The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-07-09
IN HOT DEBATE
Interesting and Lively Meeting of the
School Board.
THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT |
Director Hanna Arraigns the Investigating
Committee, Attorney General and State
Superintendent Committee
Exonerates Bogart.

The School Board last night held one of
the longest sessions in its history and, in
some respects, one Of the most bitter. At
times the arguments were so bitter as to be
almost venomous, especially many of the
remarks made by Secretary Frank Hanna.
He scored President Price Solicitor Beddall,
Attorney General Mccormick and State
superintendent Schaehor at periods.
The bone of contention was the supern-
tendency Of the public schools When re-
ports of special committees were called for
President Price arose and read lengthy re-
port of a visit he and Solicitor Beddall had
made to Knoxville to investigate the charges
that had been made against Prof c. ID.
Bogart, the new superintendent of the local
public schools. The report set forth min
utely all the two gentlemen had done as the
committee of the board that they called
upon members of the Knoxville School
Board, talked to citizens of the town and
pursued other channels of information and
finally concluded to report that they be-
lieved Prof BogaTt innocent of the charges
and that he was the victim 'of malicious
and vindictive people. The report stated
plainly that the committee believed that the
girl who made the charges had been
prompted. 1t also recited that when Prof
Bogart first took charge of the Knoxville
schools they were in a badly demoalized
condition, but in two years he raised them to
the standard of second best in Allegheny
county and so well pleased was
the School Board with him that
his salary gradually increased in
in the two years from 5000 to $1,000 The
committee also stated that instead Of Prof.
Bogart being forced to resign the School
Board had completely exOnerated him from
the charges by unanimous vote and that it
was upon Prof. Bogart's own suggestion that
the resignation took place.
Mr.. Lee wanted to know if there was
going to be an investigation of the charges
by the Harrisburg authorities.
President Price stated that the newspapers
had ANNOUNCED that State Superintendent
Schaefer had granted Prof. Bogart's com
mission but the Board had no official notifica-
tion of it.
Solicitor Beddall said that if the State
Superintendent granted the commission that
ended the State Departments interest in the
matter
Mr. Lee said he didn't think Prof. Bogart
should take charge of the schools with the
cloud hanging over him and submitted the
following resolutions
WHEREAS, We the Board of Directors OF the
Shenandoah School District did, on the jth day
of May last elect to the office OF Superintendent
OF our schools Mr.. c. D. Bogart without fun
and sufficient knowledge of his character and
WHEREAS, it has since been publicly alleged
that the said c. d. BoEnrt does not possess "a
sound moral character such is required by
the school laws of this Commonwealth to render
him eligible to the said office of Superintendent,
which allegation appears to be sustained by
evidence heretofore attached; and
WHEREAS, the situation at present is traught
with grave danger to our schools and it is appar-
ent to all that in the present state OF public
opinion nothing will be satisfactory, save that
the said c ID. Bogart shall be fully and fairly
proven innocent of the grave charge alleged
against him, or else that he shall not assume the
office Of superintendent Of our schools there
fore
Resolved That we hereby respectfully re-
quest the Superintendent Of public instruction
to fix time for the hearing and consideration
OF the charges alleged against the said c. ID.
BOgaTt in ihe said evidence, ana that n said
charges shall be fully sustained that he shall
remove him from office, annul his certificate,
or do whatever the law empowers him to do in
the premises for the welfare and protection OF
our schools.
Resolved, That the said o. D. Bogart be mott.
fed of this action and requested to either co
operate with us in requesting speedy hearing
from the superintendent oi fublc Instruction
or else to resign his claims TO the once oi
superintendent in the interest Of our schools
Resolved, That these resolutions be at once
transmitted to the Superintendent of public
u =
| Mr.. Dewitt then arose and drew from his
pocket the alleged evidence in the form OF
affidavits purporting to have been made by
Clara Yates, the girl Prof. Bogart isalleged to
have made the indecent assault upon and
atiidavits by her mother and father and one
by George W. Bailey, a School Director of
Knoxville The girl gives her age as 10 and
she sets forth a story, the details of which
would not bear publication. IL viii suffice to
state that the girl alleges, according to the
papers submitted that Prof. Bogart's conduct
was just short of rape, The mothers afiida-
Wit is to the effect that the child told the
story to her as set forth in the affidavit and
the father is purported to swear that Prof
Bogart asked him to let the matter drop and
he would resign; that he would show the
father he was not as bad a man as reported.
The Bailey affidavit sets forth that Prof
Bogart resigned in consideration of the case
being dropped. That the resignation was
demanded there and then"
Mr. Hanna moved that the resolutions be
adopted as read and in making argument in
its support stated that the committee that
went to Knoxville had been committee for
the defense, and not for the Board
This nettled President Price and he said,
after remarlzing that he could not see how
the resolutions would he in order until the
Board had been officially notified that the
commission had been granted, II would like
to say that don't ike the charges that the
Secretary has made making me a party to
this affair, or making me defender Of Prof.
Bogart. / assure this Board, as ] said time
and again. that in every instance my opinion
has been just as firm against Prof. Bogart as
Mr. Hannas or any other member of this
Board can be. If | had hundred votes
and could find anything in the case
TO satisfy myself that Mr.. Bogart was in any
way guilty in this affair | would put them
against him. but, to the reverse, my investi-
cation has been impartial, and from all l can
learn believe Prof, Bogart is as innocent as
any Of us, oriminally. OF course the child
in question was there, it is true. ! don't
want anyone to 60 away with the idea that
would for a moment think Of going to Har-