and from but one did
he receive negative answer. How unfor-
itunate to have missed that one
/ have already stated how and under what
circumstances took the certificates OF those
who were In my debt, and refused the certif.
cateSof those who were not, and, in view of
the fact that Mr.. Grtmke, in his peculiarly
bland manner, had informed me that he would
establish no schools, issue no books, nor be
responsible for any acts OF mine, l ask IN
common fairness how else could I have done
to protect myseli' Why such spite9 Was he
shut out from prospective profits?
Every book and document properly belong
ing to the office turned over 10 Mr.. Grimke.
That which contained my book accounts with
the State aud the teachers was my own prl-
vate property, bought with my own money,
and was iu no way essential to proper knowf-
edge or performance OF his duties. In retain
ing my own private property, involving as It
did my own personal liability, which did not
cease on my retirement from offce, did
nothing different from what every accounting
official always does. If he is perple1sd at not
knowing what he has no right 10 know, let
him console himself with the reflection that
very probably he is not the only sufferer in
this world from morbid curiosity.
Mr. Grimke In his private business
may treat his customers with perfect sat-
isfaction to them, but some busy-body next
door, actuated by "proscriptive venom, {"
or perchauce the desire to demonstrate TO
the ruin OF Broad street brokers the prac-
ticsbiity of the hitherto Impossible feat of
seating ones cake and yet having it." i'm
pugns his Integrity and demands his books.
WHAT answer, ask. would he give to such
ihpertinence Yours, &C..
MoULToN EVERY.