The herald., 1897-12-29
School Board Investigation
Goes on Forever
ANOTHER TEDIOUS SESSION
SECRETARY JOHNSON ON THE
STAND FOR WEBB
Judge Cheney Appears for the Prose
cution, Assisted by Attorney
Taylor

dSdIuSl w dltcI LIZ NNSOO OCAOAC ehS
board of education was resumed last
night in the city council chambers, after
a weeks intermission. The attendance
was the smallest of any session of the
investigation. The gallery was well
filled, but on the lower floor there was
not nearly so large crowd present as
has been usual.
The adjourned meeting of the board
for the purpose of transacting regular
business delayed the opening of the in
vestigation until o'clock.
Webb was the last member to enter
the hall. He had not attended the ses-
sion at the board of education rooms.
AS he entered the council chamber a
number of his friends who were seated
near his side partner, Bartlett, and sew
eral of whom had been in conversation
with the piano dealer, applauded him.
He acknowledged the applause with
smile and after shaking hands with a
number of acquaintances took his seat.
Upon call of the roll Secretary johnson
called Webb's name, as he considered
that Webb's acquittal by jury set
aside the suspension imposed by the city
council. All of the other members were
present except Mr.. Braly.
A brief business session was held in
which the report of the finance commit
tee was approved and demands for la
borers' salaries and supplies purchased
were ordered issued.
Judge William A. Cheney and Attor-
ney w. S. Taylor appeared for the pros
ecution in the case, Mr.. Gibbon being
absent from the city and Hon. Henry
Gage being too i'll to attend the trial.
Judge Cheney conducted the cross-ex-
animation of the witnesses for the de-
| fense.
AS soon as the roll call had been COM
pleted and the short business session
concluded, Attorney Meserve presented
a certified copy of the verdict of the
jury in the Webb case in the superior
court. He stated that the verdict of not
| guilty to the accusation filed against
Webb by the grand jury carried with
it the annulment of tha suspension i'm
posed several days ago against Webb by
the city council. The attorney also
| called attention to the continued abb
sence of ]. F. Adams from the investi-
eating sessions and asked the prosecu-
ton to make an effort to secure his at
tendance as soon as possible so that he
| might be cross examined. Judge Chen
| ey promised to make the effort.
| Secretary Johnson of the board of edu-
cation was called to the stand apd
sworn. He admitted having at Webb s
request written the two copies of the
document which Axtell signed and also
the resignation which Axtell had placed
| in Webbs hands on account of the dis
covery of the McInerny building matter.
He asserted that both.of the papers were
signed by Axtell and remembered that
| he had dated them with a rubber date
stamp. His story was much the same
under direct examination as that told
by him on the witness stand in the trial
of Webb in the superior court. He was
questioned at length as to how the vote
of the board had stood in most of the
matters which had been considered
since he had been in Office and stated
that the records would show the vote.
Mr. Meserve asked that the record be
sent for, and while Mr.. johnson was go
ing for them Director Mc1nerny was
called to the stand.
His examination consisted solely OF a
statement of the manner in which the
ianitors of the schools are chosen. He
explained how the several members OF
the board sent in their recommendations
for certain janitors in their own wards,
and that the janitors committee always
recommended the persons selected by
the members. On crosS-eXamlnatlon ne
was asked if there was anything to pre-
vent a member from voting against any
man recommended by the committee,
and answered that any member could
vote as he pleased.
Director c. C. Davis, who represents
the Fourth ward in the board, who had
recommended the appointment of Coop
er as jantor of the Sentous-street school,
was questioned as to whether Webb had
had anything to do with Cooper's ap-
pontment. Mr.. Davis said he did not
know that Webb had anything to do
with the matter, but, as Webb was in
control of the board, he might have de-
feated any janitor whom he desired.
/ Secretary Johnson then resumed his
testimony. He had the minutes of the
board meetings since organization. The
defense attempted to prove by him and
through the records that there was new
er any such majority as is popularity
known as the "solid six" They brought
out that on only two occasions was there
any division on the vote on the approval
Of the finance committees report, in
which We're included all purchases. He
then detailed the manner in which pur-
chases of supplies were made.
On cross examination he admitted
that so far as he knew the board had
never at any time compared the requisi-
tions upon which goods are ordered with
the bills for them to see whether they
agreed. He had previously stated that
on one occasion Ans had threatened
to vote with the minority if Webb die
not give him more patronage. Judge
Cheney asked him if there was minor
ity and secured a rather unwilling ad-
mission that there was johnson haG
had said that it was all right, they "diC
not need Adams vote anyway"
Judge Cheney asked whether at the
time that the statement prepared by
Webb and signed by Axteli was ilted
in evidence Johnson had not stated ir
response to an inquiry by Director Con
rey as to what he had had to do with the
papers that he had written one Of the
papers, but he did not remember which
The witness did not remember having
made such a statement. He did moi