The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-03-20

In one particular at least, the
hearing Of charges last nisht
against Prof. d. f. Cloyd, of the
high school, was a victory for the
professor. AS his own attorney he
out-talked everybody else concern
ed in the case and the questions he
projected at the various witnesses
in class room style were too numer-
Gus TO mention. And the stald
members of the school board pa
tiently yawned and listened from
$50 till after midnight. The end
is not yet for last night merely
concluded the first charge and
there are six more to follow. AT
the rate of progress made, the
hearing will last a week.
The charge taken up was that
Prof. Cloyd had opened and read
a private letter written by Miss
Corinth L. Crook, German instruc-
tor. to Miss Jessie Loskett, then in
Paris. Cloyd formally branded the
accusation as false. The letter was
returned because of a mistaken ad
dress and reached the high schoC.
here when Miss Crook was aboard
on vacation. From the high
school office it was forwarded to
her at Venice. Here is where the
trouble begins.
The letter contained personal
reference to Cloyd to the effect
that they were having trouble at
the high school, that Cloyd was
busy fattering teachers; that Su
perintendent Tormey was uphold
ing him, and as a result both might
dismount together.
A big question mark adorned the
first page OF this letter, and Cloyd s
initials were also inscribed there
on. Miss Crook further testified
that when she reported for duty it
was made plain to her that she had
lost favor with the principal. ana
that she was informed by him that
he had read her letter. 1t was
brought him by a loyal teacher,
who had taken it from Miss
Crooks desk, according to her YER
sion of what Cloyd told her.
And Miss Crook had also been
given the comforting information
that Prof. Cloyd had spies in the
school. out of school and even in
her family, that kept him posted Oh
everything going on. There wasn't
much chance of anything getting
away from him, as Miss Crook re
lated the incident.
Miss Kate Reed, another teacher
testified in substantiation of the
charge She had received letter
from Miss Crook that she believed
had been opened at the high
school where it was delivered be
fore she saw it. She also said
Cloyd had told her of reading the
letter and had accused her Of be-
ing disloyal in consequence. The
second letter also contained per
sonal reference to the principal.
Both letters involved had been los.
and could not be produced in evil
dence, but the envelope of the sec
ond was at hand and this was the
subject of an examination of Post
Office Inspector Linn. He had eX-
amined the envelope at request OF
Miss Reed and later had taken
possession of il. Linn believed the
letter had been opened and re-
sealed.
Cloyd in cross examination wax.
ed sarcastic over what he termed
Linns dereliction in letting the en-
velope go out of his possession af-
ter an alleged violation of the
postal law had been called to his
attention, On being excused Linn
asked that the envelope be retain
ed, indicating that the postal au-
thorities are interested in the
matter
The long, tedious cross eXamina.
tion conducted by Prof ClOvd. as
sisted by Prof. Tormey, turned up
enough school gossip and hints OF
class room fueds and factions to
fill a book. In the beginning the
examination was confined to the
single charge, but Prof Cloyd so
earnestly insisted that every CUES
ton he asked was very vital that
the board good naturedly resigned
itself to all sorts of queries in the
interest of thorough investiga-
ton.
Mrs l. NJ. Davenport. who was
aboard with Mrs. Crook. was call.
ed to substantiate her TESTIMONY
on the opened letter. and Miss Eta
Reed was another witness alone
the same lines. Miss Grace Moore
testified TO the letter. and also that
Cloyd told her he had read it, He