New-York tribune., 1896-02-06
RIDENOUR WANTS A TRIAL.
THE DISCHARGED SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
MAY ALSO SUE FOR sLANDER.

WILL AGAIN BE BROUGHT IP IN COt
INTENTION TO APPEAL FROM THE DE-
cIsION OF JUSTICE GAYNoR-Po-
rIrrCAL INTRIGUE CHARGED
Mirabeau Towns, attorney for William 3. Ride
nour. who discharged by the Board OF hdu-
cation from his position as principal of Public
| School No. 43, announced yesterday that Ni''
Rdenour would again take his case TO the courts
! and make a determined effort TO secure trial on
the charges preferred against him.
Mr.. Towns was highly indignant over the action
taken By the Board. and considered that MS
! client who IS also hts close personal friend. nao
been most grievously wrOnged. lie said yes'e'-
| day to Tribune reporter: "Mr. Rdenour INTENDS
| to appeal from the decision Of Justice Gayhor'
| He thinks, and always has thought that he was
entitled to the relief which he prayed FOR IN tha'
| suit and that the Board should have been en-
| Joined from dsmissing him without trial. not
| upon the ground that he was veteran, as mas
| been often stated in the newspapers. but upon
| the ground that he could rot b. dismissed upon
| charges affecting his moral character without
| notice and trial (Sec. 6. Title .. Laws of 1884.
Chapter 556)
so far as the veteran law Of the State applies
to Mr. Ridenours case. It Is contained in chapter
7G Of the Laws of 1894 and fortunately for us. 1t
|
been construed by the Court Of Appeals in such
| a way that the lower courts. we think' VIII oe
| compelled 10 respect Us provisions.
"To bring himself within the provisions Of this
law. Mr. Ridenour under our advice, sent to each
member Of the Board of Education the notice
which was published this morning in Inc III
| bune's report OF yesterdays meeting.
TuPAssrONED SPEECH SUGGESTED.
The inpassioned speech Of the president Of
the Board delivered under the influence OF an
oyerv.rou,h, and strained nervous condition. has
tened. We think urduly. the action Of the Board.
we SEQ by the morning papers that Mr.. Swan
s;rorn's appeal 10 the Board was characterized
as 4 scath.ng arraigrment Of Mr.. Ridenour. Ny
/ stenographic reports Of the same would JUSTIFY
the characterization Z that speech as an undig-
nifed attack by abuse and epithet upon a hc!p-
| less man In his absence. and at a time when ne
! had no opportunity or chance 10 repy' his
! statement II every fact and circumstance con-
nected with the case. appeal TO the passions
! If tho Board rather than an argument 10 their
| reason A manifestation Of feeling ana personal
/ hatred on the part of the president toward MI
| R!len.dr uniustded by anything except the
! knowledge on his par, IN AZ ne had wrohgeu d"
/ Innocent aul Iu51ensiNe follow man. = u TIE
wrongs W. d. othe.s wh.ch call forth the most
~
u,,,edosr Nj Rldenour will bde his time
We mink II. however. only just % him that the
,,,.tul. NJ a.. president of the Board. VINO Is
i.,-. entirety responsible for this persecution OF
! Mr. f.ilen3ur. should De- brought TO the attention
of the public.
Mr.. Ridcnour has what we think ample ana
ADEQUATE remedies provided by law yet AT ms
dlsp5saL lie will proceed against the board oy
,,nd,rus. and h will proceed az once. THIS
g,,o~,n,ees 70 him. In spite of any cndeaVors
a, ,he rart ~ his active opponent. tral IN court
bv a Jury of the infamous issues raised by the
.r,sla.u: This rial NJ. Riicnour is determined
- have.
= cause o. action as for wrongful Gct against
e,.-~y member Z tha Board VINO voted to dis-
! mics him and in such acton the burden Of
r-,of is mon each of the members - prove that
| NJ Ridor9ur was dismissed for ncompetency
, ..,,-iu.. tnc1rslster: with the position held.
t,r.,, what we know Of the evidence in the
Csc The rue evidence. the gentlemen defendantS
,,r bo,.. a pretty serious time to prove their de-
fence
POLITICAL INTRIGUE CHARGED.
..rbe Issue whi,h has been forced upon Mr..
,,,.,,nr 1t, The president of the Board IS this:
sa,u an Intelligent. ard competent servant
standing ~ the head of his profession who has
d.,..,ol hie life since ~ was eighteen years OH
- tho public first In war as a soldier. second IN
rsoc. as an Instructor t. Tho young be wahton'y
attacked by a person enjoying bref eu'horiN
president Z public board. cnl dismissed from
,,,hu, service "a n sacrifice % the ambition or
tha, persoa7 When political intrigue ana nlYs-
,.~,,us Influence 20 81 fay as 20 induce pub
H., body - forget the first principles OF fair play
and Justice that they follow the appeal or =
vlnii,ttve uerearstor and dismiss soldier
votarln . een.lcmGn. a scholar peerless c'i-
yen a., American and an honorable man. agains'
! thr p~ovl-isn If tho law aai for no cause eXcep,
! hosi inruendo aud secret SANDER. man need
-, ho a pcssnist 70 conclude that patriotism
( and American manhood. to cay nothing or JUS
,icn are Qualities which many gentlemen IN the
Ir,,,iTivn B,arl of Fducaton do not possess
y they do possess them. they are willing TO sac
| 10. their sentiments u tho intrigue ana IN
nnenro Of an ambitious leader. who. by-the-way.
viii bc called upon IN court by Mr.. Ridenour
10 make good under cath tfe assertions ne mace voc
against the character II Nj R'denorr IN MS
| dntrlbe before the y ard Of Education yester-
! day afternoon
POSSIBLE sv1T FOR sLANDER.
T, ,viu be saen from Mr.. Towns's statement that
mare than one line ot action is still open TO the
discharged principal, and that a new complication
has been introduced in the possibility OF suit
against MI Swanstrom for slander The MEM
bere of the Board OF Education will doubtless be
surnrlsed a., we'll as somewhat disc0ncerted to
learn that the man whom they have sought to
oust from his position Is entitled to trial In court
bv n Jury II is certain that this course Of action
! Will le pursued by the principal through his at
| tOrney. .
| TIE action taken by the Board n subject Of
| nucn comment yesterday Many persons were
| inclined 10 Justify the Board In It's action but on
the other hand there were not } few who openly
| soid mat Mr. Rldcnour had been most unjusty
treated One of the principals friends. who has
| followed the case closely from the beginning. did
| not hesitate to say many things uncompimentary
n President Swanstrom. He recalled the fact
that Mr. SwanstrOT was last summer a candidate
f,r n nomination 10 the Supreme Court bench on
the Democratic ticket, and that the charges
against Mr. Ridenour were first made by Mr.