The Washington herald., 1908-01-04
OYSTER Is ACCUSED
ChancellOr'S Attorney Leaves
Court During Trial.
SAYS BOARDS MIND IS FIXED
superintendent Appears at After
noon SessiOn-Is Excused Because
OF Illness After Answering Three
QuestiOns-COunseI Tilt Over Real
or Apparent Physical Condition.

or Apparent Physical Condition.
/ Greed NJ Fulton attorney for DIR.
! Chancellor In the hearing now being
conducted before the board of educa-
ton, on the charge Of alleged incompe-
tency and lnsubordination, left the trial
room last night. because he said his client
was not being fairly treated
Mr. Fulton said Il was reported that
members of the board had said they be-
leved DR.. Chancellor was not sick. and
was only trying to avoid being present.
| 1t is impossible for Mr.. Chancellor
10 be here tomorrow. said Mr.. Fulton,
or to make the statement necessary to
present his side of the case. His condi-
/ ton is such that his physicians win not
permit him TO make a statement at this
time, Capt oyster has said, / believe,
that he would finish this case tomorrow,
whether OF not Mr.. Chancellor was pres
ent.
! IF Capt Oyster wants TO prove that
/ Or. Chancellor is really sick, I ask him
to appoint two physicians and 10 have
these physicians visit Or. Chancellor with
the two physicians employed by Mr..
| Chancellor and see if he is not really i'll.
| IF you will not listen to my PROPOSE
/ ton, I do not believe Il worth while for
/ me to take up any more OF your time,
as you have evidently made Up your
minds as to the decision you will give.
Capt Oyster said the board would con-
slider this proposition at the proper time.
Mr.. Fulton demanded that the decision
be made then, and, upon Capt. Oysters
second refusal. the attorney left the trial
room.
DIR. Chancellor Appears.
For the first time since his present i'll
ness, Dir. Chancellor. put in an appear
ance at the trial yesterday afternoon.
DR. Chancellor attended the meeting for
the ostensible purpose OF testfying as 10
his fitness and ability to execute the
duties Of the Office which he fills. but be-
cause Of his physical condition was able
to remain in the board room only few
minutes and to answer in a voice hardly
audible only three questions addressed
to him by his counsel. Mr.. Fulton.
Mr.. Fulton asked his client TO state bis
fun name.
William T. Chancellor" replied the
superintendent in a voice hardly audible.
Dr. Chancellor's chair was moved closer
10 the board table and then MIR Fulton
asked his age. which elicited the in
formation. in tones which could be heard
only by those sitting near him, that he
was born in September, iS67.
When asked where he was educated.
Or. Chancellor replied that he attended
Amherst College.
What degrees did YOU take" queried
Mr Fulton. but the witness was unable
TO answer for several minutes, and finally
said. All the degrees a man should
have" Whereupop Mr.. Fulton pleaded,
in view Of Dr. Chancellor's apparent ply
sical inability TO testify, that the board
adjourn until such time as the superin-
tendent should be able 10 tell his story.
Oyster Measures Words.
To this Capt Oyster carefully measur-
ing his words said;
This whole case has been particularly
unfortunate. and has caused the caa'T
particular concern. / did everything in
my power to support the superintendent
when 7 regarded him as a friend. and for
a friend to quarrel and fight with a frcnd
tears the heartstrings out. but to quarrel
and fight an enemy the chair feels
equal TO.
TT is painful to me to see The super
intendent IN, but this trial is not a per-
sonal question with me- II is one Of
duty forced on me in the best interests
Of the school system and the best in
terests Of the children and teachers who
have been embarrassed. Steps should be
taken 10 close this unfortunate case. and
If the attorney for the defendant wishes
it. let him withdraw his client and then
the board viii decide what is best for
the schools"
At this juncuUe Mrs Mussey. after
consulting Mr.. Mcnamara. made A mo
tion that the board retire for a consulta-
tion, which was seconded by Mr.. Horner.
wheTeupon the board retired After an
absence of about twenty minutes the
members of the board filed into the room
and Capt. Oyster announced that It was
the unanimous opinion of that body that
the trial should proceed. and if Mr. Full
ton wished to withdraw the defendant
lie was ett lsDtftN 10 90 so. Dul II he
wished 10 testify he would have to ab-
pear before tonight as the trial viii
viii positively be concluded then
The statement Of Capt Oyster that the
trial would be ended last night which
would mean in effect that DR.. Chancellor
would not be given a chance to defend
himself in person, caused considerable
surprise.
Necessary to Retire.
Mr.. Fulton said that it was absolutely
necessary because of the defendants con-
dition that he should retire Immediately.
and that he would return before tonight. |
If possible. but suggested in the event Of
his being unable to return that the su-
peTintendent be allowed as soon as his
condition will permit 10 dictate to
stenOgTapher an answer to each ana every
one Of the charges in the presence of Mr.. !
Mcnamara and himself, and that he
would read these answers 70 the beard
just as soon as they were obtained.
At this stage Dr. Chancellor left the
room on the arms of Mr. Fulton and
Mrs. Chancellor Mr Fulton returned
Immediately and Capt Oyster stated that
while the board would prefer to hear Dr. |
Chancellor in person. no objection would
be made 20 his answers being dictated and
read to the board. provided this was