The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-04-28

case was most forcible, and revealed
startling condition OF amairs. Every
leSai means known 10 the citizens, he
declared, had been tried in vain. An
enOrl had been made through the
courts 10 get Mr.. SebrelI removed
from Office on a charge OF grossly
improper advances made to a female
scnOOt teacher, but II had failed
through lack CT proof Then the peo-
PIE mao gone into court 10 force an
on construction OF the law that only
citizens OF the district had a right 10
examine the books. y local eNamina-
ton, thought Mr.. Withers, would be
unaVallng ana unsatisfactory, since
MIR. Sebrell was about the ShrewdeSt
man IN the community, and was in
teillgent enough TO fix his BOOKS 50
that none but an expert accountant
could get to the bottom of them.
AT one time the clerk consented to
an examination, but produced nothing
but a cash book and some stubs. He
refused TO allow these TO be copied or
to De compared with the accounts OF
the County Treasurer.
Played EaVoriteS.
The income OF the CORTLAND School,
it was said, is large. Fees are
charged for certain extra branches of
instruction, and this money has been
paid TO Mr.. Sebrell and not accounted
Tor. Other districts OF the county pay
teaching their children in a central
lied school, and this the clerk has col
Iected and rene. I'd no account for.
The assertion No., made by Mr.. Bird
song that MIR. .rell has struck back
at those who Ia. been after him by
excluding the t-..-uren of his OppO-
nentS from the ~A-.a classes, because
they owed small o...DuntS, while those
OF his friends, SO...- of whom owed
much more, We're 4c.i in the classes.
1t was further said that school
houses had been sold and the money
had not been heard of. Also some
standing timber had been cut from
school property by responsible con-
Germs, who had presumably paid
somebody for it.
AT last proceedings were began in
court for malfeasance in office. The
court ruled that the accusations must
be in as particular form as an indict-
ment. Now the citizens want an eX-
animation of the books of the school
board clerk so that they may get the
evidence to the satisfaction of the
court.
Collected, But Didn't Pay.
According to a statement made by
Mr.. BirdsOng, amounts aggregating
about $1,S00 had been traced into the
hands of Mr.. Sebrell. while Colonel L.
X. Edwards, the county treasurer was
present to tell the board that only
500 of this had ever reached his
hands.
Clerks Of district boards not being
bonded officers, Mr.. Withers doubted
if they were authorized to have charge
of any public funds at ALL
Besides the amount mentioned, the
petitioners believed that other ac-
counts could be found. But the opin-
ion was freely expressed that the re-
cords could not be secured.
In fact, Mr.. WitherS boldly pre-
dicted that when the accountant is at
last put on Mr.. SebrelTs books he will
either find that he is short a large
amount in his accounts, or else that
he will find no books OF any account
ing value whatever. Many OF the re-
cords. Mr.. Withers said. had been de-
stroyed. according to Mr.. Sebrelrs
own statement to him.
The board elected DR.. j. NJ Page
Of the University of Virginia. to sue
coed DR.. G. w. Kent. who declined to
stand for reelection. DR.. Page at
tended his first meeting last night.
Jackson Davis. superintendent of
schools for Henrico. was made assist
ant to j. S. Thomas. superintendent
Of elementary schools. the work being
so heavy that one man could not at
tend TO il. Oscar l.. Shumake, of
Surry. was made superintendent Of
schools of Henrico. succeeding Mr.
Davis.