The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-13
TEACHER SOPER
HAS SKIPPED
FOR MONGOLIA
He Defrauded Four
Money-Brokers.
SCHOOL BOARD DROPS HIM
SCHOOL BOARD DROPS HIM
FACTS CAME OUT AT YESTER-
DAYS MEETING.
Plans for a Noe Valley Schoolhouse
Adopted, but Action on
the Construction
Delayed.

A sensation developed at yesterday
meeting of the School Board, when, with
out warning, a resolution was presented
dropping II. f. Soper from the roll of
teachers "for noncompliance with the
rules" The resolution was adopted with
out discussion, a statement of the facts
leading up to the resolution having been
privately made to the members of the
| board in secret session as committee
of the whole. The story, as told by one
of the members of the board, is substan-
TALLY as follows:
Soper, who was a teacher IN the Ham
! ilton Evening School, had left town,
after having Swindled q number OF war
rant brokers to the tune of several nun
dred dollars He had gone to these per-
sons and made out orders for his August
and September salaries, selling the
same at a small discount and pocketing
the cash. He sold his order for his 500
August salary to Solomon Kampe and
again to James +, Smelling. The same
tactics were followed on a more extern
sive scale with his September salary OF
500, which was in turn sold to Solomon
Kampe, August Weihe, James +. Shell
ing and the San Francisco Collateral
Loan Bank each receiving an order on
the Treasurer for the amount. hampe
happened to present both orders several
days ago in advance of the other holders
and the money was paid to him without
a suspicion that fraud had been COM
mitted. Latter the remaining orders
turned up at the Office of the clerk of the
Board of Education, and the swindle was
exposed. Inquiry for SOper revealed the
fact that he was missing. 1t was sub
sequently reported that he had left on
an Asiatic boat in the capacity of
waiter.
The question of appealing from the re
cent decision of the Superior Court, rein
stating e. c. Fitzpatrick as principal of
the Business Evening School, furnished
opportunity to Director Gallagher to be-
rate the Judge who rendered the decision.
lit was simply rotteni' shouted Gal
laRh4r 'and biased
litical reasons. 1t was the most shame
less decision ever rendered in a California
court. We should appeal! The board
conceded with Gallagher and decided TO
file an appeal with the Supreme Court.
Another important matter was the Sc
lection of plans for a fine new school
building at Twenty-third and Douglass
streets. The successful competing archi-
teet was T. ]. Welsh. His plans, pro-
ing two stories high, with special
rooms for principal, teachers and schol-
arS. The building is 50, arranged that all
of the class-rooms have an eastern ex-
posture and plenty of light. The estimated
cost of the structure is $50 900.
Members of the board stated after the
meeting that there was strong probable |
ity that the new school building would not |
be constructed this year, owing to lack of |
funds. The matter has not, however, |
been finally settled.
Miss Agnes McLaU lin was transferred !
from the John ~wett Grammar School and !
elected principal of the new school at |
Forty-third street and Point Lobos |
avenue. mrs; ,. W. McPherson, teacher |
School, was chosen head of the mathe- !
NAUTICAL department Of the same school. |
c. II. Crowell of the Mission High School |
was transferred to the High School Class |
of the Horace Mann Evening School. |
Miss Rose Ryan of the secondary sub
stitute list was elected a regular High |
School teacher and assigned to the place |
vacated by c. H. Crowell.
The board discussed at some length the
recommendation of the committee on |
evening schools that Myrtle Cert, an ex-
ira substitute teacher of bookkeeping in |
the Spring Valley School, be assigned as /
Ramus, an extra substitute teacher of |
bookkeeping in the Hamilton Evening |
School, be assigned as teacher of said
Director Head entered violent pro-
test, which was seconded by Carew,
against appointing any more teachers
when the board is confronted with a de-
felt in the school fund. Head read a
statement showing that the board has
school year $254,267, and that at the pres
ent rate of expenditures there will be a
deficit at the close of the year of 5000 600.
He stated that the board now has left
out of it's appropriation a sum that will
only permit of the expenditure of $S5 900
per month for the remainder of the year,
penses aggregate s93,500 per month BY
a vote of six to five the board decided not
to appoint the two teachers.
The four conspirators charged with
defrauding the city through false and
fraudulent bills presented to the School
Board for lumber, surrendered them
selves at the City Prison yesterday morn
ing. They mad previously prepared them
selves with bondsmen. and We're promptly
released each on $1,000 bonds
Director T. A. Burns had as his sure |
ties F. B. Lorigan, S43 Castro street. and
Charles Campodonico 141l18 Mason street
John j. O'Brien, inspector of buildings
had David Salfield, 61S Broderick street
and P. F. Nolan, So Market street
George S. Graham, assistant inspector
had Thomas D: Riordan, 1928 MONTGOMERY
street, and School Director Burns. Ed
ward D. Swift, contractor, had Edward
F. Franks, 9S Fillmore street, and F. q
Mack, 423 Waller street. Burns and
o Brtens bonds were accepted by Clerk
Kohlmann Of Judge Mogan's court:
Swifts by Clerk Hayes of Judge To-
achimsen's court, and Grahams by Judge
Low.
The cases will be called in Judge Lows
court this morning. but a continuance
will probably be asked and granted