The herald., 1897-12-21

(CONtlnueQ ITOIH page SeVen.)
he offered to give him note to Axtell
which would secure work for him. Par
ker then declined, and went to Long
Beach, where he remained until August.
Upon his return to the city Webb gave
him an order on Axtell for work, as he
had done hundreds of other persons.
He meant by his reference in the note to
his having mentioned the matter to AK
tell in June that he had before men,
toned to Axtell the matter of giving
Parker some work by the day.
AS to Axtells statement that he had
had a conversation with Webb about
Morris and Parker, In which it was
agreed that Parker should be otherwise
provided for upon payment by Morris of
an additional $100, Webb denied wholly
that any such conversation had ever
been held, or that either of the men had
been mentioned to him by Axtell. Webb
asserted in SO many words that when
Axtell and Adams had told this story
they had Simply lied"
WAS SUSPICIOUS OF ADAMS
An entirely new matter was mentioned
by Webb when he was asked when he
had first become suspicious Of Adams.
He said that early in the year Bartlett
wanted a man named Sprague elected to
the position of engineer at the high
school. When the time for the election
arrived Webb telephoned to Bartlett
asking him If Sprague was all right. The
answer was that he was not the man for
the place, and Webb was instructed to
tn ms h Tho
elected. Webb explained that he had
heard a rumor that Adams had prom
ised place in the proposed new high
school to man named Mcintyre. and
thought that Adams was assuming too
much authority. He understood that
Sprague was also, to a certain extent, in
the hands of Adams, and for that reason
he voted against his election.
In long explanation as to the present
manner in which acquisitions for sup
plies are issued Webb admitted that be-
fore the present rule was adopted he had
issued certain acquisitions, as had other
chairmen of the committee of supplies
He claimed that he had made the motion
establishing the rule that two members
of the committee must sign all requisi-
tions. Since that rule had been estab-
lished Webb had insisted upon Mr.. Con-
rey's signing the acquisitions with him
for most of the supplies. The manner
Of purchasing supplies was explained III
detail.
Webb did not remember who fathered
the motion to raise Morris salary, but
he admitted that he had voted for 1t. He
reasserted that he had never heard Of
Morris paying money until after the
statements made by Prof Keppel that
Axtell had admitted to Mrs. Pitman that
he had received money from two people.
After that he had heard who the second
person referred to was.
Another denial was entered to some
of the statements made by Miss Hawks.
Webb asserted that he had not intended
to be discourteous in his manner toward
her when she had applied to him for a
position. He had treated her with per-
feet candor, telling her that If it came to
vote he would support man who
was the head Of family in preference
to her. Money was never mentioned in
regard to her case, and Webb had never
heard of its being mentioned until she
told it herself on the witness stand.
II never, by word or deed, gave anybody
authority to approach Miss Hawks for
money or to mention money to her in
any way. Nothing was further from
my thoughts" said the witness.
In line with his ignorance as to the
other matters, Webb asserted that not
until the investigation had been in prog
ress for long time did he hear Of the
paying by Nelson Bros. Of $55 as COM
mission on a contract that they had
with the school department. He said
that Axtells statement about it was the
first mention that he had ever heard of
the matter. He had had little to do
with this contract, as it was entirely
under the direction of Axtell. He as
serted that the fact that Axtell and
Adams were constantly together all
summer, riding about the city In AK
tells buggy, had caused remarks among
the members of the board. Bartlett par
ticularly had mentioned it.
There was one disagreement between
Webb and Adams which led to the lat
ter's threatening to reorganize the
board. Adams wanted certain contract
let for furnishing coal to the schools. He
wanted Webb's support, which was re-
fused. Then he stated that he would
no longer support Webb's measures and
would cause the board to be reorgan-
lied. Adams said that Webb had made
mistake and would be sorry for it.
AXTELL'S FIRST RESIGNATION
Attorney Meserve then mentioned the
fact that Axtell had last April placed
his resignation in Webb's hands, and
asked the defendant to explain the mat
ter. Webb stated that some time in
April man whom he had never before
seen, did not know and had not seen
since, called upon him at the rooms of
the board and asked private interview.
Webb took him into Mr.. Ennis office
and there the man told him that there
were two men at work on Director Nc
Inerny's house who were in the en-
ploy Of the school department. Webb
asked him If he was sure and the man
promised to secure the names Of the two
men and return with them. The stranger
then left and Webb called up Axtell,
telling him to come to the office at once.
When Axtell came Webb said to him:
"Axtell, you're keeping up the same
old game. 1t doesn't look WE'LL" and then
he explained what he had heard. Webb
demanded of Axtell that he say nothing
about the matter until the demands
came in, so that 1t could be ascertained
whether the demands would be against
the school fund. Axtell promised to say
nothing. That afternoon one Of the men
who had been working on McInerny's
house called upon Webb and assured
him that there was nothing wrong about
the work, as McInerny was paying them