Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-09-05
LIBRARY INVESTIGATION.
STATE LIBRARIAN WALLIS UNDER HEAVY
FIRE.
SONS Of the Prosecutions Testimony
Long and Lively sesslon-To DO
Resumed To-day.

The State Board of Library Trustees met
yesterday at1P. N, &c investigate the chsrgs
against State Librarian Talbot II. Wallis,
preferred by Trustee j. j. Oven. The
answer TO the charges was published few
days ago in the REUoRD-U UNION, as were also
the charges. All the members OF the Board
we're present except I. S. Belcher. Dir. Free.
man presiding, Attorneys Grove L. john
son, Add C. Hinkson and J. G. Ball sp.
psarsa for Mr.. WALTZ. and s. Scion Holl for
ths prosecution. Win. J. Davis had bean
previously appointed official reporter.
Mr.. Holl stated that the law provided that
the Librarian could be renewed By the
unanimous vote Of the Board, and as. Mr.
Belcher was not present. hs desired to have
it understood whether MIR. Belcher was ex-
ptcssd 20 participate 10 the decision.
After soma discussion it was agreed
bv counsel that Mr. Bslcher might par
ticiDste In the judgment, the records TO
be submitted to him. a long discus.
sion between counsel asd Trustees ensued, on
the right to have the proceedings stenogrsph-
icslly reported a5 the expense OF the Ii
brary, and terminated by a motion
being made and carried, providing chat Mr..
Dayis should report ths proceedings Of the
investigation and receive a reasonable per
diem for the same from the library fund
provided there wss any authority for paying
the same in that manner.
Mr.. Oxen wished to say few words in
regard to the answer TO the charges pre-.
limiaary to making q motion, which he de-
sired to make. He said: ''As to the first
=. = /, .v,ks, %
i general denial set up to the chargas; to
thst point, and as fer 80 that goes, L have not
a VOID Of objection. But the second part OF
this answer sets up
sUNDRY CHARGES AGAINST ONE OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF this Board. This, I hold, as coming from
sn eInploye or sppointse CT this Beard, which
has absolute control of this Librarian, is an
insult to this Board. And. after I havs ex-
smiued to soma extent, 1 will move that the
whole Of the second part Of this answer be
stricken cut. This answer reads: And,
further answering said charges and speci6ca-
tions, the defendant AYERS that the said
charges ere not brought in good faith by said
Trustee J. J. Oven And [ ask if impugn-
ing the molives of ore OF the Trustees of this
Board is not en- insult to the entire Board?"
Nj Owen continued, and began to give
statements substantiating his views Of Mr..
Wallis uniruthfuiness, when Mr.. E5gerton
interrupted the speaker and urged that the
matter was not one for consideration at that
time.
Counsel johnson said he would much pre-.
fer that Mr. Owen should be allowed to con-
clude his argument to show why the second
portion of the answer should be stricken cut,
in order that counsel for Mr.. Wallis could
have an opportunity TO answer. It was finally
agreed that Mr.. Owen should be allowed to
proceed. He then went on giving instances
Of alleged untruthfulness of Librarian Wallis
which had come under the direct observation
of tha Trustee. He cited one in which Mr..
Wallis had said TO him, during the contest
for the position of Librarian, that Grove L..
J ohnson was in the lobby outsids armed, and
that johnson said either
" EDGERToN OR 1 WILL BE CARRIED OUT OF
HERE DEAD"
Provided 9 certain contingency did net &C.
cur. Another was that Mr.. Wallis had said
that he had some strings over Mr.. freeman
which would compel the latter to vote on all
occasions as Mr.. Wallis desired. Both of
these statements hy Mir. Wallis Mr.. Owen
then did and still disbelisYss.
Counsel johnson urged that Mr. Holl ep-
psare1 st the frat meeting as attorney for
hlf5S raven, anu LuaE ne accepted service OF
the answer as attorney for Miss Patten, and
MIR. johnson thought that this, together with
the remarks made by Mr. Owen, was suffi-
Gent ground for permitting such matters to
bs presented. MIR. johnson said they thought
they could
PROVE THERE WAS CONSPIRACY
Between Mr.. Owen and Miss P4tten to re-
move the Librarian.
Mr. Holl urged that the motive of the &C.
cuser who brought the charges was not 2.
question to be considered by the Board but
only ths truthfuiness Of the allegations con-
tsioed 10 the charges should be considered.
The Secretary called the roll, AID on the
motion to strike out it was adopted.
e. K, Dunlap, Of San jose, was the first
witness called. The question of swearing
the witness next arose. After some dis.
cussion the witness stated that he
wished they would decide at once
80 to the right to administer an oath
to q witues', rs he was subpensed TO appear
tomorrow bsfore q tribunal IL Santa Clara
county which has the power to swear wit
mesa and alse TO punish for contempt
The witness was finally sworn by the Chsi-,
and then testified that hs was present at the
last Republican State Convention, held in
on August 30, 1882. Witness
continued Know Mr.. Wsllis by sight, but
rot personally. During tho Convention he
saw persons enter the private room OF the Lii
brariac end drink while there. During the
session Of the Convention there were SO many
PEOPLE WENT INTO TIE LIBRARY ARD DRANK
That II attracted. his attention; wss here
threa or four days, and saw men go ia several
times every DAY and drink. Never cav more
tnsn one man enter at once, uuless the second
one vas Mr.. Wallis. Witness was a member
Of the lobby of the last Convention, and
may have treated people often enough 70 have
made it noticeable to uninserested parties had
it been done in the State Library.
Misa Hattie R. Kelsey, Of San Francisco,
WAS next sworn Witness took Miss Patterns
place in the State Library, during the illness
of the latter, for about two weeks during the
Mr.. Wallis, she said, having met him the
first week 10 January OF this year, whila I
was the guest of Mics Patten. During thu
time witness was the guest of Miss Patten
shs saw a bottle of liquid, kept IN room of
the library, and she saw one or two State Off
cials take drink by themselves. The action
would not have attracted her attention. but
for the fact that she supposed the LIQUID was
Whiaky, and tho sizs Of the drink taken BY
one of them was remarkable.
Mr.. Edgerton-He was Democrat, wasn't
he?
Witness-No; unfortunately he was not.
During the last week witness was occupy
iug Miss Pstten's position she rarely ever had
occasion TO enter the room referred to except
that abe found men in thsre drinking. Have
seen from ona 10 twenty men in the room
Never saw liquor taken ia the room but
once, when she sa7E MIR. Brown csrry ia a
large demijohn through the maia entrance to
he library. Saw in the room
SMALL DEMIJoHS,
1t msy have held two gallouq, and large
Ine that must have contained ct least three
,allons, and it may have held four. Saw
more or less Of this drinking every Gay while
was in the Library. Mr.. Wallis dep1rt-
nent while in this Library showed q grsat
ack of dignity and tact. Mr.. Wsllis is not
intentionally rude, but igaofaotly SO. His
-udsness WAS frequently mentioned by VS.
tors 10 the Library For instance. l was
.slkine with two ladies and q gentleman one
were, l think, visiting ths Legig-
sture or were friends Of one of the Senators.
do not know whom. They were asking me
hings ia regard to the Library. OF course /
vas not scqusiated. l was stranger there
dT. Wallis saw them, and thought perhaps |
ouId NOT inform them in the manner he de-
ired they should be Informed, and in the
u lest manner interrupted the conversation
nd spoke Ia very comicsl phrases of
hs Library, and in manner that made
ne feel very much ashamed, although l ex-
,lsined to them thasI was there temporarily.
Witness nsver remembered herring Mr.