The San Francisco call., 1897-12-08
Charges Him With Illegal Acts
as a Mem Der of the
Board.
MORE LIGHT THROWN ON
HIS RECORD.
Accused OF Having Levied Contrl-
button From Even One of His
ACcompIlces.
special Dispatch to THE CALL

LOS ANGELES. Dec. The Grand
Jury has made its first movs in the mat
ter of giving the accused School Direc-
tors an opportunity to establish their
innocence in a court OF justice. Late this
afternoon an Indictment was returned
against Director Walter L. Webb, charg-
ing him with being interested in a con-
tract which, as a member of The board, he
was called to vote upon. Director Webb
was placed under arrest. He was taken
before Sunerior Judge Smith md his pail
fixed at $4,000. Bond was promptly fur
nished. Warren GiIlellen, president of the
Broadway Bank, and Wilbur 0. Dow, a
welI-known real estate man, were his
sareties.
At the examination held before the
Board OF Education tonight Building
Superintendent C. H. Axtell gave Direc-
tor Webb the benefit of retelling the story
of how the Director suggested to him the
feasibility OF his collecting a months pay
from thirteen school princi cipals, thereby
enabling them to hold their obs. For the
hrs. time Axtell told the circumstances
under which Webb secured from him his
written resignation, which bore no date.
Director McInerney had bought lot of
plumbing material for private use on
account Of the Board OF Education. Ak
tell had let him buy ii, but McInerney
had paid for it and Ii was not charged to
the board. 1t was purchased in this way
because ii coud thereby be procured
cheaper than by private contract.
After Axteil had permitted this to be
done Webb came to him ana told him that
he had done wrong. He said that an
enemy OF McInerney was about 10 make
the whole matter public. and 5000 would
be required 10 quiet him. Axtell swore
tn at he borrowed the money and paid it
to Webb. He also gave him his resigna-
tton without date Webb stating that he
would use 1t II be bad TO. AXtell told the
story of how Webb had promised to stand
by him If he would resign his place after
the first exposure of this matter had been
made. Webb had advised h!m 10 leave
the employ of the School Department, as
that would stop all further exposure.
Then, he said, he would get him employ
ment elsewhere.
Axtell testified that he had told Webb
that he could not see that it was to his ad-
vantage to give up his job, ana he had
positively declined to do So He testified
TO having had a conference with Webb
and James w. Hellman, at which time
Hellman told him that Attorney Frank
Interests. IN the meantime $150 of the
$500 he had owed TO give to Webb had
become due. AN-rli testified that he told
Webb and HelIman about it, and on No
vember % HeIIman gave him the money
ana he paid the amount.
On cross-eXaminatIon Axtell told how
he had happened TO connect himself with
Elder P'tm man's church. The elder, a for
mer mem ber of the board, shows up as
collector Of bribe money and has left this
country. He is wanten as a witness and
cannot be found.
Axteu swore that he joined Pitmans
church after the iatlers election to the
schoo! board, having been previously con-
nected with another church of different
creed and faith. The first year he contrib b.
uted $50 to the support of Pitmans
church. Since Pitmdn retired from the
school BOARD he had not attended the
church There were mum Der of tea chers
who attended the Pitman church during
the time the elder was on the board and
they were liberal contributors to the or.
ganizauion. Axtell denl,d d that he had
Joined the church 20 hold his lob.
Director Adams was requested not to be
present during the time Axtel was testi-
lying, as the defense will endeavor to
show conspiracy between him and Az
tell to ruin Webb. For this reason the de.
tense did not wish him 10 hear AxtelPs tes-
timony. At first Adams objected, but
later he voluntarily withdrew.