Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-02
DEFENDS COURSE
As LIBRARIAN
MISS JONES FACES COUNCIL
INoUISIToRS
Inquiry Goes on Sans Mayor, Whom
subpoenas Do Not Locate--Ad-
Journ Hearing Till Tues
day Night

The assertion of Mayor McAleer that
he would no more appear at the library
investigation was evidently made in
good faith, for at the continued hear
ing last evening the mayor failed to
put in an appearance.
The city clerk had issued a second
subpoena for him during the day and
placed 1t in the hands of the police de-
partment for service. The police Nre-
ported back that they could not find
the chief executive.
The mayor was seen about the city
hall several times yesterday, but it was
foregone conclusion that If the mayor
did not want an officer with subpoena
to find him it might have proved
disastrous for the policeman with the
subpoena to be so unfortunate as to
make the discovery.
Owing to the absence of the mayor
the proceedings assumed some of the
features of a real Investigation.
The council waived the technical
point that Miss Mary l.. jones' the de-
posed librarian, was not on trial and al
lowed her attorney to present her case
first.
Miss Jones Testifies
Miss Jones was first put on the stand
and several witnesses were examined,
but 1t Is evident that If as much time
is to be consumed with the witnesses to
follow as was done last night, 1t will be
several weeks before the investigation
Is completed. Only six witnesses were
examined and nearly fifty have been
subpoenaed by both sides to the con-
troversy.
Miss Jones told her story in a simple.
straightforward manner It was evil
dent that the former librarian was a
little embarra ssed at being made the
cynosure of about 300 pairs of eyes,
for several times it appeared that she
would break down under the strain,
and her handkerchief was frequently
applied to her mouth, nervous action
that betokened an inward struggle be-
tween a desire to break away from it
all and a determination to stick it out
to the last.
Compared with the proceedings of the
night before, when Mayor McAleer was
placed on the stand and for nearly
three hours broiled to crispy brown
by the council, the proceedings last
night were as dry as dust.
Lawyers Enliven Matters
The only bright spots in the monoto-
nous proceedings were some exchanges
of airy persifiage between Attorney
Harris for Miss Jones and Attorney
Lawler for the library directors.
legal trick of feeling personally injured
at any imputation cast on their re-
spective clients and it was evident
that Harris and Lawler didn't like
each other very well. Outside of their
clients interests they are warm per-
sonal friends.
But Chairman Smith cut short these
exchanges of personal esteem much to
the regret of the spectators who only
woke up last evening when Lawler
and Harris had something to say to
each other. Dock Houghton created a
little diversion by butting in at most
inopportune times, but the. chairman
squelched him in short order. This
was fun, too.
In telling her story Miss Jones stated
that she had been employed in the Los
Angeles library for seven years. about
five and a half years of that time being
as librarian. She denied the charge
against her of unnecessary and un-
authorized absences from her post of
duty, declaring that she hau made it a
point to be at the library Uhen bust
ness men could visit it and taking her
absences when business men were COM
PEELED to be at their offices.
Justifies Herself
To the charge of inability to pre-
serve discipline in the library she de-
clared that she had never had any
trouble with any of the attendants ex-
cept one who preferred charges against
her three years ago. She claimed that
all of the members of the board at that
time exonerated her of these charges
except Director Dockweller. She ad-
mitted that she had said things that
@