The herald., 1897-12-09
Webb's Attorneys Have a
Mysterious Paper
AxTELL's SIGNATURE ON IT
HELLMA1T'S INTEREST IN SCHOOL
AFFAIRS DISCLOSED
Prosecution Expects to Close It's Side
Of the Case This Evening.
Surprising Admissions

Last nights session of investigation
into the school board scandal was re-
plete with surprises and wrangles, and
instead Of being mere repetition and
rehashing Of the old story that Axtell
had twice told before there were q num-
Der of facts brought out that added In
terest to the case and threw additional
light upon some Of the matters which
have direct bearing upon the guilt or
innocence Of the accused. Axtell oc-
cupied the witness stand all the even
Ing and his examination was finally con-
cluded. unless It is decided by tho de-
Tense to call him as a witness, which Is
not at all probable.
It was announced that this evening
the prosecution expects to close its case
against Webb. Several witnesses will
be introduced. but who they are the
attorneys did not announce In advance.
1t Is expected that there will be some
fun at tonights session. or rather some
sensational testimony from an unex-
pected source. It is possible that the
prosecution wifi not be able to bring to
the stand the evidence they desire, for
It has been discovered that they cannot
compel the attendance Of witnesses.
THE DEFENSE MYSTERIOUS
There was an air Of mystery in the
attitude Of the defense which, It is
thought, means that they have a card
UP, their sleeve which they intend to
spring upon Axtell. They came near
showing 1t last night when they pro-
duced O paper signed by Axtell. the con-
tents Of which they refused to disclose.
They were very careful to have the
witness positively identify his signature
which appears upon 1t, and he did so,
but the paper was not placed In evi-
dence. What 1t is no one except the
defense knows. That 1t relates to some-
thing about the matter OF Axtelps hav-
Ing accommodated Director McInerny
ana his having later paid Webb 5000 to
hush the matter up, Is certain. It was
promised that this paper would be pro-
duced In due time. but not until the de-
Tense had chance to present its case
It Is also discovered that Webb had
In his possession certain official papers
belonging to the board which should be
In the keeping Of the secretary. A de-
rhand was made to know how this condi-
tion Of affairs existed and the defense
did not answer. but said that when
Webb took the stand II would be ex-
planned to the satisfaction OF all. The
paper In question was the reQuisition
upon which the supplies for McTnerny
were secured. In this same connection
1t was brought out that this order was
Allied twice on the same reQuisition and
that a duplicate order was sent to the
Vernon school.
NEW FACTS BROUGHT OUT
Perhaps the most important discovery
made as a result Of the cross-examina-
ton Of Axtsll was the evidence showing
the interest Jim Hellman had in AK
tell that led him to employ an attorney
for him. 1t will be remembered that sew
eral days ago. in statement made for
publication, Hellman asserted that his
friendship for Axtell and his reason for
acting in his behalf was that Axtell had
thrown hundreds Of dollars worth of
business into his hands in the purchase
Of supplies and that he naturally felt
grateful toward him. In response to
questions last night Axtell swore that
he had never had anything to do with
ordering the goods bought by the school
department. except perhaps to convey
the order. 1t was not within his power
to throw one cents worth of business
to Hellman. as the acquisitions were
made out with the name of the firm from
whom the purchases were to be made,
plainly written on their face. The only
committee that had authority to order
supplies and the only one to whom the
entire matter Of where the purchase
should be made was left was the COM
mittee of which Webb Is chairman. This,
Axtell said. led him to believe that He'll
man was acting for Webb when he se-
cured the attorney and when he paid
the money to Frank Savage.
Another matter brought out was, that
prior to the letting of the present con-
tract for, hardware and other supplies
to the w. c. Furray company. Of which
Hellman Is an officer, there was a SIM
liar contract with Harper, Reynolds &
Co. and that, disregarding this contract,
Webb turned a great amount Of the
school board business to the Furrey
company. The reason the McInerny
supplies were purchased from this COM
pany was that for some time previously
supplies had been purchased from He'll
mans company. This was brought out
as tending to show the reason for He'll
mans interest In the case and especially
In Webb and Axtell.
Axtell again several times refused to
state what he had testified to before the
grand jury, and again reiterated his