The herald., 1897-12-21

he had advised a special meeting of tn.
| board for the purpose Of deciding upor
some line of action before the facts were
| made public. He thought it would bt
better to hold an executive session frs
| and get the investigation started before
| giving such grave charges publicity.
DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LOADED
What was the first suspicion you hat
that your name was to be connected with
this matter and that you were to bt
made party to it?" asked his attorney
"The first intimation 1 had Of any.
thing Of the kind was when Axtell mad
his so-called confession here before the
board. I had only heard before that
there were others who would be impli-
Gated, but 1 did not know what was
coming"
did you ever get all or any portion
OF that Cooper money!"
Never have l received that or any
other amount from any Of the persons
who have here stated that did receive
It,"
suit or on account Of your being mem
ber Of the board of education from any
source or for any purpose?"
mot one single cent or any other
amount"
HAS Axtell ever mentioned money tc
you or have you mentioned it to him ??
mo, never at any time"
HAS Axtell ever given you to under.
stand that he had received money from
any person for any purpose?"
mo, never"
"Then Axtell lied?"
"That is putting it too mildly"
The same questions were asked with
reference to Adams having paid money
to Webb and the same general replies
were made. The story of the meeting
btween Webb and Axtell in the base.
nent Of the Spring street school was
then mentioned and Webb explained
that one day Axtell's assistant, Mr.. C.
A. Charlton, had come to him about moor
and said that Axtell had been summoned
TO appear before the grand jury and
wanted to see him at once. Webb went
to the Spring street school and was
closeted with Axtell in the latter's Of
fee for fifteen minutes. Axtell seemed
to be greatly worried about something
and when he told Webb that he had been
summoned before the grand jury he
asked Webb whether there was any
thing about the teachers committed
that Webb had reported to that body
Axtell said that he did not know what
he had been called for, but it worried
him greatly, as he was suffering from
weakness OF the heart. Webb swore that
he advised him to tell the truth and
asked him II there was anything he
knew which was wrong. Axtell men
toned a matter Of a correction Of s1s
or $40 on bill that Webb had compelled
him to make and asked whether that
was the subject that he was to testify
about Other than this Axtell mentioned
nothing that gave Webb any idea as ia
why he was worried
HE NEVER DID NOTHIN'
did you ever have a conference in the
board Of education rooms with Axtell
and Adams. in which the subject Of AK
tells evidence before the grand jury was
mentioned?" was asked
mo, positively no. 1 never at an;-
time talked with either Of them about
that or any other matter"
Webb asserted that 1t would have been
impossible for the three to have had such
meeting without. Secretary johnson \
knowledge, as they would have to pass
through the latters room to reach the
room of Prof. Foshay. where the meet
Ing was said to have been held.
Then the case of Miss Clara Schroeder
was taken up. Webb was asked If he had
sent her to Adams or in any way referred
her to that member. He explained, In
denying what Adams had said and what
Miss Schroeder herself had sworn to,
that she had come to him we'll recon-
mended during the latter part Of the
last school year. He knew OF vacancy
in McInerny's ward and advised her to
see the other members Of the board and
mentioned McInerny in particular, but
he had never sent her to Adams. She
had been elected to the position and was
reelected last June. He admitted that
she was most excellent teacher.
Another positive denial was made Of
the sworn statement of Mrs. Smith, when
she said that Webb had advised her that
it was not necessary for her to go to sec
Mr.. Conrey, "as Conrey had no power or
influence on the teachers committee" i"
Webb asserted that his relations with
Mr.. Conrey on that committee had been
Of the most pleasant character. "Mr.
Conrey and l had gotten along together
better than had with some of the men,
bers of the so-called majority on the
board. There was never any friction
about any of the teachers. We both
recommended Mrs. Smiths promotion
to the position Of director in the kinder
garten department. She had been rec
commended to US by Mr.. Bartlett, the
third member of the committee, who
said she was an excellent teacher, and 1t
was not until in October that we got tho
opportunity of promoting her. 1 couldn't
have promoted her alone, and Mr.. Con-
rey had to assist in the matter, as Mr..
Bartlett was away from the city. never
heard about her purchase of a piano un-
til she told about it herself. No, never
told her that 1t would be needless for her
to go to see Mr.. Conrey"
1t will be REMEMBERED that Mrs. Smith
twice swore positively to what Webb had
said about Mr.. Conrey's having no
weight or influence with the teachers
committee and that DR.. Babcock swore
that she had told him about 1t the day
after the conversation with Webb had
occurred.
THE MORRIS CASE
With reference to the case of Janitor
Morris of the high school, Webb made
much the same statement as he had with
reference to the Cooper matter. He had
never seen Morris until that janitor ap-
peared before the board in October to
nSk that his salary he raised Wehh