The herald., 1898-01-12

WEBB'S BLUFF
Charges Director Braly
With Misconduct
HAS NOTHING TO CONCEAL
A FRANK STATEMENT OF HIS
BANKS NEGOTIATIONS
HAS NOTHING TO CONCEAL
The Defense in the Webb Investiga-
tion Promises to Conclude To-
night-The Secretaryship

Walter l.. Webb last night preferre,
charges against John Fl. Braly, the mem
ber of the board of education from tn
Fifth ward. This action was intended
as a surprise, but it fell sorrowfull,
fiat. That such a course was contem
plated and that charges would be fiIet
by Webb against Braly was stated il
The Herald nearly two months ago.
was Webbs intention to file them then
but the publication of that intention
caused postponement of the matter
until last night when just before the
adjournment Of the board Webb pre-
sented the following resolution:
| Whereas. During the examination by
this board of the charges against Walter
l.. Webb 1t has been stated in certain af
| fidavits on file, and in the San Francisco
Call OF January 4th, 1898. that j. III. Bray
the present elected, qualified and acting
representative OF the Fifth ward upon thu
board of education of the city of Los An
geles, had, while acting as such repre-
sentative Of said ward, at different dates
| during the year 1897, received benefit by
cashing, through the Savings bank Of
Southern California, corporation. OF
which he Is PRESIDENT certain teachers
and other warrants. among which the fol.
lowing have been named
Warrant No. ,22l, In favor of Miss M
e. O'Brien of San Francisco for 1925.
Warrant In favor of Mrs. Emma Thurston
for the sum of $115.
Warrant in favor OF Geo. E. Roeding for
$23 40.
Warrant in favor of Luella A. Duncan
for $72.
And, whereas, Such acts are in violation
of the laws of the state of California, and
particularly of Sec. 923 of the political code
and Sec. II Of the penal code; therefore,
be it
Resolved, That 1t Is the duty this board
OF education owes to the city of Los An
geles in general, and the school department
and j. H. Braly in particular. that charges
shall at once be prepared for the purpose
of investigating the matters aforesaid
said charges to be taken up upon the con-
clusion of the investigation now in prog
ress.
1t was not until the last minute Of last
nights session that Webb sprang the
foregoing resolution. When he present.
ed 1t it was not signed. He at once
moved its adoption, and the motion was
promptly seconded by Bartlett.
President Davis suggested that with
out signature to the resolution it was
hardly regular. He announced that he
would refuse to vote for resolutions in
whlch charges were contained unless
the measure was fathered by some per-
son. He pointed to the fact that the
resolutions upon which the present in
vestigation of Webbs misconduct had
been begun were duly signed by repre-
sentatives of the League for Better City
Government.
Bartlett wanted to :, explain why he
had seconded the motion to adopt the
resolution. He said that there had
been rumors almost Without number
about different members of the board.
and he thought 1t the duty of the board
to go to the bottom of them all. There
have been rumors about me-" said he.
and l would thank any member of the
board to prefer charges against me if
there is anything to investigate"
Taking his cue from his side partner.
Webb hastened to explain why he had
filed the charges. "It is not my desire
TO inJure any person in this matter. I
nave stood all kinds of abuse, and have
perhaps been too lenient, but when this
league, upon perjured testimony, chooses
to bring charges against me and push
them as they have done. think there
are other matters which it should look
into also. I had to do this In Justice to
myself. Mr.. Braly is a member of the
board and will be called upon to vote
on my case. This matter ought to be in
as much as the charges
against me have been. have nothing
against Mr.. Braly, but in preferring
.hese charges I am simply doing my
duty as member of the board"
MIR. BRALY'S STATEMENT
Up to this time Mr.. Braly had been
quietly listening to what Webb and the
others had been saying, but as soon as
Webb finished he coolly arose and said
hat 1t was perhaps proper for him to
say something. There is no occasion
'or an investigation. The facts, and all !
If the facts, can be easily ascertained
It the bank, and every facility will be |
given the board to learn all there Is to |
De learned. In regard to that 1925, 1t |
happened to come up while was in the |
1ank. The lady was in hurry to go !
away, and suggested that she leave her
and we would collect the money |
or her and send it to her. She stated
hat the money was ready, and that all
hat was needed was the formal action
# the boards approving her demand.
At most 1t was only a matter of a day
IT two We telephoned to the secretary
# the board, and I understood that he
lad sent her to US. He said so, at least.
he told us that the money was there.
Ind we knew that as soon as we could
ret the money on New York exchange it
would be sent to her. 1t was on October
th that we took the warrant and think
t was October 14th that it was collected.
t was merely an accommodation which
We would perform for any friend or Gus
omer. AS for cashing a few warrants
occasionally, the bank will admit 1t. We
lave made no business of 1t. It was
'nly as an accommodation. We have
lone no more of 1t this year, and be-
ieve less than before. In all such mat
ers the officers of the bank had orders
they collected warrants to charge the
east possible amount for the service.
That's all there Is to 1t. 1t seems to me
hat that ends any investigation, for we
rill not try to conceal anything, be-
ause there is nothing to conceal"
WEBB'S SIGNATURE
President Davis again suggested that
ONE person should sign the resolution
nd stated that 1t must be signed before
e would support 1t.
do you want me to sign II" asked
Webb.