The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-19
THE OTHER SIDE.
Examination of Witnesses for the Defense in
the Music Committee Investigation.

the MUSIC Committee Investigation.
The Select Committee appointed by the
Board of Education to investigate the
charges OF bribery against Mr.. Massman, a
member of the Music Committee, met last
night in the Superintendent's Room and
examined witnesses as follows:
Mr.. Mund testified: Have been asso-
ciated with Seidensticker about twenty
five years. Never paid Mr.. Prietsch anv
money. Mr. Seidenstcker owes me S32 so;
he promised to pay me If he got into the
school,
Mr.. Blechart testified that he never
spoke with Mr. Massman about his owing
Sedenstcker any money.
Thomas Mclaughlin testified: After the
close Of the last investigation, one evening
| heard Mr. Junkerman say he could have
stated, had he been pressed, that he had
heard Mr.. Massman say he would not sup
port any man who had offered money for
position.
Mr.. Jnnkerman testified Have heard
Mr.. Massman say he would not vote for
any man who offered money. don't think
this was lately; not since the vacation.
Mr.. Steinkamp testified to knowing Mr..
Massman for number OF years and had
never heard anything against him.
Mr. Callahan, who appeared as counsel
for Mr.. Massman, here stated that it had
been impossible for him to get witnesses to
come here, but read an affidavit from Mrs.
Louise Massman testifying to having over
heard Mr.. Sawyer tell her husband that
Mr.. Woods had 500 ready for the one who
procured him his nomination.
Mr.. Massman took the stand and testi-
fed: There was no one present at the time
Sawyer had the conversation with me but
my wife. This conversation was held be-
fore Sawyer was first nominated; did not
know my wife overheard the conversation
with Sawyer until after he bad gone, when
she spoke of it; she told me of it right
after he went out of the house; did not
vote for Mr.. Sawyer; mistake was made
in putting me down as voting for him;
did not tell the Committee or any member
of it about Sawyers offer; did not know
what kind of men you were; l had heard
from some members of the Board that
money had been used.
Mr.. Marrow-What member of the Board
had made that statement?
Mr.. Massman- decline to answer.
Mr. Narrow demand the name of the
member.
Mr. Massman-You can't compel me to
give it.
Mr.. Marrow-I ask you as gentleman
to giveit.
Mr.. Massman--I decline to do so.
Mr.. Bailey-You should give the name,
as it reflects, not only on the Music Com
mittee, but ON the whole Board
Mr.. Massman-Well, get up another in
vestigation of the whole Board, and put
them all ON the stand.
Charles +. Johnson testified: "Am a re-
porter of the Cincinnati Volbsblutt. Am
acquainted with Mr.. Massnnn. Mr..
Prietsch told me that Mr.. Mund desired me
to use some influence in his behalf He
said that would be well paid for it. l de-
clined the proposition. Iknow, from hear
say, that money was given to newspaper
reporter BY an applicant for a position.
decline to give the name of the reporter"
AT this jnncture Mr.. Sawyer asked TO be
allowed to put few questions to Mr.. Mass
man. Leave was granted, when he set out
to say that the statement of Mr.. Massman
in reference to his having offered him $780,
and his wife's affidavit, were false, when he
was interrupted by Mr.. Massman with: "If
yon say am liar or that my wife is a
liar. I'll break your head"
Mr.. Bailey-"No you WON'T
Mr. Massman-"If don't do it here I'll
do it down stairs"
A few other unimportant witnesses were
examined, when the Committee adjourned