Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-01
NJ 'ALEER MAKES
POOR WITNESS
LIBRARY INVESTIGATION IN
PROGRESS
Mayor Goes on Stand and Is drilled
by Lawyers but Hands Out
Red Hot Repartee to
Council

1t seemed evident that Mayor Nc
Aleer had profited by the example of
II. II. Rogers on the witness stand, for
he proved a most unsatisfactory wit
ness when he was put on the grill last
night during the second chapter of the
investigation. of the mayor, which mas
querades under the pseudonym library
investigation"
The council did not get half the fln
it had expected out of the mayor. for
in tight pinches the chief executive
could not remember" or declined to
answer"
Attorney Clarence Miller acted as
counsel for the mayor, and when his
trained legal eye saw a line of cross
examination leading up to an embar-
asslng point he deftly directed it in
other channels. But not always was
either the mayor or his attorney able
to dodge a point blank issue fired at
him with all the force of broadside,
and Attorney Oscar Lawer, who rep
resents the library directors who are
supposed to be under Investigation,
brought out some statements that made
broad smiles of satisfaction spread over
the countenances of the library direc-
tors and even brought smirks to the
interested faces of the councilmen, all
of whom, with the exception of Coun-
man Blanchard, were present at the
session in Native Sons hall, 2111a West
Second street.
Blocks the Councils Plan
At the very outset Attorney Clarence
Miller cleverly blocked the wheels of
the method of progress that the council
had laid out by declaring that the
mayor appeared before the council on
request to present evidence and that
he was not in any way party to the
investigation, except as witness who
would testify when called by either
side of the controversy.
THE mayor has removed four MEM
hers of the library board and has called
on you to sustain his action. He is not
compelled to give to the council his
reasons for removing this board.
This body can take testimony and
see whether or not the mayor was jus
titled in thus removing the directors.
If it is not satisfied with the action of
the mayor 1t can refuse to confirm it,
There they were. They couldn't move
in the direction they had planned and
therefore saw no way to move at ALL
if the mayor would not present his tes-
timony first. who would?"
Attorney Will A. Harris wanted to
present Miss Jones side of the case.
Lawyers Bicker Over Case
ut is not Miss Jones side of the case
we are trying he was informed by
Chairman Smith. 1T is the library
directors who are under Indictment.
Miss Jones will be given chance to
present her side of the case in due
time. Is your side ready to proceed ?"
ne asked Attorney Oscar Lawler
NO. indeed" answered the attorney.
"The library directors are the defen-
dants in this case and cannot present
their side until there has been some
semblance of a prosecution"
All this happened at about 7:3O
o'clock 1t was o'clock before Mayor
McAleer finally gave in to suggestion
of Dock Houghton, who took upon
himself to conduct the Investigation,
and agreed to answer a few questions
put to him in an effort to get things
started. Before the mayor permitted
himself to step onto the gridiron
Chairman Smith and Attorney Harris
had a passage at arms.
II want to know if Miss Jones is to
be given a chance to present her side
of the case vociferated Attorney Har-
ris, interrupting legal discussion be-
tween Oscar Lawler and Clarence
Miller.
Certainly answered Chairman
Smith. In due time her case will be
heard"
Looks Like Rough House
Attorney Harris was silent for a few
minutes and the pickering lawyers re-
sumed their arguments.
Il want to know if Miss Jones is to
be given an opportunity" almost
howled Attorney Harris, throwing sew
era heavy books on the table with a
loud bang.
Look here" cried Chairman Smith,
almost choked with rage, as he jumped
to his feet, Il don't propose to be bull
dozed by you. We are going to conduct
this investigation in our own way and
if you don't like it you can go home"
'St down and shut up" advised
Houghton, who was sitting next the
troublesome attorney. You are not
doing your side of the case any good by
such actions"
There's not man around this table
that's so big l can't say what 1 want
to him, and I will not shut up, case or
no case" But he did shut up and sit
down and the examination of the mayor
then began.
II WdS q CLOCK Wnen lne mayor
was sworn and put on the witness stand
and it was midnight when his tor
mentors allowed him to step down.
There is no certainty that they are
through with the mayor yet.
Mayor Quits Hearing
There seems to be almost a certainty
that the mayor is through with them.
He became disgusted shortly before
midnight and went home, while still
pinioned' supposedly, to the witness
chair.
Miller and Lawler engaged in another
argument over what the mayor should
say and what he should not. The
mayor listened to it for little while
and then said:
We'll, this whole thing is a farce
and I'm tired of being insulted. I'm
going home"
He stood not upon the order of his