The San Francisco call., 1897-12-09
Wants Every Teacher in
Los Angeles to
Testify.
Another Attorney Engaged by
the Accused School
Director.
Witness Axteli Continues His Dis
closures duplicating the
Official.
SPECIAL Dispatch to THE CALL

LOS ANGELES, Dec. S.-School Direc.
tor Walter L. Webb has fortified himself
b. engaging another attorney to care for
his interests in the School Board inyesti-
cation. When the casa opened this even
ing before the usual crowded house, At
torney Edwin a. Meserve arose and an
nounced that he had entered the case as
representative OF the accused School Di-
rector. He announced in q quite long
speech that the defendant desired every
employe of the School Department-over
600-to take the stand and testify as to
whe ther or not they or any of them hat
ever paid Director Webb dollar to retain
or 10 obtain their places.
Attorney Gboon announced that the
prosecution would certainly object TO any
such long, tiresome and tedious pro-
cedure. The prosecution, he claimed, had
lodged specific charges, and those alone
were the points upon which testimony
was 10 be taken. President Mathus then
called both the attorneys 10 order and
asked that the test mony OF witnesses be
heard.
Building Super Axtell was re-
called for ross-examination. He reviewed
new fact adduced was that in April last
Webb had obtained his signature TO long
typewriter statement without giving
him an opportunity or permitting him to
read it. Axtell signed this paper alter
Director Webb had become informed as
TO AxtelPs permitting Director McJnerney
TO procure.plum bing materials on q requlsi-
ton OF the board. 1t was prese nted 10 him
rch E,a dot t,y., IL
tlfv the signature without read ing the
body OF the paper After considerable
quibbling Axtell aid identity the signature
as his. lie again asserted that Webb had
compelled him to sign it without his hav-
ing read it, and that he d id so because he
wss in position where Webb could have
squeezed" him.
The requisition upon the materials sent
10 Director McInerney's house was intro
duced by the defense. At this point
Director Davis arose and asked how the
records OF the Board of Education hap
pened to be in private hands He oh.
Iected strenuously 10 anything of the
Kind and ln>ls ted that in future the secre-
iary of the board be instructed unIer no
circumstances 10 permit the records of the
board to 90 ont save on requis!tion. Sec
retary johnson explained mat the reQuisi-
tlop had never been strictly record of
the board. II had been in the safe in a
sealed envelope with Director Webb's ad-
dress upon 1t.
Attorneys Gibbon and Meserve came
near having passage at arms. Giobon
lntlmated that the defense was endeaVor-
ing TO play trick on Witness Axtell. To
this Meserve objected and dared Gibbon to
repeat 1t either there or elsewhere.
he got very much incensed and said
that he did not propose TO be subjected TO
any insult at the hands OF Gibbon or any
one else. Timely interference from the
president prevented a breach of the peace.
There are intimatiols that Director
Webb IS dissatisfied because certain of his
close political associates are not giving
him the measure of support in the hour
OF his trouble that he had counted on,
and 1t is said that he has threatened to
make some startling disclosures concern
ing prominent people. Webb declines for
the present 10 discuss The matter. 1t is
known, though, that if he would talk he
could startling tale unfold.