National Republican., 1874-05-20
THE SCHOOL BOOK BRIDE.
rRUsTEE HART CONFESSES TIE AU-
7HoRSRIP OF THE CRARGE.

PEDIAS ACCOUNTED FOR-MR. HART to
PRESENT TIRE PROOFS on TIE Tw wENTY-
SECOND DETERIORATION OF THE TRUs-
TEES AT THE IMPUTATIoN OF DlsHoNoR.
At the special meeting of the Boardof School
Trustees held last night at the Franklin build
fnr. all the members Of the board were present
except Mr.. HoVey.
Major Richards called the meeting to order,
and read the request foT the cali Of the meet
ing ate consider the charges made in COM
munication which was published in the hTe'tsstJ
Star OF the 18th instant" signed by Trustee
Atlee, Champlain, Lloyd, Harris, Warner, ard !
French.
Mr.. Champlain offered The following:
Whereas q Communication appeared in the
Star of the 14th instant, editorially declared to
be from q member OF this board, in which COM
munication the charge is made in effect that
corrupt means were used to secure the votes
of the members of the board Tor CoCEell's
Biographies; therefore,
Resolyed, That the author Of that communi-;
cation be, and he hereby is, called upon TO pre-
sent the proof of such charges here and now.
Mr. Harris did cot think any member should
be thus obliged to criminste himself; he
favored an investigating committee
Mr.. French thought the board should dispose
of the matter here and now-and the author of
the communication, If member of the hoard,
should be allowed, nay, required, TO criIninste
The members of the hoard referred TO In the
printed article. The resolution does not re-
quire any man here to criminate himself, but
gives him chance TO crim!nate the guilty, if
such there be.
The reading of the printed article was called
for; It was read, and on motion the resolution
was adopted.
Mr.. Chanplin inquired through the Chair
who wss the author of the communication.
He said he not the autlOF.
Mr.. Harris said here was the trouble. On
beiAg asked Mr.. II. denied that he was the
author Of the communication.
Mr.. Warner favored giving the author time
to present kis proofs.
Mr.. LLOYD said if the author was not man
enough to own the communication, the proofs
were here from c. S. Noyes, the editor Of the
Star, to fix the responsibility.
DR.. Wright favored immediate action.
Mr. Wolf thought the matter was being
wrongly pursued. 1t should he investigated
by a committee. If the member is named and
declines to ciler the proof what is the remedy'
He wanted the matter settled by commencing
at the right end and not by working backwards.
Mr.. Atlee had originated the call for the
meeting because the writer seemed competent
to substantiate his statements land more"
Mr.. Hart said he would father the state
ments, and was prepared to prove them true,
but he would present the proofs TO q properly
appointed committee, anu III 10 OLneT way IN
q similar case heretofore, the trustees held
that the board had no jurisdiction in the mat
ter.
Mr.. Wilson said the bad spelling and gram
mar of the communication had thrown him
Of the track. He said the thing otherwise did
not amount to a row of pins, and he favored
tabling the matter.
Mr.. Warner thought it due to the honest
members Of the bOSrd that the matter should
be investigated at once; he did not want to be
on board Of suspected individuals, especially
il IFS meetings were TO be occasions for vent of
personal fcuds.
Mr. Champlin said that hearing 4 stranger
in the street say that Mr.. Hart was the author
OF the communication, he called in Justice to
Mr.. Hart and asked Mr.. Noyes, and found the
statement 10 be correct that Mr.. Hart was the
author. He thought the board had never had
such case 10 act upon. The members of the
board were all parties at issue, and every men,
ter was personally interested; therefore the
matter SHOULD lie investigated by the board as
a COMMITTEE Of the whole"
Mr.. Mcclellan thought that if every time 4
book contest was to he decided the members
were 10 he sub. .ected 10 charges of bribery, it
weuld be exceedingly unpleasant to be on the
board.
Mr.. Harris thought the opportunity should
be given Mr.. Hart 10 prove his charges. He
says he can't do it tonight.
