Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-18
The Public schools Coal Contract.


THE CHARGES AGAINST MIR. GUINAND.
Last night the committee appointed by the
board of public school trustees to investigate
the charges preferred by Mr.. Hart against Mr..
William Guinand, the contractor for furnishing
coal to the schools, of giving short weight
Messrs. Harris, Rhees, Champ,in and Scott
elected chairman and Mr.. Rhees secretary. Mr.
Hart conducted the examination for the board.
and Mr.. l.. q. Hine appeared for Mr.. Guinand
MR.. HARRIS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Hart made a statement as to the charges
that in the first district seven loads of coal had
been delivered, the tickets accompanying them
calling for ,2io pounds to the ton. All OF these
loads had been reweighed, and found to be
1,I1O pounds. 500 pounds, 800 pounds, 300
pounds, I $50 pounds, 1850 pounds and I, $50
pounds, averaging 80 pounds short to the ton
They had the slips which had been furnished,
and all appeared to be signed by the weigher
except those that came last, and they were un-
signed: The party whose name is attached to
the m denies the signature, and his name is
shall be weighed by public weigher. He then
read the act of the District legislature passed
August g, ISL. covering the case, and charged
that the weigher procured by Mr.. Guinand was
not pubic weigher and Inspector of coal.
MR. GUNAND'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Guinand submitted a written statement
that he was present for the purpose of meeting
the charges. He would have preferred a trial
instead Of an inquiry only as contemplated by
the resolution. He proposed to show that no
attempt has ever been made by himself or his
that no forgery was committed, and would
prove that, with his very large business, il is
utterly impossible to prevent cases OF negli-
g nee e, and earelessness from occurring; He had
buted throughout the city, and each one is sup
posed TO atte nd to the business of his own yard
IL there has been any carelessness or negligence
on the part Of his clerks, he stood ready to as
sume the responsibility; as to any criminality
on their part they must assume that response
bility, and he sincerely hoped that they win ac
q arE. II Ill
ia the honesty, integrity, and truthfulness OF all
his clerks.
Mr.. Guinand, in concluding, said that as soon
as he was apprised that there were complaints
he determined TO investigate the matter and
come before the committee on accounts on
March II !, but being in the meantime very sick
he was unable to attend the meetings OF either
the committee on accounts or of the board of
trustees, The meeting with Mr.. Hart having
taken place Saturday, and he having been
taken sick Sunday evening, prevented any in
caution on Tuesday morning to address a note
to Mr.. T.. 4. French, asking postpone ent OF
the matter at variance, and demanding an in
vestigatiOn by the committee on accounts
showing thereby that he courted an investiga-
tion prior to any proceedings on the part of any
trustee at the meeting OF the board March Ii,
1s.3.
THE TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Hort was first examined, and said his at
tention had been called by parties to the small
ness Of the loads, and the way il held out led
him to suspect that short weight was given. He
did not see the weighing Of the seven loads in
question.
Officer r. O. Bro,-n testified that he had asked
the driver who brought the coal to take il to be
IT on the pavement and left. The janitor got a
cart and took the coal to the yard of Dickson &
King, and had II weighed. Recognized the slip
&c the one given by Mr.. Dickson. The gross
net weight Of coal, 2 80 pounds. The other slip
called for one ton q 30 pOunds) of egg coal
from MI. Guinand, TO be delivered ON 18th street
The driver refused to take it to be reweighed,
and said that he had orders not to do so. The
coal y, rs taken up clean from the pavement.
Mr.. y o. Wilson, superintendent of public
schools, testified u. at he had received load of
coal for the school corisr OF l'th and streets,
pounds in IL. he directed the ianit0f u have IL
Ieweighed, and the janitor brought him sip
showing that the coal weighed I 40 pounds.
Mr.. E. G. GrtcieH testified that he had weighed
a large number OF tons OF coal for Mr.. q uinsi nd
Mr.. Gatchell examined the slips Of coal preyi-
ously furnished this winter and said III at there
we're 20 not signed by him for the first district;
y that he did sign. In the second district there
were IS signed. but none of them by him. IL
we're not signed. All the coal that he ever
weighed was made TO weigh ,2240 pounds before
leaving the scale. Mr.. Guinand told witness
that he was appointed inspector and wegher
for the public schools; was not a sworn meas
urer; never authorized Mr.. Guinand or any OF
his clerks to sign his name, and ney er knew il
udu DteH uOuo, uaU receiver ccrttnca0c, 1Qnc0
by Mr.. Hart, for weighing coal for the public
schools, and sold IL to Mr.. Slater, the collector
never received any money directly from the
board; never received any written appointment
from the board OF trustees; they must have
known he was acting. or they would not have
paid him for e; never was interested with Mr.
Guinand, either directly or indirectly, in weigh
ing coal. F1sies
CAas. n. Parker called: Is janitor of the JEFF.
ferson school building; testified that he never
saw Mr.. Gstelrel weigh coal. Witness hauled
coal sometimes from Mr.. Guinand's yard. The
slips are handed to the driver and presented on
delivery Of the coal. Mr.. johnson weiahed one
ton OF coal in that district about fOur weeks
ago, and another was weighed from the ,Jeffer.
son building. Witness cart had hauled 20 tons
for Mr.. Gutnand. The first ton weighed q 50
pounds, the other load e,240 pounds. Witness'
driver obtained the work for the carts = : =
II. ". Locke testified that he is iaDitOr for the
Seafon and Mckelden schools. Had been to
Mr.. Guinand's once to see why coal Vas NOT
brought 70 the school. Had seen his clerk count
ticket TO accompany loads of coal. They had
Q conversation, In which he sail there we're
eight tickets for coal for the McKelden buiId-
ing and dozen due for the Seaton, and pulled
OIL drawer and showed them ell made out.
This closed the evidence for the board.
Mesers. A. =. Altemus and u. A. Thomson
testified on the part OF the defence. The former
admitted that he signed the tickets without Mr..
Gatchel's knowledge, but with that Of Mr.. Gut
nand, while Thompson testified that his scales
were broke, and the carts loaded by guess
work. - -
This closed the testimony, and the committee
will submit their report at special meeting OF