Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-05
The Bribery Charges.

At called meeting Of the City School Board,
held at Peabody Institute, last night. there
were present: Edgar Snowden, jjr., chairman,
and Messrs. J. W. Burke, Benoni Wheat, Jno.
S. Beach, K Kemper, Henry Wilmington S.
G. Neae, S. F. Beach, Joseph Hopkins and
O. G. Whittlesey.
The chairman stated that the meeting had
been called at the instance OF MIR. Hopkins, Tor
the purpose of considering certain charges that
had been brought against member of the
Board.
Mr. Hopkins then arose and said that he bad
been in public life for several years, bur this
was the first time 10 all those years that charge
affecting his official Integrity had ever been
brought against him, and that the one now
trumped up, though affording some ground for
talk, had in fact no substantial foundation. He
! had he said, statement to read, which con-
tanned correct account OF The whole transac-
tiou, and the truth OF which would be sustain
ed by Mr.. Bradley, but before he read it he
would take occasion to apologize to member
of the Board for some expressions Of hard feel
ings he might have used towards him, but
which were induced by reports brought to him
by men in whom he believed, that the gentle
man was vlndictiVe towards him and had been
pressing these charges, but that to day he had
been Informed by mutual friend that these
reports were untrue, and for that reason he
would beg the gentleman pardOn-he alluded
to Mr.. Wheat. As no names had been men
toned in the newspaper charges either Mr..
Beach or himself was the party alluded to- as
they were the only members OF the School
Board who were members Of the City Council,
but if the charges had applied to no individuals
he would nevertheless ask Tor an investigation.
He then read the following statement:
TO the City School Board:
1t is we'll known fact to the mem bers Of the
Board that l was in favor Of building new
house for school purposes unit 1t WAS determined
that we could not raise sufficient funds to pay
for such u building; then | became warm ad-
vocate for the purchase OF the Bradley building,
which had been offered to the Board by Messrs.
Green & Wise at very low figure and on ac-
commodating terms. While the matter was un-
| or consideration, and after the new building had
been Abandoned Mr. Bradley called to see me,
knowing l WAS practical man, and urged his
claim, saying, as near as can remember, and l
think quote his exact words, 'if you can con-
scientiousy assist me will hold you in kind
remembrance" l certainly did not take Mr..
Bradley TO mean that he would give me sum
of money or any other consideration, and he
certainly at that time meant nothing of the
! kind, but it was merely an expression of friend
Ship Well, the Finance Committee, of which
| I was not member, arranged for the purchase,
and I voted to ratify what they did. Some
weeks after the purchase, and while Mr.. Brad
ley was engaged in closing out his stock, | WAS
in the building arranging some alterations to be
made l purchased some furniture, and whilst
| engaged in this transaction Mr. Bradley sad:
| 81 am going to make some of you gentlemen Il
present, and intend that for your wife; or, if
you prefer, take this" pointing to the furniture.
Up to that time nothing had been said about
furniture OF anything else received the pro-
! Dth ar 9TH ic fripn6s nd hsyp
no regrets, except the publication of this scam
| dal, induced by misrepresentation OF facts.
Such an act is an every day occurrence with
men in public Ito and those who hold up their
hands in holy horror over such an innocent
transaction are either blinded by prejudice or
bent on stating that which they believe TO be
| untrue The chairman of the Board and other
members have heard Mr. Bradley's statement
of the affair and they know whether or not it
| agrees with mine. Now these are the facts in
the case rumors to the contrary notwthstsnd-
| ing. If my statement is to beloved, and it is
| suhstantia,ed by that Of Mr.. Bradley made to
members surely there has been much ado abb ut
| Hhlch trust may take place before The Whole
nova 50 l, may DC satisfactory to all. Am
now prepared to answer all questions.
Mr. Wheat then arose and said he was as. |
tonlshed and surprised to hear what the rem.
tleman said before he read his statement i
was the first intimation he had of the axistenco
OF any ,lnklnd feelings between the mem Der and
himself. lie certainly bad entertained no such
leeings' and had taken no steps to propagate
the charges that had been made, He had
heard OF them for mouths by rumor aud iuuu.
endo but had invariably told those who an
preached him pon the subject that he youd
uot act upon mere ruHor aud reports, but if
they would give him date he would Law ,ba
matter before the Board and have an inv.st;.
cation. But he could get nothing satisfactory )
he subject had almost died out AT The time
Inc, - late contest between MeSsrs Hopkins and
honroe came on, Whcu it WIS revived, the rn. :
nors again obtained circulation, and parties J.
'nce more approached him On the subject with !
ne Same unSuStalned reports, but he had said >
o them, as ne had before, that he could do moth :,
ng on such unsusalncd charges He was clad :
lr: Hopkins had asked for this Investigation. ~
I'd 1t was due to him, to Mr. Bradley, aud to
nc whole community, that his request should
granted, mat the Investigation should be 4
laue oy the whole Board, and that il the re- CT
Ill Vlndlcated Mr. Hopkins it would affJrd no CO
ne more true gIaducss than himself and n, AZ
lc would take more pains than himself To sim, tn
c mouths Of the geutIernaus accuscrs He to
eo moved that an investigation BE- held by as
e whole Board -
Mr. Hopkins then left the room, saying that =
1t was proposed to discuss the matter it would las
It be proper Tor him to remain. BE
Mr. John 5. Beach said he saw no necessity me
any investigation. All the members OF the 20
'ard were acquainted with the whole circum- VIII
Dces OF the case. The newspaper article the
At contained the charges ia its first part dc.
ID them In the last. When the subject of ern
the public schools Was first on
ought up MIR. Hopkins favored the building . sIn
new school house aud had drawn plans for Tue .ne
same, but the Board had moi money enough I Ioi
carry those plans into execution At later ual
e MeSsrs. Green IL Wise offered the build l
, tnat had been bought, and offered i, upon Wa
q reasonable terms that, if he recoectcd ovcl
mt no one objected to its pnrcIlas.. cxeent and
Carne ana himself, and their objection was stan
I'd solely upon the ground of the noisy Ioca r.
/, but wheo they took nro consideration