Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-09-25
E MARTINSBURG HERALD,
TO THE PUBLIC.

Ever since my resignation as teach
er in the High School of our city, va
rious reports affecting my character
have been in circulation in the city
and vicinity. In justice to myself
and those near and dear to me deem
it necessary by the following repre-
sentation, to show to the public that
whatever rumors there may be ana by
whomsoever originated and circula-
ted, they are false in their conception
and slanderous in their PRONUNCIATION.
whatsoever originated them has done
me an inca)culated injury, and those
who have circulated them have but
intensified that injury. On the eve
of the opening of the schools / was in
formally requested by the member of
the Second Ward of the Board of Ed
ucation, without mention of reason,
to resign. Thinking that my services
were no longer required, and cOnfid-
ing for the time in the judgment of that
member / complied with the request.
Learning, however, that the request
was based upon rumors, affecting my
moral character, and being conscious
of no disdemeanor, withdrew my
resignation. Then that member of
the Board stated that he would prefer
charges, but was under promise not to
name the charges nor the parties in
volved, to the Board, but he urged
the vague charge of immortality to be
entered on the minutes and pressed
my temporary suspension on that
general, indefinite charge, stating that
at the next meeting he would prefer
charges in form.
| The law considers every man inno-
cent until he is proven guilty. but that
act placed me in the position of a
criminal and deprived me of my just
rights. On the 7th the regular meet
ing was held, at which the accuser
was to present formulated charges,
but he did not make disappearance,
and then / submitted to the Board the
following letter in brief:
MARTINsBURG, w. VA, Sept. 7th,
1886. of the Board of Ed.
ucation: Some days ago one of your
members requested me to tender my
reignation to your honorable body
declining to give me any reason there.
fore, / felt that could not afford tc
hold a position where my resignation
was desired, and rendered the resigna
ton. Afterwards learned that this
action originated from general ru
NOR of serious charges against my
moral character, I withdrew the
resignation. as / could not afford tt
resign with charges pending.
am now suspended by your Board
by reason, as / understand, of these
charges, which are yet without form
and intangible, while my reputation
suffers from your inaction. / there
fore demand that the Investigation be
at once held in the premises, or thai
| be at once restored.
Yours, very truly,
l.. ID. GERHARDT
Inasmuch as that member had failet
to appear and prefer charges on the It'll
as he proposed to do special meeting
was called on the 10th, and to get rid O.
the matter the Board by a circulated
signature requested me to resign, but
insisted on the presentation of the threat
ened charges when that member stated
that owing to certain papers in possession
of the accused as he learned he ,cas ufadbl
W P'9cfO eUty Ift.H yto' AhO DOoiu ehOi
and there fully exonorated me, and upol
that exonoration voluntarily resigned
But the above facts have not beef
made public, rumors damaging to my
character are still afioat, and l canno
but hold that member responsible fo
the injury l have sustained, both as t.
character and position. AS an honorable
man, he should have the manhood ant
sense of justice to publicly comics
his error.
I leave it to the sensible public to draw
their conclusions from the above. hav,
been nurtured and reared among you
from childhood. l have had correc
training in morals and propriety, and m,
parents have spent money for my educa
ton, and God forbid that I should distres
them or lose self-respect by being guilt,
of any such acts as have been attributed
to me by accuSers, and sld,ader-nongers
have through injustice lost position
of public trust which claim that filleC
with satisfaction to the community.
Respectfully the Public's Friend,
l.. D. GERHARDT.