The San Francisco call., 1899-06-25
RECORD OF
Men NAUCHTON
IN THE EAST
Charges That Caused Him to
Retire From Council
Bluffs, Iowa.
CAREER AS 4 USURER
Allegations Against New Principal
of the San Jose Normal School
Now Being Investigated.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch to The Cali.
The more light that IS thrown
upon the career of Professor
James McNaQghton, recently eIec-
ted principal OF the San Jose
Normal School, the more IT be-
comes apparent that there IS
cloud which, IN tie interest of
California public schools, requires
to be cleared.
n MAHA, Nebr., June 24-Nearly
ten years ago Professor James
McNaughtOn was Superinten-
~ dent of Public Schools of Coun-
Gil Bluffs, Iowa. and the leading
citizens remember the professor well.
Some of them speak we'll of him and
others denounce him bitterly. He
certainly was a man who made
strong friends and lifelong enemies.
Senator William Groneweg, one of the
signers of the petition for McNaugh-
tons dismissal. said to-day:
II was acquainted with Professor
McNaughton, but do not regard my
self as his special friend, neither do I
wish to be called his enemy. During
the latter part of his residence here
he had quite a controversy with the
Board of Education, which finally
caused his resignation. 1t is so long
ago that 1 do not recall the details of
all the trouble, but at the time 1
thought it decidedly to the interest and
benefit of the schools to have him step
| down and out"
Ex-Congressman w. H NJ Pusey
said: Il knew McNaughton while he
| had charge of our public schools
some time ago. He had the reputation
4 of capable instructor and urged
thoroughness and a higher grade of
I scholarship, which produced more or
less friction with the teachers, pupils
and their parents, and led to his dis
mssal but not betterment of the
character of our schools. His private
character and gentlemanly demeanor
while in our community were never as
sailed"
The records of the School Board show
!
tober 16, 1890, the date of its accept
ance. Prior to that time he had been
requested to resign, and this request
was based on a petition filed with the
board and made part of the record. 1t
is dated September IS, 1890, and was
signed by eight leading citizens who Of
fered to prove every statement con-
tanned in the petition. They prayed
/ dismissal
specification deals with McNaughton's
competency, which is seriously QUes-
toned. In the second count the petit
| TONERS aver that James McNaughtOn
is unfit for the Office of superintendent
in that he is immoral; that he is in
solent, ungentlemanly and overbearing
in his behavior to his associates and
subordinates; that he associates with
notorious characters and induces them
to frequent the public school buildings
during school hours; that he resorts to
tricks and practices and deceit to ac-
cOmplish his purposes.
The third specification AYERS neglect
of duty and the carrying on of private
business on the side
The fourth specification says: Your
petitioners further aver that said James
McNaughton is violator of the laws
of the State of Iowa, and has for two
years last past engaged in nefariOuS
and iniquitous practices for in that he
has been cooperating with one Divide
Wen in eXacting and receiving eXtOr-
tionate and usurious sums of money
from the poor and distressed for loans
made on ShOrt-time paper secured by
chattel mortgages; that he has eXacted
and received scores of chattel mort
cages from the poor and weak upon all
kinds and characters of property; that
to conceal his identity and connection
with these disreputable practices he
has had in most instances the papers
made out in the name of his mOther-in-
law NJ. A. Wilson. sometimes in the
names of janitors of the public schools
and once only in his own name. The
amount he and his associates received
for the use of their money varied from
3 to IL per cent month This may be
illustrated by the fact that he and his
associates have received as high as 81
for the use of $100 for little over nine
months, and the poor debtor has suf
fered the pangs of abject poverty in or
der to carry to Mr.. Wen, McNaughton's
partner, the IS a month they charged
him for the use Of the $100.
1T may be further illustrated by the
fact that there now remains unsatis-
fed of record a chattel mortgage in the
name of his mother-in-laW, NJ. A. Will
son. given by a cOlOred woman named
Ida Washington on her household fur
niture, including bed and bedding. All
sorts and conditions of men and women
records and facts connected Herewith
are too disgusting and indecent to re-
fer to in these charges, but proof can
be given of the same if demanded
These charges we stand ready to
prove and in the name of good gov
ernment morality and the interests of
our public schools we demand that this
man be tried and that one so incompe-
tent so unfit and so Indifferent to the
tender and important interests in his
charge be dismissed"
The charges were signed by William
Groneweg, James ONeiIl, w. NJ. Nc
Cary, S. B. Wadsworth, George Met
calf, E. e. Aylesworth, D. B. Daley
and G.. A. Holmes.
There is nothing in the record to
show that trial was held, and the pc
titioners We're never forced to prove
their serious charges ]. j. Stewart
says he investigated the case at the
time and that as matter of fact there
was very little basis for the charges,