The San Francisco call., 1910-07-26
DIR. E. |. Miller, Vice President
of Normal School, Admits
He Is Seeking Presidency
TESTIFlES ACCUSED MAN
SMELLED OF LIQUOR
Case Looks Black for Chico Edu-
Gator Until Witness Makes
Startling Admission
SEEMING DEFEAT Is
TURNED TO VICTORY
Especial Dispatch to The Call

L
@HICO, July 5.-Intensifying the
I sensationalism of the charges
against Dr. C. c. Van Liew. presi-
dent Of the normal school, now on
trial accused of immoral and i'm
proper conduct, were the admissions
of DR.. Elmer 1. Miller, b. A, Nj. A.,
Phi. D., and vice president of the in
stitution, who, after testifying at
length against his superior, declared
on gruelling cross examination that
for the last three or four weeks he
had been actively campaigning for the
presidency of the school, conditional
on the discharge of Doctor Van Liew.
Accused of Drinking
Doctor Miller up to the present had
been the only member of the faculty
to testify against Doctor Van Liew. He
went into detail as to Van Liew's
drinking habits, declaring that re-
peatedly he had smelled liquor on his
breath, and that hearing unfavorable
discussions among other members of
the faculty he had limited to Van Liew
in an. indirect way the advisability OF
checking his drinking during school
hours. The testimony, coming from
the vice president of the institution
created a deep impression, and the
case looked blacker for Van Liew than
at any previous time. A few moments
later, however, the aspect changed.
Doctor Miller, with evident reluctance,
in response to the questions of At
torney Seymour, admitted that he had
written to Doctor Jordan of Stanford
university asking his aid in securing
him the position in case Doctor Van
Liew was discharged and had also
solicited the aid of politicians and
others toward the same end
Il wish to state" he burst out, that
have not done anything under
handed"
who is accusing you of that. sir?"
shouted Seymour
THE trend of the proceedings might
give that impression retorted the
pedagogue.
''You have testified to facts and they
speak for themselves" rejoined Sey-
mour.
While the presidential aspirations OF
Doctor Miller were the leading feature
of the proceedings it was by no means
the only sensation. They followed in
quick succession and the day was
brought to close with applause and
Misses from the spectators. The day
was warm, and. to add to the general
Juror and excitement the tempers of
the opposing counsel were on ragged
edges. Verbal explosions were fre-
quent Witnesses were given rough
treatment and scorn infinite clothed
the retorts of the lawyers.
Dislikes to Testify
Doctor Miller was the second witness
of the day. the first being Samuel
Christopher, a character witness who
declared the reputation of Van Lew TO
be bad.
Miller, on taking the stand. made a
statement to the board. explaining his
absence from the hearing Saturday,
when he could not be found
Il was not WELL" he said. and went
home thinking a messenger would be
sent for me when was needed"
To the preliminary questions he ex-
planned that he was not a voluntary
witness, saying that on account OF the
factional feeling over the trial he
deemed ii wise for the members of the
faculty of the school to keep away
from it,
THE faculty. he said. should OBJ
tain the undivided support of the COM
munity."
Continuing. he testified that on many
occasions he had caught the odor OF
LIQUOR about Doctor Van Liew's person,
and that on account of the personal
friendship he had for him he went so
far as to hint in an indirect way that it
would be better for the president of
the normal school TO be more discreet
in such matters. He said that he had
never seen Doctor Van Lew intoxi-
Gated
in the midst of his questioning. 'I un-
derstand the situation and just what it
means for you to testify
Besides his testimony concerning Doc
tor Van Liew's alleged drinking. Miller
said that Van Lew had been criticised
by certain members of the faculty.
Regarding the drinking" said tia