Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-21
WHITTIER STATE
SCHOOL INQUIRY
COMES TO CLOSE
Superintendent PUT UPON
THE STAND
DESMOND AND NEWLlN INDULGE
IN coUNTERCHARGEs
Latter Declares He Was Threatened
with Business Trouble If He Did
Not Vote as Former
Desired

With last nights session the inquiry
into the charges of mismanagement at
the Whittier state school closed at
midnight. the testimony of Superin-
tendent j.. P. Greeley and President
James Clarke of Pasadena of the noard
Of trustees being the last admitted.
The decision probably will be taken
under advisement by the committee of
the state board of charities, which is
holding the inquiry, and will be re-
ferred by it to the state board and
then to Governor James Gillett.
Today an executive session will be
held at Chairman e. c. Moores office
in the Security building to agree on
findings
Trustee c. C. Desmond's term has
expired, but, whether he is reappointed
or successor is named, he will hold
on until the next legislature confirms
the appointment
The evening session was rendered
lively by Trustees Newlin and Desmond
making counter charges against each
Other Mr.. Desmond claiming that his
colleague turned in an unauthorized
expense account Ior his trip to Rich
mond, where the national charities
conference was held, while Mr.. Newlin
asserted that a woganload of flowers
had been hauled to Mr.. Desmond's by
a state team to be used Fiesta week
for decorative purposes.
1t was alleged that Trustee Newlin
went to Richmond, Va, to attend the
national conference of Charities and
Corrections, but did not actually take
part in the session, though he turned
in an expense account of $275.
Chairman Moore asked Mr.. Newlin
If Mr.. Desmond had threatened to Sc
cure his discharge from the Farmers
and Merchants bank, where he is vice
president.
because 1 refused to second Mr.:
Desmond's motion for the discharge OF
Superintendent Greeley" said Mr. New
lin, ssMr. Desmond said: Newl1n, Ill
give you one more chance. II you
don't vote to support me I'm going to
take the word to Graves, Hellman and
Sartori.' I said: You can't intimidate
me that way Mr. Desmond
Secretary Cooper asked Mr.. Newlin
If he had ever heard of any other
threats about his bank position being
in danger.
mo" said Mr.. Newlin, "but I un-
derstood him to mean he would make
trouble If I did not vote as he wished =
Mr. Desmond asked Mr.. Newlin II
he knew that Farmer McLouth had
received pay for the full month when
he was discharged from the home, al
though he did not work the full time.
Mr. Newlin said he did not know.
Miss White Recovering
Mrs Henry White, mother of Miss
Cora White of Rivera, who, DR.. IRE
whella, said, was suffering with acute
mania from worrying over the scandal,
disagrees with the doctor. She says
her daughter is nervous only was able
to go out buggy riding with 81 relative
Sunday night, and would be all rlgnt
again shortly.
Because of the doctors testimony,
however, Trustee Desmond was unable
to put Miss White on the stand 70
show that Victor Henry, a trusty, was
given unusual liberties, Aeven taking
SQUADS of boys to high school enter
tainments at Whittier and conducting
the football squad to Trustee NeWlln
walnut ranch to pick walnuts. The
bows got pay for this service, Mr.. New
lin explained.
An aside was introduced at the nighl
session concerning paroled boy named
William Duncan, alias Clendening.
To send this lad to his father al
Duluth the trustees acted on an out
side petition rather than on the rec
ords, a proceeding to which the state
board made violent objection.
A special bill was passed In the legls
lature to enable Clendening to get out
and Governor Gillett was induced t(
"And they handed the governor E
green lemon when they did it," saiC
Secretary Cooper.
1t appeared that Attorney Pendletor
of Los Angeles was active in getting
the bill passed. as was Senator Bel
shaw, apparently on the ground of hu
manity.
Secretary Gates asked the trustees i
they did not know the governor haC
the power of pardon without all thu
circumlocution that was used in thi:
case, but they did not. q
Father Ramm learned on inquiry tha
board of five was preferable to one o.
three trustees, and an increase prob
ably will be recommended.