The New York herald., 1873-12-25
TIE WEST FARMS SCHOOL FIGHT.
The Fight Transferred to the Supreme
Court-Chargcs and Counter Charges
An Acrimonious Controversy.

The Fight Transferred to the Supreme
Court--Chargcs and Counter Charges
An Acrimonious Controversy.
The subject matter Of the controversy in West
Farms over the new school building has already
been pretty thoroughly ventilated in the HERALD.
The fight has not ended by any means, but, having
been transferred to the courts, is waged on both
sides, il anything, with increasing energy ana anil
mostly. very lively legal skirmish, which at
one time threatened to reach the magnitude OF
general engagement, took place yesterday before
Judge Brady, in Supreme Court, Chambers Mr..
John b. Haskin, the .head and front" in the fight
for the new school building, was on hand. and
with him goodly host Of supporters. His lawyer,
ex-Judge Emott, was also on hand and evidently
eager Tor the fray, his legal opponent
being Mr.. John E. Parsons, who in
this case represents the interests Of the
Corporation Counsel the latter having, in behalf OF
the city, Instituted the present proceedings. AS is
well known, these proceedings began with obtain
ing, few days since a temporary injunction re-
straining the West Farms Board Of Education from
removing the furniture from the old school build
ings from leasing or otherwise disp0sihg OF these
buildings and using the new building for school
purposes. The case came up yesterday on an order
to show cause why this injunction should not be
The complaint, which is quite voluminous docu-
meut, rcciCeS tue ACT OF LnS Legislature An0eNlng
to New York that part OF Westchester county, with
the provision that the property OF the school dis
tricts shall be transferred to the Board OF Educa-
tion OF New York; and alleges that in the latter
part OF 1872 the erection OF new schoolhouse
was begun near the Harlem Railroad depot;
that the land on which it was erected be-
l0nged, until time shortly prior, to Mr..
Haskin, the President OF the Board; that he was
interested in its sale and conveyance, and that as
such President he was disqualified from selling 1t
for the schOoh0use; that the site very insult
abe and the locality unhealthy that the Board Of
Education OF West Farms had applied to the New
York Board to include In their estimate enough to
pay for this schOolhouse; tnat MIR. Haskin is max
ing strenuous Efforts to impose the schO0lhOuse
upon the Board OF Education; is making arrange
ments to lease otherwise dispose Of the existing
school buildings ana to dismante them 30 as to
make them unsuitable for school purposes and to
remove the school furniture to the new school,
houses Mr. Fordham Norris, one OF the fve per-
tion to be school trustees for the new district
veri1os the statements set forth in the complaint.
In opposition Mr.. Em0tt produced large
number OF af1davits. among them OF William
Meikeham and A. T. Buckhout Secretary and
President of the West Farms Board, setting forth
that the action complained Of was legal and
proper, that Mr.. Haskin had not been President OF
the Board since last May, and that the land when
sold Tor the school, belonged to Judge Tappen, who
transaction free from fraud and. c0llusion. The
afiidavit signed by large number OF citizens, was
also submitted, setting forth that the new school,
house was very suitable and necessary building
for school purposes, and that the site was very
convenient and healthy one
After quite lengthy argument Judge Brady
took the papers, reserving his decision.