The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-07
THE McNAUGHTON CASE.

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strong evidence against him, they had ac-
Quilted prisoner charged with hog stealing, they
Piled frankly 1--WE had some OF the pork" The story
is an illustration of the truth that acquittas easy
where iuries are biased in favor of the accused.
Although that fact is we'll known find many peo-
pie sufficiently credulous to accept the acquittal OF
person by even the most partial jury conclusive
proof of his innocence The Marysville Democrat
exhibits that of credulity in its comments the
results OF the investigation Of the charges brought
against McNaughton, the newly elected principal OF
the State Normal School OF San Jose.
McNaughton man wholly unknown to California
was chosen principal OF the Normal School by Tru5-
tees appointed by Governor Gage for political pur-
poses. When charges were made against McNaugh-
ton, based upon evidence obtained in localities where
he was known the Trustees who elected him acted as
jury to try him. He may be innocent, but innocent
or guilty his acqutal by such jury politically
necessary and matter OF course Yet upon that
record our Marysville contemporary says:
Some time ago the San Francisco Call contained
an attack upon Governor Gage, in which the Execu-
tive was held responsible for the appointment of bad
man named McNaughton president OF the San
lose Normal School 1t declared that a large major
tv of the appointments made by the Governor are
bad and that McNaughton is the worst OF the whole
lob lot We suggested at the time The Call may have
been misnfOrmed and that the man certainly is entl-
tied to a trial before conviction. press telegram
sent from San Jose yesterday announced that after
thorough investigation of all the charges the Not
NAL School Trustees had unanimously decided that
Professor McNaughton is not guilty Of wrongdoing "
In that statement there are inaccuracies. The
Call has, indeed, said majority OF Cages appoint
mens are bad; but it has been far, far from saying
that "McNaughton is the worst OF the whole job lot
Gage has appointed some good men, but in his going
1p and down the State picking up stray sheep for his
mutton he has picked up many blacker than
McNaughton even should all the charges made against
that person be true.
The Call has never pronounced judgment upon the
McNaughton case We published his record as it was
made known to us by reports from places where he
lived The point made by The Call and is that
Gage in seeking to turn the State Normal School
into part of the spos Of politics appointed as Tru5-
tees of the institution who, in subservience to
bosses and for political reasons aside the claims
of all the eminent and honorable educators of Cali
was then wholly unknown to the State, but who IS
now known to have been living for years under the
cloud OF serious charges made by responsible in
formal and official way; charges which he evaded
by leaving the place where they were made
We repeat that the disgrace thus brought upon the
Normal School is part OF Cages work just as much
as is the disgrace brought upon the Board Of Health
in this city, and he must be held responsible for the
one as for the other.