Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-28
determination to fight the fee system of

determination to fight the fee system of
some lawyers
Testimony was last introduced concern
ing specification " in which it is
charged that the superintendent lat d.
vers times in the month of December, 1906,
disturbance, friction and dissatisfaction
in the official relations of the board
of education with the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia, gave out to the
criticisms of the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia and of the judicial
officers of the District. ridiculing and
iibeling them, and thereby. by HIS unseen
ly conduct, destroying the public respect
necessary for his efficiency as superin-
tendent of the District schools.
To substantiate this charge, published
newspaper interviews with the superin-
tendent were introduced in evidence. One
was in criticism Of the decision Of the
gan: They cannot get brains enough to
run the District for $4,000 a year." and
there was also long review of the Car
dozo case. in which DR.. Chancellor is
made to say that the decision manacles
the board.
Regarded as "Stunner.
When the hearing was resumed yester-
day afternoon. W. W. Black, supervising
principal, was called to the witness stand.
He said he had conversation with DR..
Chancellor about the article in the Edu-
cational Review, relating to school mat
it's publication.
What was said?" he was asked.
1T was merely statement from DR..
Chancellor that there would be an article
in the Educational Review on educational
conditions in the District and that the
article WOulQ he q sumner the witness
replied.
In the cross-examination the witness
was asked if he had talked with any
member of the board as to his knowledge
of the article before it appeared. and he
said he was asked by Mrs. Mussey about
two weeks ago If he had prior knowledge.
He told her first that he would have to
consider the matter before replying. He
talked later with her, he further testified.
and told her he had had short talk with
DR.. Chancellor about the matter prior to
its publication. The witness was exc Used.
Assumes Responsibility.
Il want to take upon myself all respon-
sbility for the presentation of the manu-
script of the article" stated Capt Oyster.
referring to the paper introduced the day
previous Il was told Of it and 1 demand
ed that it be turned over to me-"
''Who told you of its existence? Attor-
ney Leckie asked.
II refuse to answer that" stated Capt.
Oyster Assistant United States Attorney
Mcnamara, counsel for the board. stated
that the answer would be given later. If
the counsel for the defense showed the
relevancy and materially Of 1t. Attorneys
+ eckie and Fulton argued for an immedi-
ate answer.
When heard of the existence of that
manuscript I was shocked and sur
prised. continued President Oyster
1fsh A1
it's criticisms of the local government
and of the young men Of the city. it fell
to my duty to talk with the superintend-
ent about it, He positively denied to
me knowing anything about it, directly or
indirectly. When the question was raised
in the board meeting l defended DR..
Chancellor, as the records will show.
Had l known of the existence of this
manuscript, would have challenged
Chancellor at once. l was shocked TO
know that this man had SO willfully told
an untruth.'
Did he not point out to you certain
parts of the article which he did know
about. while disclaiming the general au-
thorship of it, Attorney Fulton asked
Capt. Oyster.
replied.
did he not speak to you about cor
recting the records Of the board as to
his alleged denial of authorship. and you
advised him not to open the matter
again?" fired back Attorney Fulton.
mo; I am not in the habit OF burying
things of that kind
Superintendent's Absence.
Next followed evidence in connection
with Dr. Chancellor's absence from the
committee meeting October "a. Secretary
Hine was put on the stand to identify
the bylaws Of the board of education.
in which are defined the duties Of the
and to show that they
compel him to attend the meetings of
the board and of its committees. when
adopted at the meeting of October o.
and were put into effect at the next meet
ing, October %.
"Then up to October % the new regula-
tions were not in effect?" the witness was
asked by Attorney Fulton for the defense.
Il wouldn't say that" was the reply.
Witness added that the rules became eff
fective as soon as they were adopted.
This Is regarded as important by the de-
Tense, as showing whether the charges
against Supt Chancellor and Assistant
Supt. Bruce, under the new regulations.
were made after the new regulations were
put into effect.
The minutes of the meeting of October
8, in which the president of the board was
directed to appoint committee OF. fve to
investigate TIE CHdIS cS against <AooAoIoAS
Supt Bruce were admitted in evidence.
Capt Oyster testified that he appointed
Messrs. Cox, Hoover, Horner. Cook and
Oyster on the committee and they de-
cided upon a meeting for October "a. DR..
Chancellor was not present at the meet
ing. He further testified that he had re-
ceived DR.. Chancellor's word the day be-
fore the meeting to be present at it and
he later sent a note instructing the su-
ito be nearby for the meet
ing. After the absence Of the superin-
tendent, 1t was further testified. Capt.
Oyster called at DR.. Chancellors Office to
get his reasons for the latter's absence.
but found him out each time Later he
sent a letter asking an explanation and
stating that the board was incenSed by
his absence.
Cross
For the cross-examination, Attorney
Fulton turned to the letter used in the
charges and introduced in evidence, in
which DIR. Chancellor refused to be pres
ent at the committee meeting. and read
the last sentence. Il said this to you and
Mr. Cox yesterday in substance
Have you ever traversed that sentence
to DR.. Chancellor he was asked.
Il couldn't catch him at his Office to
do So" Capt. Oyster replied.
Miss Ada Birch stenographer for Dr.
Chancellor, was the next witness In
reply to questions she said she received
a note from Capt. Oyster for DR.. Chancel-
Tor the morning of the committee meet
ing (this Is the one requesting DR.. Chan
cellor to be near the meeting). Witness
left this note on DR.. Chancellor's desk
saw him read the note and write the
letter, refusing to be present. afterward.