Evening star., 1903-06-24
STATEMENTS CONFLICT
SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND MAJOR
TWoMBLY AT VARIANCE.
Mr.. Parker Tells How Miss Johnston
Was Paid for Her Photo
graphs.

The statements of the public school offi-
ctaIs ON the one hand and Major H. H.
Twombly, former secretary Of the board OF
education. on the other, with regard to the
matter of the payment of Miss Johnston's
bill for photographs for the Paris eAposi-
ton. seem widely at variance
According to the report of the transaction
In question submitted to the District Com
missioners by Gen. Boynton. president OF
the board of education. the other day, Miss
Johnston's claim of 5000 against the school
board was paid by means of a check drawn
by Mr. J. c. Parker upon requ1slt1on lor
a set of maps which were not delivered 10
the District.
Mai. Twombly is quoted as saying that
several members of the school boaro, am
especially Gen. Boynton, Gen. Harr1es ana
Superintendent Stuart and a NUMBER VI
outsiders, knew of the procedure auopteu III
the payment of Miss Johnston's claim; in
fact, that the proceeding was a matter OF
general knowledge. The former secretary
declares that Gen. Harr1eS knew OF lhS
matter when he signed the requlsltion anu
that Gen. Boynton, who was absent III
Chattanooga at the time the transaction
was completed expressed his approval On
the proceeding after his return 10 the cl.y
and was informed of the payment OF the
intendent Stuart introduced Miss Johnston
to him and spoke of the injustice "hicn
had been done her and knew of the plan
adopted to pay her.
regard to the matter is characterized py
General Boynton as partaking of "unquan-
fed falsehood. He declares that the nrst
knowledge he had of the transaction came
to him last Thursday evening, the night De-
fore he sent his statement of the matter TO
the District Commissioners. He denies that
he knew anything of the transactloE'
either upon his return from Chattanoosa
,tra +hAn until
night At about the time of this tranSac-
ton, General Boynton states. he became
apprehensive that Major Twombly mlsht
involve the board in irregular transactions
with local dealers. because of the persist
ence with which the secretary claimed the
right to purchase school supplies in oppo-
sition to the District authorities. General
Boynton says that a short time after the
date of the transaction in question he mace
a statement at special meeting of the
board to that effect and he was requested
by the board TO ask for Major Twombly 8
resignation, which he did. and Major
Twombly resigned.
Gen. Harries' Denial.
General Harries, in a statement made to
The Star with reference to this matter,
said:
There is only falsehood in any statement
which has it that 1 ever signed, approved
or otherwise had anything to do with a
public school voucher Neither the presi-
dent nor vice president deals with vouchers
or with any papers pertaining to disburse-
ments for school supplies. They do, how
ever, deal with acquisitions. When supplies
are needed the secretary fills out a requisi-
ton blank and submits it to the president
for approval
.If the president is not available the vice
president acts in his stead. With that ac-
ton the presidential interest ceases; from
that time the matter Is in the hands of the
secretary.
with reference to this particular pay
ment to Miss Johnston let me say that
had no knowledge to the conception or
execution of any plan to Hquidate the in
debtedness to her in Lhe manner described
or suggested" ..
Mr. Stuart Also. 81.
When questioned this morning by a re-
porter for The Star with reference to
Major Twombly's statement Superinten-
dent A. T. Stuart said: O. e..
Il had no knowledge whatever of the
transaction by which Miss Johnston's claim
was settled. 1 did introduce Miss Johnston
to Major Twombly and possibly 1 men
toned that she had legitimate claim
against the board. The introduction, how
ever, took place at least six months before
the transaction in question, and l knew
nothing whatever of the procedure adopted
in the payment of the bill
Mr.. Parker's Statement.
Mr.. John c. Parker. the local stationer,
in whose favor the requisition was drawn
through which Miss Johnston's claim was
paid in an interview with a Star reporter
this afternoon made the following state
ment:
Major TwombIy came to me and ex-
planned that the board of education owed
Miss Johnston 5000 for some photographs
which she had made for the Paris exposi-
ton at the order of the board.
He explained the difficulty which had
been met with in the settling Of the bill.
and told me that the board had endeavored
to secure an appropriation to settle the
claim. but Congress had refused to make
provision for the payment of the bill. He
said that the only way in which the debt
could be settled would be by the means
which were adopted.
Major Twombly told me that he would
order twenty-five sets of globe series of
maps at 5000. which were not to be de-
livered and that was to turn the 5000 to
Miss Johnston He also ordered fifteen sets
OF Columbia series Of maps which were to
be delivered the secretary told me that
| this procedure In the payment of the bill
was fully understood by the members of
the board of education, and that they ap-
proved of the matter and wanted it done.
Major Twombly was the only official of the
board that knew in the purchasing of sup
plies, and l supposed the transaction was
| bers of the board
There was no secrecy about the matter
so far as 1 knew. None of the members
of the board ever saw me in regard to the
| matter but II any one had asked about 1t
l would have been perfectly free to tell
| them of the transaction.
The money for the twenty-five sets Of
| Globe series maps, which were never de-
| livered. was paid over to me by the board
! and three days afterward I paid the $500
to Miss Johnston's mother and got re-
/ ceipt from her for the amount. Miss john
| ston being out of the city at the time. The
| fifteen sets of Columbia series maps were
| delivered to the board according to the
| agreement I made with Major Twombly.
Il have~been under the impression right
along ever since the transaction that the
matter was fully known to the members Of
| the board of education, and did not know
| that there was any question as to the mat
| ter until within the last few days. I have
! also made a statement similar to this to
| the committee Of the board charged with
] investigating the matter
TO AWAIT RETIREMENT.