Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-28


The Donohoe incident was closed, for |
the time being at least, at the meeting |
of the Board OF Education Monday even
ing. The committee appointed to in
vestigate Mr.. Donohoe's allegations OF
irregularity made the following report,
which was adopted by vote of IL
ayes, eight members being excused
from voting and five being absent:
: Gentlemen: Your special committee an
pointed to investigate and If possible by
sworn testimony, ascertain If the declara-
ton and charge openly made by Bernard
Donohoe from his desk at the last meeting
OF this board, that the board had been rob-
bed out of several thousands of dollars in its
contract given out for the supply OF coal,
furnished by contract, to supply the several
schools IN this city, was true or false, would
respectfully report that on the call made
for the meeting by Robert @. Fraim, Esq,
chairman thereof. each member of the com
mittee was duly notified in writing by the
secretary Of the board to meet in the board
room on Friday evening, August I'D. 1902,
ais O'Clock, for the purpose of aecertaining
II the said Bernard Donohoe could himself
give under his oath, duly administered by
notary public, any proof whatever, that his
assertion made in reference to robbery OF
the board for supplying the several schools
in this city with coal for use ms fuel therein,
or II he could produce before tho com
mittee the sworn testimony of any other
| person to prove that the board had been de-
trauded out of any sum OF money whatever
| BY its coal contract.
Due notice OF the time of the meeting of
| said committee was given in writing to Mr..
Donohoe by Robert q. Fraim, the chairman
| of the committee, and due notice was also
| given said Donohoe by the secretary of the
board 10 attend said meeting at the date and
| time above stated.
| meeting of said committee by the chairman
thereof the committee did duly assemble in
| the board loom, at which meeting the
said Bernard Donohoe was also present. The
/ meeting was duly called to order by Mr..
Fraln, the chairman of the committee, at
$40 p. m. Mr.. Fraim stated very fully and
plainly for what purpose the committee was
| convened, VIZ: To have Bernard Donohoe,
a member of the board, TO produce sworn
testimony in writing to prove his declara-
| ton made publicly in the board room, that
the board Ind been robbed out of several
thousands OF dollars in its contract for coal,
| or otherwise withdraw the charge made that
the board had been 30 olefrauded out of sew
eral thousands of dollars.
Mr.fraim, as chairman of the committee,
very thoroughly interrogated Mr.. Donohoe
10 ascertain IL said Donohoe had any sworn
testimony of his own TO present to the COM
mittee to prove that his statement made in
open session OF the board that the board had
been robbed out of several thousands of
dollars was true. In reply TO the question
asked by Mr.. Fraim the said Donohoe said
he had no such evidence to produce to prove
his statement. Mr.. Fraiin then said: MIR.
Donohoe, have you any sworn statement OF
any other person or persons that the board
has been robbed out of any sum whatever in
its contract for supplying coal for the public
schools in this city at any timer" Mr..
Donohoe said he had no such sworn state
! ment to present TO the committee. Mr..
Fraim, Mr.. Baugh, Mr.. Burton and Mr.,
Morrow also asked Mr.. Donohoe if he had
, any evidence to lay before the committee
, not sworn to. He replied that he had nc
such evidence TO present to the committee
Your committee would therefore repor
that the charge made in open session of thii
; board by Bernard Donohoe that this board
had been robbed out of several thousand
! dollars in its contract for coal Is not sus
. tanned that he, Donohoe, did not produc,
. before your committee, any evidence what
+. ever, to prove the charge he made of tn
t board being robbed out of thousands o
Ho utterly failed to produce any evidence
written or oral, to prove that his statement
made in the board were true, in reterenc
q TO the board being robbed out of amy sun
of money by its coal contract.
And your committee would recommend
/, That vote of censure be given said Bernar
n Donohoe, for his wilful and deliberate act
OF deliberately standing up Mt his desk, in
q public meeting of this board and decarin
thereirom that this board had heen robbie
out of several thousands of dollars in il
j. contract made for supply of coal TO 1t
n public schools of this city, and when re
: quested by this board to prove his Statement
i to lie strue, utterly fails TO produce any evl
q dence Whatever to prove that his statemer
had any semblance of truth therein whatever
. Very respectfully submitted,
y X. q. Fraim,
|, w. ]. Burton,
William G.. Baugh,
% l.. b. Morrow,
6 Committee.
d Chairman Fraim made motion
IN after the report had been read, that
"a be adopted. MIR. Donohoe called for
70 yea and nay vote. The call wa
70 seconded by Mr.. Baugh.
N Mr.. Adair asked whether it woul
IS be in order to call for division of th
d report, as he would vote two ways O
"a the two parts. The report was nc
~ divided and the voting began. At Nj
u Adair's request he was excused frol
TT voting. Mr.. Baugh voted in til
6, Affirmative. Mr.. Brown wanted to /
excused for the same reason as thu
given by Mr.. Adair, but as nobod
es made motion to excuse him, he sal
IS he would not vote on the entire nj
l. tion, declining to vote for that pa
= censuring Mr.. Donohoe. Mcssrs. HoI
= and Postles said they felt the san
u way in regard to the matter Presidel
IN Shortlidge declared that it would
out of order to divide the report,
the voting thereon had begun. Whe
upon tho voting was resumed and r.
te suited as follows:
rk Ayes-Messrs. Baugh, Burton, Coope
k, Fraim, Frantz, Kersey, Morrow, Whit
e. peasey and Barnes and Presidei
ng Shortlidge-1l.
Excused from vosing-Messrs. Adai
Shaffer, Brown, Horn, Donohoe, NJ
he Govern, O'Donnell and Postles--S
20. Absent-Messrs. Carter Buckmast
at Spruance Ford and Palmer-5.
"a When Mr.. Donohoe's name was call
n to vote several members said he had
:" right to vote but he insisted that
IS had and at his request was excus
at from doing SC.
- Hand BADLY Injured.
he While at work in the saw mill at I
- local plant of the American Car a