Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-26
Condensed Locals.

OF class one, IN the Bureau of Military ustice,
i1 place of T. ~. Parsons, declined.
Senator Sargent has been appointed by Vice
President Wilson a member of the board OF
visitors to the Columbia Hospital for Women.
A substantial iron railing has been placed
around the eastern and western entrances OF
the navy yard tunnel of the Baltimore and Pc
tomac railroad.
Ex-Sergeant of Police j. W. Pool, formerly
under Lieutenant johnson of the second pre-
eInct, died this morning suddenly of pneumonia
at his residence in this city.
From Robert Beall we have the April humble
OF lap tneoHs Aagdztne. containing amongst
other things, slashing assault upon the medI-
cal experts OF the Wharton murder case by H.
DIR. Newman, like all good men, hasreyilers
as wen as admirers. One of the former 1--WE
take itl sends US note expressing the hope that
when the Doctor starts on his round the world
"Trip he viii take the longest way.
Last evening heavy wagon driven by boy
ran over colored woman named Ceiia 5os nson,
ON the Avenue IN front OF the kirkwood house,
injuring her seriously. She was taken to her
home and properly cared for.
The Public schools Coal Contract.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE COMMITTEE ON
THE ALLEGED "sHORT WEIGHT"
An al journed meeting OF the board of public
school trustees was held last evening at the
Franklin building for the purpose OF recel wing
the report OF the committee Messrs. o. II. Har-
MS, Wm- j. Rhees, A. NJ. Scott and L. Champ
ny :. member OF the board that WA. Guinand,
the contractor for furnishing coal and wood to
The public schools, LfS fefTauded said schools
by not giving the proper weight of coal; and
that, IN number OF cases, the certificates of
the public weigher have been forged. There
Detrick, Duln, French, Harris, Hart, Moore
Murtagh, Randolph. Rhees, Richards, Scott
Stuart, Wilson and Woodward. Mr. Guinand
with his counsel, Mr.. L. G.. Hine: MIR. Z. e..
Gatchel, Superintendent y. %. Wilson and
Treasurer Crown were also present.
Mr.. French presided, with Dr. 4. P. Pardon
secretary.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Nh Harris, from the investigating committee,
submitted their report
With regard to the first proposition, whether
the public schools had been defrauded by not
Ieesivlng the proper weight of eoal from the
established by positive and direct evidence that
at least seven tons of coal, which had been or
dered for the first school district fell short an
average of over three hundred pounds to the
ton" After referring to some OF the evidence,
the report says 1.-THE committee did not dee m
II necessary, after establishing the above facts
TO inquire further in relation to particular loads
of COAL but other general evidence LETT no room
Tor doubt that the schools had been defrauded
IN Ike manner at other times.'
With regard to the second proposition.
twhether the certificates Of the public weigher
testimony OF Mir. Gatehel himself and of Mr.
Altemus, the principal clerk IN Mr.. G uinand's
employ, establishes the fact that n large maiori-
~ OF the certificates purpOrting to have been
signed by Gatchel were signed by said Altemus
with Guinan.i's know edge, and that too with
ont Gatchel's authority. It farther appeared
the government OF the District of Columbia
The coal contract was awarded to Mr.. Guinand
on July IL, ls.2, and at that time the board of
school trustees adopted a resolution "That for
all coal delivered by the contractors for the use
OF the public schools OF this city certificates of
the public weIghers be required Mr. tsuinand
was not ignorant of that resolution. for he had
discussed II with members of this board and
thought u imPTsctIcable to carry il out. In the
opinion OF the committee. MIR. Guinand must
have known that Mr.. Gatchel was not a regular
Iy-appOinted weigher or inspector. 1t was also
in evidence that Mr.. Gatchel had presented two
bills for weighing coal at the rate of twenty
cents per ton, although according TO his own
testimony he had never performed the work
The law fixes the compensation of tae weigher
at ten cents per ton, payable by the seller of
such coal "
You committee believe that both the PROMO
sitioEs above stated have been proven, aud
they therefore recommend the adoption of the
following resolutions, viz:
Rssalzsd, That in the settlement Of the accounts
WITH William G1inant for coal furnished the public
schools the committee 1unts be directed 10
make aedu ThoI e of pc cent -, w;u,,
Guinand for furnishing fuel for the public schools
respective sub-boards he directed to purchsse full
IN open market until otherwise ordered b. this
RssOfysts That no further payment be male to E.
e Gaisel for alleged seryees in weighing coal for
The report was signed by all the members Of
the committee.
HOW MUCH?
Mr.. Harris presented the certificates OF weights
OF coal urIished, and said he supposed that
the members had made themselves acquainted
with the testimony. They could understand
how coal cO1ld be short now and then. but from
the Information received by the committee il
would sppes4 that the giving Of short weight
had been going on for some time. He thought
that a proper reduction should be made. In re-
ply to Mr. Alice, Mr.. Harris stated that the
committee recommended no amount but he
favored Is or 1,er cent. deduction
Mr.. Wilson called attention to the fact that
nothing Is said AZ TO requiring Gatchell to
fund the money raid him.
Mr.. Hart said / hat GatchelI had not been
paid, and his bills lad never been acted on by
the treasurer He should have said nothing on
the subject had he aot seen publication in the
EegHbilcoR and STAR, where he was charged
with petty persecution OF MIR. GuinanI. lie
denied that he was setuated by such a spirit
ME-. GUiNASD WANTS TRIAL.
The Chair Mr. FEench) laid the following
paper before the bosEd:
NJ. PTssideHt- Mr.. g uinand takes the liberty
To s1sgest To the board of school trustees thai
before he l. condensed he have a trial, and
that tle witnesses for and against him shall
gise Ter testimony aneer the so!emnities OF an
oath It will not be forgotten that in Mr.. GUM
ards opening statemeRs before the investiga-
ing committee he suggested his understanding
that the Investigating committee was a
pseudo ecgrt of inquiry. 1hose special functions
were 20 inquire whether or not there was
probable cause to suspect that Dir. Guinand
Ma guilty OF the Offenses charged. A final
inquiry into such serious charges should
certainly not be made excepting by pursuing
some OF the 10 ms OF Judicial inquiry by at least
taking the testimony of witnesses under oath.
None OF the witnesses were subjected to that
test. WIN. GUINAxD.
by l.. G.. HISE, his attorney
Mr.. Harris said that Mr.. Guiaand could not
have had any such understanding. NJ. q. had
his witnesses present and his drivers in the hail.
whom he DID not call. He wished the witnesses
had been ynder oath, and il the case was TO
come up ayain he did not want any better
witnesses than those produced by Mr.. Guinand.
Mr. Dulin doubted III the board should 90
beyond the amount In which frauds were
detected tal<.
MT Randolpt said, a far as proved, the short
weight was in that lately furnished, aud he
moved that thu deduction apply TO that fur
nished since JaSlary LIST
MI Wilson said that Mr.. Guinand hal been
straightforward, and had concealed nothing
he thoaght that M. Guinand must be regarded
clerks. - 80
TEN PER CENT.
AR. Randolph suggested as an amend msnt
thai the blank space be filed as follows That
the Eommittee ON accounts deduct ten per cent
from all bills not apprssed by the board.
Afte- further debate, the vote was taken ON
the amendment Of Mr.. Randolph, and resulted
rs follows; Yeas-MeaEa Atflee, Champlin
DIETRICH Dutiu RYeurh- Harris Har< No.,