The herald., 1898-01-15
School Directors Recount
Their Experiences
THE sEcRETARrs DUTIES
EDWARD NoRTH'S STORY OF
JoHNsoN's STATEMENT
Bartlett "Never Felt Webb's Iron
Hand"-The ex-Boss' Cross
Examination Failed

After twenty-five nights devoted to
the hearing of evidence in the case
against w. L. Webb covering a period
owing to frequent delays, of nearly two
months, the defense closed last night,
the prosecutions evidence in rebuttal
was completed and except for possible
half hour of evidence that may be intro
duced at the next meeting, the entire
case Is closed except for the argument.
Two nights will be devoted to the ar
gument and then the guilt or innocence
of Webb will be determined by the board.
In order that the attorneys may have an
opportunity to prepare their argument,
that the board may study the vast
amount Of evidence and incidentally
that the public may have a rest from the
daily accounts Of the trial, an adjourn
ment was ordered last night until the
27th inst, q week from next Thursday.
For which let us all be duly thankful" ="
sighed one of the members of the board
as he left the council chamber.
1t had been hoped by both sides that
Adams. the deposed member of the
board, would be in attendance. and yes
terday every effort was made to secure
his attendance, but In vain. Adams has
had enough and would not appear. The
first business of the session was, there
fore, an effort on the part of the defense
to secure the consent of the board to the
introduction of the transcript of Adams
testimony before the superior court. At
ter a lengthy discussion motion Of Mr..
Conrey was adopted ordering the trans
cript provided the cost was not more
than $25 The previous evening the de-
fense had agreed to close with the testi-
mony of Adams, but when he did not
appear they desired to introduce other
evidence. To this the prosecution OBJ
jected, precipitating another lengthy
discussion. The rule that each side pre-
sent it's case in it's own way was invoked
and the defense proceeded.
MATHIS "REMINISCENCES
Director Mathis was the first witness.
He stated in brief: He had met Adams
soon after his election as a member of
the board. He had known nothing of
him before, but soon afterwards several
residents of the Seventh ward had come
to him and stated that Adams was not a
reliable man. They had stated that Ad-
ans was poor man and unless there
was something in 1t for him they could
not see why he desired a place on the
board. Some member of the board had
mentioned the. fact that in his opinion
Adams would bear watching. He did
not remember just who had mentioned
this matter; it was his impression that
1t was mentioned among several men,
bers of the board in the board rooms.
The suggestion had been made that 1t
would be necessary to place two strong
men on all committees of which Adams
was a member.
Attorney Oliver tried to make the wit
ness admit that it was Webb that ad-
vised this caution in dealing with Ad-
ans and that 1t was Webb who had first
mentioned his suspicious to DR.. Mathis.
The doctor was unable to say that it had
been Webb. He asserted that he had al
ways considered Adams the weakest
man on the board. Asked on crosse exam
ination what he meant by this, the wit
ness said that he had always consid-
cred Adams more apt to yield to temp
tations than any Of the others. He did
any suspicion of Adams integrity, al
though Webb had mentioned Adams fire.
quently. He had heard Webb say on one
occasion that he was afraid Adams
would get the board into trouble, but he
did not remember just what was meant
or what was the occasion for the re-
mark.
CONREY'S EXPERIENCE
Director Conrey was then called. He,
too, had known Adams from the time of
his election. He had first been men,
toned by Mr.. Conrey's law partner Mr.
Gordon, as 'an honorable man. Mr..
Bartlett had also stated that he had
known Adams for some time and consid-
cred him harmless individual. Later it
came to be generally understood that no
dependence could be placed on Adams
word. The first definite suggestion of
wrong-doing on the part of Adams came
to Mr.. Conrey from DR.. Mathis, who told
him that Adams had tried to hold up
man named Mcintyre, who was recently
brought into rather undesirable promi-
nence through his jury connections.
Webb had not mentioned anything spe-
cific against Adams, but Mr.. Conrey ad-
mitted that Webb had expressed desire
for his name on acquisitions issued by
the supply committee in preference to
that of Adams. Whenever Adams sug-
gested any name to the board it was
looked upon with suspicion and was fire.
quently investigated. AS to Webbs
domination Of the board, Conrey stat
ed that Webb was very determined in
his work and that he tried always to
carry his own wishes in all matters, but
there had been no word of personal dis
agreement between them. Asked wheth-
er Prof. Foshay was dominated or
whether any Of his prerogatives had
been taken from him, Mr.. Conrey stated
that If Mr.. Foshay had been deprived of
prerogatives 1t was in a negative man.
ner. In regard to the appointment of
teachers and the part which Prof. Fo-
shay had in their selection, Mr.. Conrey
corroborated the statements that had
been made by Prof. Foshay. He de-
scribed in detail the manner in which the
teachers were selected, citing the in
stances in which he had differed with
Webb as to certain teachers.
BARTLETTS Suspicious
Director Bartlett was the next wit
ness. He asserted at the outset that he
had promised both professors Keppel
and Phillips positions but had not told
them that they were to receive the places
they then held. He had known Adams
before the election and had always con-
sidercd him q harmless old man He ne-