Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-12

tended, mad not Deen proven. lle ulu
not think that Principal johnson of the
Friends School, whose testimony had
great weight, had sufficient oppor-
Iunity to Judge of the competency of
Prof. Berlin, although he was ado.
quately capable of doing SO. lle stated
that the piece of apparatus borrowed
from the Friends School. which Mr..
johnson thought had been used by
Prof. Berlin had been used by Prof.
Rowland of Philadelphia.
The doctor held that the testimony
of the teachers who gave evidence as to
the competency of Prof. Berlin was
negative and absolutely worthless. He
also stated that many of the witnesses
for the prosecution had not told on the
stand what they had told him. The
bulk of complaint from teachers, he
alleged, came from the manual training
department, but that the teachers for
fear of their positions, failed to mate
rialize with the testiomny.
Miss Pyle's testimony, he stated, was
based on knowledge of facts and in
moval. lie thought it was hardly fair
to hang the teachers over chasm aud
threaten them with dismissal il they
should testify to the truth. This, he
alleged, had practically been done in
some instances.
The speaker reiterated what he had
said on former occasions, that he had
no axe to grind, notwithstanding that
he had on one occasion offered reso-
luton to appoint W. Il. Mcgowan to
the position of principal of the High
School. He explained that this reso-
luton had been offered for the purpose
of having quiet investigation of the
affairs at the school, and that the mem
bers who signed the resolution had
not the slightest idea that Mr.. Mcgowan
would be appointed or that the salary
would be raised to $1,000 year. 1t
was simply offered TO open the matter
to the teachers committee, and that at
the request of the teachers committee
or some member thereof he hau with
drawn that resolution and offered the
charges to the committed He stated,
however, that he thought at that time
that any change at the school would be
an improvement, and as he knew Mr.,
Mcgowan he could recommend him.
Mr.. Baynard said that judging from
the report of the committee, there was
evidently need of some action and in
uuiry into the affairs at the High
School was necessary. He was salts
fed that the committee had looked we'll
into the matter, that they had found
the difficulty and had suggested the
proper remedy. The report of the COM
nlittee, he further stated, proved that
there was something wrong at the
school, and therefore he was not in
clined to blame DIR. Crumbaugh for
having an investigation made, and he
thought that the teachers committee
had probably arrived at the proper
verdict
Mr.. Ross thought that while the
doctor had the good of the school at
heart, in all probability, he had gone
about investigating the alleged irregu-
larities at the school in the wrong way.
In regard TO the charge OF unreliability
he felt that Mr.. Berlin had so much to
do that he was not able at all times to
keep engagements, which OF course was
no fault of his.
DIR. Crumbaugh asked if the member
| from tho First ward tAlr. Ross could
suggest some other way, whereupon
Mr.. Ross stated that il he had been
chairman of the committee on the
school he would have reported TO the
other members and to the board, and
no would have suggested that a com
mittee Of disinterested persons of known
ability be appointed IA special com
mittee to go TO the school and make
| the investigation. lie referred to the
detective, and thought the employing
of ono was wrong thing to do.
DIR. Crumbaugh made further OK
PLANTATION, stating that II was the desire
| of the prosecution to have the defence
at the hearing select competent person
and have Mr.. Berlin examined in tht
books in which he is teaching and JUS
so far as he goes in giving instructions
and it was not the intention to take
undue advantage of him.
| DIR. Shortlidge moved that the repor
of the committee he adopted, which
prevailed by tho following vote;
Ayes - Messrs Baldwin, Baynard
Belts, Carter, Colyc, Crossan, Finley
Frederick, Hartman, Huey, Kersey
Leach, McCausland. Morrow, Palmer
| Pyle, Shortlidge, Turner, Ross, Nc
Daniel and Bard-2l
Nays Messrs Brilely, Crumbaugi
and Frick-3.
AS soon as the report concerning Prof
Berlin was out of the way the follow
ing, which was supplementary repor
read:
Wilmington, March ., 1S96-Th,
teachers committee, to whom was re
ferred tho bill of, Benjamin FRANKLIN
agency for S22i 30, presented by DIR
John w. Crumbaugh for detective ser
vice at the High School, would respect
fully report: The High School com
mittee is composed of three member
| .,f tet uiy lr
baugh, DIR. John Palmer and John Il
Hartman. Your committee know of NJ
rule or bylaw giving any one membe
of committee authority to contract
bill such as is presented for payment
DIR. j. W. Crumbaugh contracted tn
bill upon his own responsibility, b
not having consulted either of his asso
ciates upon the subject. Therefor
your committee are of the opinion tina
DIR. j. w. Crumbaugh is wholly re
sponsible for the bill, and that th
Board of Education has nothing to d
with the payment of IT.
"John Pyle,
"SamGel f. Belts,
"David II. Colye,
"Charles Baird,
"Commi ttee. "
DIR. Shortidge moved the adoption o
the report, and as soon as the motio
was announced by the chair, DR.
Crumbaugh took the floor and made al
explanation of how the bill had bee
incurred. The facts, as given by him
were these "As soon as tho allege
outrage was reported / made an in
vestigation, and very soon, l think tn
next day, laid the matter befor
! President Baird and talked tho matte
over with him, and together we con
aidnred the best means of arriving al