The herald., 1897-12-09
The Grand Jury Accuses
Webb and Adams
OF CORRUPT MISCONDUCT
PREIIMINARY PROCEEDINGS TO
DUST THE RASCALS
Horsethief Barcher Was in Hurry.
Young Darling's Examination.
General Court News

City School Director Walter L. Webb
upon whom the grand jury has imprint
ed the stigma of disgrace, appeared a.
the bar in Department one Of the su
perior court yesterday morning to be
arraigned on the charge Of having ex.
acted from the janitor of the Sentous
street school, e. E. Cooper, $50 so that
the man might retain his place. An ar
raignment before court Of justice is
much more Of an impressive and serious
matter than an Investigation by q
school board, and this may account for
the lack Of jauntiness that distinguished
Mr.. Webb yesterday morning while
seated within the railing awaiting his
turn after a few criminals who cannot
give bonds had been disposed Of. Mr..
Webb, through his attorney, Byron
Oliver. asked for a continuance until
this morning. which was readily grant
ed by the court, as the deputy district at
torney interposed no objection.
The grand jury, however, was not
through yet with Mr.. Webb, and 1t had
something to say about his colleague,
Mr.. James F. Adams, too, in the form Of
an accusation against each one of these
men, which was presented in open court
in the afternoon to the district attorney
Of the county.
The accusation against Webb Is print
ed below and that against Adams Is
identically the same:
The grand jury of the county of Los
Angeles, in the name and by the authority
Of the people of the state of California. do
hereby accuse the said Walter L. Webb Of
wilful and Corrupt misconduct In office,
committed as follows: That the said Wal
ter l.. Webb was on the 7th day Of Decem-
Der, 1896. at a regular city election of the
city of Los Angeles, county and state afore-
said, duly elected a member of the board
OF education Of the city Of Los Angeles
from and for the Ninth ward Of said city,
and that the said Walter l. Webb thereafter
duly qualified and entered upon his duties
as such member Of said board Of education.
and that he ever since has been, particular
ly during the year 1897, and that he Is now,
Q duly elected. qualified and acting member
Of the city board Of education Of the said
city Of Los Angeles for and from the Ninth
ward Of said city; and that he Is and
was at all Of said times as officer and per-
son prohibited by the laws Of the state Of
California from being interested in con-
tracts made by and with said board Of
was then and there member;
That at the time and place aforesaid the
said Walter L. Webb willfully, unlawfully,
feloniously and corruptly became and was
interested In certain contract made with
the said board Of education Of said city,
by one e. e. Cooper, by then and there
exacting and receiving from said e, E.
Cooper the sum Of $780, the said sum Of
sixty dollars being then and there exacted
and received by the said Walter L. Webb
upon the condition and considerable that
the said E. e. Cooper would be awarded
the contract and appointment for the do
ing Of the Janitor work in a certain public
school OF said Los Angeles city, then and
there under the control Of the said board
of education Of said Los Angeles city, and
known as the Sentous street school, for
the school year ending June 80. 1893; that
the said e. E. Cooper. upon and by vote
Of said board Of education of said Los An
geles city, duly taken and given and re-
corded at the meeting OF said board held
on June 18th, 1897, was duly awarded the
contract for the doing of said janitor work
and was duly appointed to the position Of
Janitor for said school; that thereafter,
to-wit, on the 18th day of July. 1897, the
said E. E. Cooper entered into, signed,
executed and filed with the said board of
education OF said Los Angeles city the fol-
lowing contract and engagement:
ITO the Board of Education Of the City
Of Los Angeles: 1 hereby accept all the
terms and conditions under which I have
been appointed janitor In the schools of
said city for the school year ending June
30, 1898, or for less time, as may be deter
mined by you.
(Signed) ''E. z. COOPER.
Residence. 1907 Trenton street, city.
dated July 13, 1897"
And the said E E. Cooper thereafter duly
entered upon the performance of the work
contracted to be performed by him and the
duties Of the position to which he was ap-
pointed as aforesaid,