Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-04
CHANCELLOR CASE
ENDS THIS EVENING
Board in Session to Hear Re-
.buttaI Testimony.
DEFENDANT WITHDRAWS
Apparently Too Ill to Proceed With
His Statement.
COUNSEL LEAVES THE HEARING
Principals of Schools Say They Have
Received No Assistance From
the Superintendent.
COUNSEL LEAVES THE HEARING

| During the trial late yesterday after
noon OF DR.. William E. Chancellor, SUI
perintendent of public instruction. on
charges of INSTRUMENTATION and incompe-
tency developments We're thick and fast.
| The session of the board of education
was opened with Of. Chancellor present
and ready to make his statement in an
swer to the charges and with Attorney
Greed NJ. Fulton representing him. When
the board adjourned, after II o'clock last
night, DR.. Chancellor's statement was
still unpresented and Attorney Fulton
had withdrawn from the hearing. The
| board announced that the case must be
closed by tonight
When the session began DR.. Chancellor
faced the board. He answered three
questions. but failed to answer the
fourth. the indications being that he was
in pain. Attorney Fulton then announced
that he would withdraw DR.. Chancellor
as witness. declaring that the superin-
tendent was apparently unfit to continue
on the stand. The members of the board
retired for a conference and when they
Teturned they announced that the board
had decided that the case must proceed
and be closed tonight. adding any state
ment the superintendent might care to
make would be received before tonight.
Stuart Mcnamara. counsel for the
board. explained that he would present
several teachers and officers of the
schools as rebuttal witnesses and that
procedure occupied the remainder of the
| afternoon and all of'the evening session.
Suggests Medical Examination.
When the board members assembled for
he E,,J ia
that. to satisfy the board that DR.. Chan
cellor was actually too jill to make
statement he would consent to have the
board name two physicians to examine
the SUPERINTENDENT and determine when
he would be able to go on. Attorney Full
ton demanded action. but the board re-
fusing to act on the suggestion he declared
that AS the board was determined to end
the case tonight. and as DR.. Chancellor
would be unable to present his statement
within the time limit. he did not care to
spend any more time at the trial. ,Attor-
ney Fulton withdrew. The rebuttal testi-
monv was then considered.
When the board adjourned at HIS
O'Clock last night it was announced that
the prosecution would resume the presen-
tation of similar testimony at 2 o'clock
this afternoon.
The session yesterday was scheduled
to begin at . O'Clock D. m. DIR. Chancel-
Tor, wearing long black overcoat, and
accompanied by Mrs. Chancellor arrived
at the Franklin School building at 2
o clock. The trial. however, was not re-
sumed until near o'clock. At that time
DIR. Chancellor entered the board room
with Mrs. Chancellor and took a seat
facing the board. No mods of recognition
were exchanged between the superintend-
ent and the members of the board. He
continued to wear the big overcoat.
Examination of Superintendent.
1--WE are prepared to go with DR..
Chancellor, but won't be able to go on
for great while with him, as his
strength is limited" Attorney Fulton an
nounced.
"Wil you state your full name?" At
torney Fulton asked DIR. Chancellor
William Estabrook Chancellor" he re-
piled. his voice seeming very weak.
Doctor, what is your age?" Mr.. Fulton
asked.
Il have the information from my par
ents that l was born on the 25th day of
September, 1851" he replied. after brief
hesitation.
where were you educated?"
The witness hesitated and gasped sew
efal times. His lips moved, and he whis-
pered to his wife that he desired glass
of water. 1t was given him.
IT took a five years course in the
Worcester High School and took all the
honors there in that course he then
stated. 81 then went(to Amherst College.
took the highest honors there and re-
ceived all the degrees man ought to
have
Where else were you educated?" was
the next question. but it was not an
swered. DIR. Chancellor looked straight
ahead for minute. his wife leaned
toward him. and tears formed in the eyes
of the superintendent. He seemed to
| tremble all over
Attorney Withdraws Client.
"If the board please" Mr.. Fulton said.
| DIR Chancellor has come here against
the advice of his physician because he
was anxious to tell his story. 1 have
| known in my own judgment that his con-
| dition was such that the ought not to be
here. / asked DR.. Macdonald today to be
| here at this hearing, and he told me that
if he could possibly arrange his appoint
ments he would be here. but that he had
| some very important engagements. and
| he did not know whether lie would be
able to be here or not. Now. DIR. Chan
cellor is here and we will put him on the
| stand If you insist on going on. but 10
my mind ii is anything but wise or hu-
name. l do not think the doctor is in
physical condition to undergo an eXamina-
ton l shall therefore have to withdraw
DIR. Chancellor from the witness stand
and ask for an adjournment until he is IN
q better condition to be here.
This whole case is particularly unfor-
tunate and has considerable sadness in it
on the part of the board, particularly with
the chairman. who has done everything
in his power TO support the superintendent
and who regarded him as a friend Presi-
dent Oyster remarked. 1T is painful to
fight friend as it pulls the heartstrings
out. To fight IAN enemy, the president
feels able. 1t is painful to see tine con-
dition of our superintendent. but it Is
not a question of a personal nature to me-
but an obligation of duty placed upon me
for the best interests of our school system
| The first interest is the children and the
| next is the teachers, who have been en-
| barassed and Inundated to tie extent
| that / feel il is now necessity that some
| steps should be taken to close this unfor-
| tunate case If the counsel for the de-
! PENDANT is of the opinion that he does not
want his client to proceed with his tes-
| tmony it is his privilege to withdraw
him and l suggest that II be done with
out further controversy. Then the board
| will decide what is best to be done for the
public and the schools.
Members Hold Conference.
Mrs. Mussey suggested that, while the
law prohibited action in secret. il did not
prohibit the members comforting. Mr.