The herald., 1897-12-05
Webb's Cuttlefish Plan of
Defense
attempt TO SMIRCH BRALY
WILL ACCUSE HIM OF DISCOUNT
ING WARRANTS
And Thereby Violating a Provision
Of the City Charter-Similar
Attacks Upon Others

In spite of the fact that the defendant
in the school board investigation
which will be resumed tomorrow night
will have his hands full in combating
the charges and the evidence supporting
them, 1t is the intention of the defense
to go into the business of preferring
charges themselves. To what extent
this intention will be carried out and
who will be dragged into the scandal is
not known at present, nor will it be un-
til they present their cases. One of the
matters which the Webb contingent has
been cautiously investigating for the
past two days will probably be sprung
when the time comes for them to make
their defense. unless developments are
such as to make their cases hopeless and
render a defense useless Whether the
attempt to implicate others will be
Webb's main reliance remains to be seen,
and If it is, no one can tell how far it will
be carried.
1t is known that for the past two days
certain of Webb's friends have been
quietly looking into an alleged infrac-
tion of the city charter, which it is their
intention to suddenly spring when there
is an opening for it. The section of the
city charter which they claim has been
violated is as follows:
Section 73. Any member of the board
of education, officer or other person Off
cially connected with the school depart
ment or drawing a salary from the
board of education, who while connected
or drawing such salary, upon investiga-
tion by the board of education, shall be
found to be interested either directly or
Indirectly in, or to have gained any ad-
vantages or benefits from any contract,
payments under which have been or are
to be made in whole or in part from mon
eys derived from the school fund or
raised by taxation or otherwise for the
support Of the public schools, shall for
felt his office, and the board of educa-
ton shall thereupon declare such office
vacant.
The member against whom the Webb
supporters are trying to secure evidence
SO as to prefer a charge of violating this
section Is Director Braly, the represen-
tative of the Fifth ward in the board.
The alleged violation which they claim
they will be able to successfully charge
against Mr.. Braly is that he has cashei
or discounted the pay warrants of GER
tain teachers at the bank of which he is
president, the Savings Bank of South
ern California. The specific instance in
which he is said to have discounted a
teachers warrant is that of Mrs. E. A.
Thurston, principal of the Custer-str
school. 1t Is claimed that this teacher,
being unable to secure the payment of
her warrant, there being no money to
the credit of the school fund because the
apportionment had not been made
among the several funds, went to Mr..
Bralys bank and discounted her war
rant. Yesterday Webb's friends were
looking for other teachers who had done
the same thing, in order that their
charge might, as they thought, be
strengthened.
The violation of the section of the
charter quoted, according to their side
of the matter, Is that in discounting the
warrant Mr.. Bralys bank secured a
profit in the shape of a small discount.
1t is clear that the purpose is to endeavor
TO nave the charter provision enforced to
the letter, so as to possibly remove one
of the members who they know will vote
for the right against them if the matter
comes to a vote. MIR. Braly has been
confined to his home for several weeks.
suffering from pneumonia When con-
valescent he insisted upon attending
several session of the investigation. The
consequence was he suffered a relapse
and has since been unable to attend any
Of the meetings.