The herald., 1898-01-06
END in SIGHT
School Board Investigation
Will Close Soon
EVIDENCE BY AFFIDAVlTS
TEACHERS TO ANSWER PRINTED
INTERPRETATIONS
Resolution Adopted to Save Expenses
Adjournment Out Of Respect
For Attorney Meserve's Wife

| ~~SS~~&&SJ NAOSOA VIC . w AlC
After all. the board of education will
mot be compelled to hear, night after
might, the testimony of all the employees
Of the school department as to whether
they were approached" by any person
or compelled to pay for their positions.
The announcement made Tuesday night
that all of the teachers and other en-
ployes were to be summoned by the
Webb side to tell their experience with
the corruptionists who have disgraced
the board, caused the members to realize
that IL this course was pursued there
would be bills of enormous magnitude
for stenographers reports of the pro-
Iceedlngs, and there was general desire
TO Keep down expenses as much as pos
sible-provided, Of course, that it could
be done without 5eopardizing the chances
or the defendant in properly presenting
his case.
Inc expenses of the investigation have
already been heavy, and the members
desired to devise some means of reducing
| them. To that end President Davis at
the opening of last nights session, made
short speech, in which he said that he
did not desire to handicap the defense in
any manner, and that he conceded their
| right to present their case in their own
way. He pointed to the large expense
that would be incurred IL all of the teaoh-
ers were summoned and urged that such
course was needless. 1t would cost more
than was reasonable, and while he real
lied that cost should not be taken into
consideration in a matter of a defense
upon such a charge, he could not see
what was to be gained in continuing the
examination along the line followed the
might before. He asserted that all the
negative testimony was of no value, and
that Its introduction was but a waste of
time and money. He asserted that while
he was speaking individually only, he
was DESTROYS that some other plan should
be adopted, If possible. AS he had sug-
gested the night before, he hoped that
the attorneys for both sides would get
together and arrange some plan of pro-
cedure which would obviate the neces-
sity of having all the teachers sum-
moned
Although 1t was manifest to all present
that this address was not either intended
as an attack upon Webb or an indica-
ton that there was any desire to abridge
his privileges, Webb seemed to construe
1t SO, and In reply he made a short speech
in which he demanded that the attor-
neys for the prosecution admit that there
were no other teachers who had paid
for their positions or who had been an
preached, except those whose dealings
with the corruptionists had been men
toned in the course Of the examination.
President Davis called attention to the
fact that there were only two specific
charges against Webb, and that the evil
dence he sought to introduce was such
that no reference was made to them.
Webb replied that full latitude had
been granted the prosecution in the case;
that bill for reporting the case amount
ing to $500 had been presented. of which
the defense had caused but 10 per cent |
1T Is not only a matter of defense |
against the charges themselves, but it is |
our desire to refute all the insinuations |
and innuendoes that have been made.
We want to kill at once and for all time |
the possibility Of this matters ever be-
ing revived or that the charge can be |
made that we did not go into it thor
oughly."
After much discussion, Director Poor
presented a resolution providing that a
set of interrogatories be sent to each
teacher, and that they be required to
send in sworn answers to them. This
resolution was at first not favorably
considered by the defense. 1t was sug-
gested that the attorneys prepare the
questions, but the prosecution declined
to be q party to the matter. They stated
that 1t was none of their business how
the defense presented its case. They
were willing to come to the sessions night
after night, but would not assist in pre-
pairing the questions which were to be
put to the teachers either In the form of
aff1davits or otherwise.
There was an hours discussion as to
which was the best way to proceed, the
defense evidently desiring to facilitate
matters, but being fearful that if they
to the plan proposed by Mr.
Poor some advantage might be given
The prosecution.
Finally Attorney Oliver wrote the fol-
lowing resolution, which, after some ex-
PLANTATION, was adopted:
Resolved, That the attorneys in this In
vestigation be required to prepare a list
Of interrogatories to be presented to each
and every teacher, janitor or other en-
ployee employed In the school department
Of Los Angeles city. except those hereto
fore examined in these proceedings, which
list shall be printed and sent by the board
Of education to each and every one Of the
said employees, requiring them to answer
the aforesaid interrogatories under an
bath to tell the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, and that the said in
thus taken will be admitted
in evidence by the board in the present pro-
seedlings against Walter l.. Webb, pro-
vided however, that each side shall have
The right to recall any OF the said en-
,loyes thus Intercepted for futher exam
nation.
And it Is further understood and agreed
by and between the attorneys in the above
that the said dispositions taken
As aforesaid shall be taken by the board
If education as final evidence and as true.
except wherein 1t shall be contradicted or
ebutted by other competent evidence.
While the resolution was being pre-
pared the news of the death of Mrs.
Meserve, wife Of Attorney Edward Me- ]
serve. who has acted as counsel for
Webb. was received. Immediately after
he passage of the resolution Director
Jonrey offered the following, which was
unanimously adopted: Ii
Resolved. That when we adjourn 1t he I
nut Of respect to Mr.. Meserve and to his I
ate wife, and as an expression OF our I
49,