The San Francisco call., 1897-12-18
He Threatened to Ask for an
Investigation if Such Ac-
ton Was Not Taken.
}. HIRSHBERG HAS THE APPOINTMENT
Timothy Lee for Assistant Superin-
tendent-Hints Of More Trouble
at the Next Meeting.

The resignation of DR.. E. s. O'Brien, Su-
perintendent of the Preston School of
Industry at lone, was yesterday accepted
by the Board of Trustees, at a special
meeting called for the purpose, and a res
olution vindicating the Superintendent: of
the charges of cruelty and unnecessary
severity TO the inmates was passed by a
vote OF to l. Trustee TyrrelI cast the
negative vote.
David Hirschberg was appointed to the
vacancy, his term to begin on January 1,
1898, at which time DR.. o. Brien' s resigna
tion will go into effect. Timothy Lee, ex-
Chief OF Police of Sacramento, who was
discharged from the position by DR..
O'Brien, was re-appointed.
The board met III the rooms of Governor
Budd, at the Palace Hotel, yesterday al
ternoon. The Governor and Messrs. Pres
ton, Maddox and TyrreIl were present, a.
was also DR.. o Brien and B. T. X. Preston,
she secretary of the board.
Chairman Preston called the meeting to
order and asked the secretary TO read
DR.. O'Brien's resignation, which had
been in possession of the board for some
time. 1t was dated Decem Der 4, 1897, and
requested that il take effect at the regular
meeting In January.
DR.. TyrrelI, between whom and DR..
o. Brien there exists feelings of hostility,
moved that the resignation be accepted,
TO take effect i'm mediately.
DR.. o Brien asked the privilege of ad-
dressing the board. He stated that he
deemed it would be necessary for the
interests OF himself and the school that
Si, un int Tan
"Y ou are aware" said he, "thet 1t is
necessary that / should make an inven-
iory OF the property so as TO turn it over
to my successor in the proper way. I
would also like to show the new supsrin-
tendent about the place. l think it will
be necessary for me TO be there to show
him around and l believe that January l
would be the proper time for my resigns
ton to take place"
Mr.. Maddox moved that the resigna-
tion be accepted TO take place on January
l, 1898 and the motion was carried unan-
imously.
Chairman Preston then offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
WHEREAS Dr.. E S O'Brien has filed with
this board his resignation as superintendent
of the Preston School OF Industry, 10 take ef-
feet on January l, 1893; and whereas seriou
charges have been frequently made against
his administration, alleging brutal and un.
necessarily severe punishment OF inmates:
and whereas, The trustees are familiar with
the facts and circumstances of his treatment
of the said inmates; therefore
RESOLVED That the resignation of Dr. +. S.
O'Brien be and the same is hereby accepted,
10 take effect on January l, 1895.
ResotUed, That in accepting tne resignatio
We HEREBY express our confident belief tn
the reports referred to have been greatly ex.
sggerated, and that the animosity with which
shlu reports nave Deen gwen publicity nave
done great injustice to the admins tratIon OF
DR.. O Brien.
Il wish to vote no, said DR.. Tyrrell.
The other trustees voted In the affirma a.
tive, and then the programme whicn had
been arranged some time ago was carried
out. David Hirshberg was appointed to
fill the vacancy, and he then rsappointed
Timothy Lee as assistant superin tendent.
1t was expected that there would be q
lively time at the meeting, as DR.. O'Br1en
had stated that he would not resign unless
the trustees vindicated him OF the CHARGES
OF cruelty h.ch had been made against
him by some of the newspapers. There
was nothing conditional in the resigna.
ton, but DR.. o BrIen had writer personal
letters to Messrs. Preston. Maddox and
Governor Budd in which he stated that il
he was not cleared of those charges he
would demand an investigation.
This placed the Governor in peculiar
position, as it is stated that an investlga-
tion is the one thing TO be avoided, for the
uperintendent has stated that he had
some cards up his sleeve which, if pIayed
would unfold some things which the al
| ninistration would not care to have aired
DR.. O'Brien also intimated that Trustee
Iyrrell, who was placed on the board to
fill vacancy, would bly, be call ed
| upon 10 resign, as his appointment is SAID
to have been contingent upon the prom.
ise that he would do so when asked
| 1t Is said that the resignation of Dr.
ha N nf
| between Mr. Maddox and Governor BudC
yesterday morning.
| The Governor took occasion to make
| some remarks anent the selection OF ID ivic
! Hirshberg as superintendent and denied
| the report that be had offered him the an.
| pointment. He said he had been asks ed
| Dy one of the trustees 10 suggest a maj
who would make good officer ana he haC
| mentioned Hirshberg. he had not seer
| The other trustees about the matter
| DR.. OBrien intimates that there will b,
trouble at tie next meeting of the board
which takes place in January, as it il
| thought likely that if Trustee Tyrrell doe
not resign charges will be brought agains
| him.
He also limited that an investigation,
into the shortages of the accounts of ex
| Secretary II. r. Bernard would be mad e
| DR.. o. Brien claims that those shortage,
are greater than the inves legations mad,
! by the expert show. He has a receip
from Mr.. Bernard for S1o0, which III,
superinte ndent turned over 10 him for III,
contingent fund, and of which he claim.
there is no record.
The indications at present are tina
there will be lively time at the mex
m Getting OF the board.
The new superintendent has beer
granted u three weeks leave of absence in
| January in order that he might visit III.
reiormatories of New York, Michigan anc
| other States.