Mr.. Lloyd regarded the charges as rejecting
seriously on the integrity OF the Ioard lie
called on Mr.. Har: AZ least to name the parties
to whom reference is made in the commupi-
cation. The demand sECGld be made that the
charges he made good 1t once. He had known
foc silcEal days that the meeting would be
Gaiicl~
Mr.. Hart denied having any knowledge of
the cell for the meeting. He could only repeat
his assertions, and could no: Offer proof.
Mr.. Woodward felt mortified that his good
reputation should be stabbed by man in the
Cark, Tho, On being confronted, said he could
not produce the proof at once. He said no man
should accuse HIN or any impEre Iotiyss in
any Of bis acts as the Oldest fLcinbcr OF this
E661fd. Mr.. Hart Gould at least name the man
who got the $500. The trustee must be here
Corncll's agent is here tonight. These are
the only two parties concerned IN the matter,
ali this thing should be nailed right here, or
else let tie decent men connected with the
bosrd out it. How long are We to wait on
committees Of investigation!
Mr.. Dulin did not believe any member of the
board guilty of the charges, or that they can
lie substaniated. He judged the other me m
beTs by himself. There was no spasm of yir
tue controlling him. He did not feel personally
GGected.
Mr.. O'Dr!scon thought the matter should be
div .ded iu;o two parGs, by settling the ques-
tiS3 whether the author refers to the old meEI-
eers of the board only; then the committee
should be appointed from the new members as
UDaccusei parties.
&T. Hart said he would be glad to give in
Formation on the subject on another occasion.
He you'd relieve the minds Of the members o
tie beard by stating that the 500 bribe was
made TO himself.
Mr.. Harris said this development made it
more apparent that It was incorrect to inYesti-
Ea:e this matter except by a proper CON-
nIittee.
Doctor Wright thought the communication
refersel to recent matters.
Mr.. DERRICK offered a resolution that when
the toard adjourn it be to meet on the 26th
inst, to Investigate charges against any
member OF the Joari, and that the accuser be
requested TO Precsnt to each member i'm
pIicated prior to the 23d inst, the specific |
9atgTs q Gs GhRssSs and the names of the
NIsIesscs against LIN.
Mr.. Wilson said the matter had been much |!
relieved; it mad been proved to he Hclose !
coTPora:ioR' business. lie feared the Sj0J
was accepted and no: divided, but ss it was
remained but the literary "encyciOpedi4
business"
'ect.On was made by Mess7s. Woodward
and Wolf as 20 the 2G:h inst. for the mex:
meeting, IS botn would be on: of town.
MIR. AtLee offered as q substitute for Mr..
DstTIcE S resolution thSt the board now resolve
itse.f into committee OF the whole to invest
gaze the charges made by Mr.. Hart.
Mr.. Mcclellan favored Mr.. De:rick's resolu-
ten TO give Individual members chance to
Gefend themselves.
Mr.. Atlee said the parties to the 500 Offer
were both here tonight, and that part of 1t
should be settled ct once.
Hr. Detrick thought the matter should be
Investigated by the board, but time should be
given the aCcUEeT TO prepare his proof.
Ma or Richards said that Mr.. lIar; had de-
ciared h.s inability 20 present the proof 20
night, and the board Should not pass 'isnap
judgment on him." We're he one of the sc-
cused, ne would ask Blr. Hart how much time
ne required to prepare his proofs against him
and would let him have all ne desired.
Mr.. Hart, in reply to interrogatories, said he
could he prepared in three days 10 present the
proof.
Mr.. Atlee withdrew his substitute.
Mr.. Derrick changed the date in his reso,u-
ton from the 25th no the 22d inst. for the next
meeting.
Mr.. Hart said he would prove that the en-
olycopedias were sent here whether accepted
sT Eot he could not prove. -.
Mr.. Mcclellan thought the communication
charged the sending Of these books upon the
suggestion of a member Of the board.
The resolution of Mr.. DERRICK, as changed,
was adopted, fixing the meeting Of the board
for Friday night next.
Tie board then adjourned.