The herald., 1897-12-17
THEY YIELDED UP 500 IN ALL
LAST NIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS
THE WORST YET
More, Equally Bad, Coming-Ad-
mitted Perjury Added to Other
Crimes-The Testimony

school board investigation was the most
important that has yet been held. AL
legged facts were brought to light, com
pared with which the robbery of Janitoi
Cooper and the holding up of Prof
Rohde are insignificant. 1t was discov-
cred, as has long been suspected. that
the traffic in employees positions had
been conducted on a very wide scale.
The largest deal that has as yet been
,..tNealed was that in which Janitor Nor
ris was made to pay $500 to secure an in
crease in salary. According to the state
ments of Axtell and Adams, this money
went directly into Webb's pocket
Miss Clara Schroeder, who, Adams ad-
mitted, was poor teacher in point OF the
possession of this worlds goods, but an
excellent one In point of ability, was
held up for $50. The reason she was not
compelled to pay more was because,
through some strange agency. the con-
science of the robbers-which no person
would suppose them to sess-moved
them to let her off for that amount.
Axtell made the statement, under oath,
that the firm of Nelson Bros, which
had a contract to do some kalsomining
in the schools, was made to pay him $50,
which he transferred to Webb. In this
connection it was proven that the COM
mittee which had this matter in charge
Is composed of Messrs. Webb, Adams
and Conrey, and that the latter men,
Der was given no voice in the matter
The authority to do the work had come
from a committee composed of Webb
Bartlett and Davis, Webb having ar
ranged to have a close friend on both
committees, so that he could do as he
pleased.
One feature of last nights session was
the admission by both Axtell and Ad-
ans that they had sworn to what is
false before the grand jury. AXtell also
admitted that he had made false state
ments at certain sessions of the investi-
cation. The evidence that both these
worthless had given before the county
inquisitorial body was produced at last
nights session, with the consent of the
district attorney. 1t showed that AN
tell had tried to live up to the agreement
made between him, Adams and Webb,
to place the money in Pitmans pocket,
because he swore that he had never re-
ceived q cent of the Cooper money and
that he knew nothing about the matter.
He also swore that he had never re-
ceived cent of bride from any person.
He changed this to a certain extent
when he appeared a second time in the
grand Jury room, but even then, when
given chance to atone for past mis-
deeds, he let the opportunity slip.
Webbs connection with the holding up
of Miss Schroeder will be sworn to by
herself tonight. There will also be other
startling facts brought out, if any act
of corruption by the ring can now be
considered startling. Only beginning
has been made in the matter of those
who had to pay for contracts with the
school department.
AS an evidence of how Webb ran
things to suit himself, there will be pro-
duced score or more of acquisitions on
which the name of Mr.. Conrey, the third
member Of the committee on supplies,
does not appear.
Messrs. Brady and Bartlett were not
present last night and the vacancy in
Adams place left only six members to
hear the evidence. All of these We're
present.
A PROTEST FROM MESERVE
Immediately after the roll call Attor-
ney Meserve arose and objected to the
manner of conducting the examination
of witnesses. He strenuously objected
to the admission of mere inference, opin-
lon and understandings that any wit
moss might have had or obtained, unless
yua11 cta could I,n
given showing what had led to it. After
adjournment last night" continued Mr..
Meserve, lone of the best known men in
the city, a member of the League for
Better City Government, said to me-
Give me such a course of examination,
with the same freedom to bring into it
inference and Impressions, without cor
roboration, 1 could drive a four-horse
team through the reputation of the
best man alive
Judge Phillips assured the defense
that there was no disposition or desire
to be unfair in anything. The truth was
bad enough Hereafter, the matter
brought out would be direct and to the
point. Center shots from now on"
COMMEMORATIVE TESTIMONY
Miss Franc Hawkes. was recalled to
tell how she had happened to be sum
moned as witness. She told OF Mr.
Conrey's having asked her what she
knew and she had told him her story.
He had reported the matter The de-
Tense questioned her as to whether she
felt any resentment toward any men,
Der of the board because some one else
was elected to the position for which she
had applied. She denied that she had
any feeling in the matter, except a nat
ura! sense Of disappointment. Prof.
Foshay had told her she had been rated
as an excellent teacher
AXtell was the second witness. AS =
matter of form he was sworn. The first
part Of his evidence had reference to the
conference held by himself and Webb in
the basement of the Spring street school
just prior to his going before the grand
jury. This meeting had been testified to
by AXtells assistant, Chareton,
HELL A POPPING"
Axtel stated that when Webb came
to the school in response to his urgent
request, the two were closeted for TWEEN
ty minutes. Axtelrs first statement ia
Webb after the usual salutatlon was:
There's hell a-popping. What are we
to do?" He then proceeded to tell Webb
that he (AxtelU had been summoned be-
fora the grand jury and that he had also