St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-22
Miss Darrah,s Affidavit

Dafrah's affidavit is given in full:
Miss Darrah's Affidavit.
PACIFIC GROVE, CAL, Aug. ii. 1884,
To whom it may concern: 1t having
come to my knowledge that a Ger,
tain malicious falsehood is in clrcu-
latlon regarding Supt. G. B. Gilbert,
L desire to make the following
statement: Some three years ago, as
nearly as l can remember-the date
may be more recent or more remote
sitting in Mr.. Gilbert's Office, waiting
to consult him in his private office, the
door OF which stood open,l was forced to
near the conversation going on within
between himself and lady who was
making most unreasonable demands of
him. Mr.. Gilbert replied with the
greatest patience and courtesy, carefully
explaining why he could not do Just as
shs wished, but promising to see that
Justice was done her immediately How
ever, she Insisted upon his obeying her
demands, and became very angry and
somewhat abusive. After waiting fully
twenty minutes for her to go, and be-
coming hopeless as to her listening to
reason, | walked into the private Office,
and, apologiZing for my interruption,
asked for few minutes conversation
with Mr. Gilbert, upon which she left
after one more angry demand. which he
once more kindly showed her he could
not accede to. Having talked with Mr..
Gilbert myself upon that occasion Tor
fltteen minutes, am in position to
affirm, as do most emphatically, that
no lady IN her own parlor was ever
treated with more perfect courtesy than
the person who brings theSa charges,
and that. furthermore, the statement
that MI Gilbert was under the influence
OF liquor is absolutely false and without
foundation. EsTELLE Nj. DARRAH.
The next tilt occurred over ques-
tion from Miss Taylor as to how Miss
Darrah rushed into the office of the
superintendent to protect him in his
weak and helpless state from the wrath
of Mrs. Blomquist."
Mr.. Vanish insisted that before she
asked any more questions she state
what she wished to establish. This she
declined to do, and the witness refused
to answer her questions.
Miss Taylor here repeated the alleged
statement of Inspector Dawson that 'sit
was nothing for a man to be found
drunk in his Office" She got no fur
ther than putting the question, how
passive while the other committeeman
were protesting, was on his feet in a
moment and contradicted Miss Taylor
tlatly. The chair objected to tilt as to
the veracity Of Mr.. Dawson, and an
other witness was called before he
could explain that the idea he had
intended to convey was that, so far as
Miss IaylOr'S own case was concerned,
it did not matter at all whether the
Superintendent was drunk or sober.
Mrs. BlomquiSt. when OH the stand
stated that when she called on Mr.. Gill
bert in August, 1891, he had come into
tie office and then gone out without
giving her the examination papers of
her boy, and that this was particularly
what she had come for. She stated that
she had asked the clerk in the office
why Mr.. Gilbert did not attend to his
business, and that Miss Eustace ad-
vised her to go down and see Secretary
White. Miss Eustace emphatically de-
MED having done this. and Mrs. Blom.
quist got so much interested in insisting
that it was true that she became mixed
as to the location of the secretary's
office, which at that time opened di-
rectly off Mr.. Gilbert's. Mrs. Blom-
uuist continued to speak Of going down
stairs tc see the secretary, and said fur
ther that the secretary told her that Mr..
Gilbert was under the influence of
liquor and not able to attend to busi-
ness.
Chairman Vanish Asked
Mrs. Blomquist to explain why she had
waited two years before making this
affidavit when she thought that such
things existed in the public schools.
After answering several questions
which led up to her connection with
Miss Taylor's part of the affair, Mrs.
Blomquist grew quite excited, aud
getting little mixed in explaining to
the committee that she wrote the af1ida-
dit herself. she burst out with: "Well,
suppose l might have signed it before
if anybody had come round to me with
it." This created q great deal of hilar.
ity in the meeting. so much,in fact, that
Chairman Vanish had to rap for order.
The meeting adjourned subject to the
call of the chairman. Mr.. Vanish said
very emphatically that yesterdays
meeting will certainly end this public
airing of the productions Of the brain of
aggrieved teachers, and that the COM
mittee will meet again when 1t sees fit,
and in executive session, as all evidence
: that is Forthcoming seems to be in.
A very dramatic little scene occurred
Just before the meeting adjourned
Standing In the middle of the room, with
her right arm extended, Miss Taylor
Informed the committee that they all
knew what its report on this investiga-
tion would be, but that she felt glad
that she had done this thing. as but for
her action Mr.. Gilbert would never have
been brought to justice.
AS she stood there informing the
board that she knew that they would
>acquit the superintendent, Chairman
Vanish, in a very emphatic tone of
voice, adjourned the meeting, cutting
short great flow of orat0ry.