The Parker post., 1913-03-22
DEFENDS HIS
CHARACTER
SCHOOL SUPERINTEN
DENT j. M. HESS DENIES THAT
A RECALL PETITION is IN CIR.
cULATiON IN THIS COUNTY.

The Post has received the following
communication from J. M. Hess,
super inlendent of schools. Mr.. Hess
denies that there is a recall petition
being circulated for the purpose of
ousting him from office and states
that if such a petition would be
circulated it would be libelOus, as he
iS guiltless of the charges alleged in
the article reproduced in this paper
from the Yuma Sun.
Another article appeared in the Sun
last Wednesday, stating that over
!1G legal voters of the county have
already signed such a petition. So
FAR as known no such petition has
been sent to Parker, and our only
authority for it being in circula-
ton are the articles which have
1een printed in the Yuma Sun.
Following is Mr. Hess statement
Of the case, which has aroused so
much interest throughout the county:
TO the public: In answer to the
scurrilous attack of the Morning
Sun, March 9th, and reproduced in
the Parker Post March 18th, | de-
sire to say: That the petition there
In referred to, if it exists outside
the imagination of the writer in the
Sun, was brought into existence, sur
reptiously and for the sole purpose of
furnishing an excuse for the Sun to
make this publication No reputable
citizen would think CT becoming res
DonSible for the drafting and presen-
tation of such an infamous article,
false and libelous in every allegation.
Not only would the person who pre-
pared the petition, but everyone cir
2ulating it and everyone signing it,
would be guilty of criminal Libel.
For more than ten years | have
been known in Yuma, and | believe
.iy chastity and truthfulness have
never been questioned; hence | beg
ct all who read this article to weigh
carefully what | say If a man has
character for lewdness we may
easily believe lewd things of him. If
he has a character for chastity and
truth, honest men and women are
slow to accept and believe that which
is lewd concerning him.
| am willing to be bound by the
testimony of any and all of the
women with whom | have come in
contact, in any relation, or in any
way, in Yuma or Yuma county, if |
have ever by action, word, sign or
look communicated or attempted to
communicate to them or either of
them an unchaste or an immoral
thought; and if one can be found in
my ten years of life in Yuma | will
stand dumb and defenseless to the
Vaccinations OF this petty political
conspiracy.
In the five days investigation civ
en- by Judge Jones in the prelimi-
nary hearing Of Dr. Jim Ketcherside
and j. Fl. Westover, charged with
the criminal libel of the character of
the teacher in question (and fou which
Westover was held for trial and
ketcherside excused only because he
was not connected by sufficient proof
with the publication) and in which
hearing such things constituted their
chief defense, not a word Of evidence
was produced that reflected discredit
in the least ON the office of county
school superintendent.
1t is not true, and | wish to de-
clare with all vehemence that I
never at any time or place, in French
or any other tongue, called this
teacher or any other teacher, "My
Darling" nor did | ever in Greek or
any other language say or write to
her or any other teacher, "My life I
love you"
1t has never been shown to this
office that the teacher in question
is unfit for her position"
On the contrary in the five days
investigation above referred to (and
! think | could ask no better vindica-
tic of my position than the full
publication of all the testimony in
that investigation) this teacher, little
more than child in age, was clearly
shown to be struggling to maintain
Ter position as a teacher in the
schools of Yuma without sacrificing
her maiden virtue.
That she lis a good and competent
teacher the parents of the children
attending her school have given pub
lie testimony, and no evidence has
come to this office nor has any been
presented in court that would justify
her discharge.
On the file in this office for