Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-10-16
BOARD EXAMINES
HODGES RECORD
County Superintendent Of
Schools Assailed by
Clements.
MEETS THE CHARGES.
Robinson Monclrc. Former Member
Of House of Delegates, Appears as
Counsel for the Accused.
MEETS THE CHARGES.
Robinson Moncure. Former Member

Richmond, Va, Oct. 1G.--Fiing OF
sensational charges against Divlslor
Superintendent. w. r. Hodges, ot
Alexandria county, Il sweeping de-
rial by the accused official and
sharp interchange of words between
opposinp counsel marked the meet
ing of the state board of education
which convened here yesterday morn
ing to hear contested appointments
of school superintendent in six dis
tricts.
Charges and counter-charges OF
fraud and underhand methods in the
conduct of the schol affairs Of Alex
andria county were filed before the
board when the case coming from
that county was reached. The
charges against Superintendent w.
#. Hodges. who is being opposed by
j. f Clements, hristle:; with indict-
mcnts of fraud, unt,uthfulness and
dishonorable conduct.
To all Of the charges, individually
and collectively, tho accused supenn-
tcndcnt entered an unqualified denial
aa& ,untereG with the direct accu-
50 iaa that the charges against him
~.eTp conceived in the hatred of a po-
.cse adyenturer whom he had pro-
Gi from exploiting the county
system f,,r pol;Fjc:h ra:tpaStS
vas further charged by Attor-
aav robinson Moncurc. counsel Tor
~ ntendent Hodges, that the
:dria board Of supervisors was
dominated by one man antaGoniStlc
70 MS client The name OF the per-
son was not mentionei' by the attor-
ney. though it is certain that ms
identity will be made known as the
taking of testimony in the AleXan-
dria case progresses.
The charges against Superlntend
er. Hodges set forth that he Induced
the school board Of Alexandra coun-
ty to surreptitiously increase his sal
a,y from $1,000 to $500 per year
after contracting to serve for Sl,2oo;
that he quietly appropriated the
states increased contribution OF
S4on made possible by The increase
of population in Alexandria county,
without making any mention of It to
the board of supervisors and when
called to account for same stated MS
salary was $1,000, when, as matter
If fact, he was receiving $l,SOO, and'
further, it is charged that his con-
duet has been such as to cause him
To- forfeit the respect of the Schooi
patrons and taxpayers of the county.
The Indictment embraces SIX differ
ent charges, those mentioned above
constituting thu most serious.
Following the reading of the for
NAL charge by Attorney Douglass,
representing the plaintiffs, Attorney
Moncure, member of the last gen
eral assembly from Alexandria city
an county, arose to read the super
int.ndent.s answer to the charge
He did not mince words in arraignins
thoSa who are seeking to remove
Hodges and spoke highly of his
client, both as an instructor and cit
iZcn.
Answering the charges, Mr.. Mon
cure denounced them as unquallhedly
false in the course of a formal reply
which he read.
He declared that the charges were
CONCEIVED in the hatred of a poiitica
adventurer whom Mr.. Hodges pro
hibited from exploiting the count!
schoe sYstem for political purposes.
Esc WS on to charge that the boart
IL ajs. sors is dominated by mar
SsIiT5cnIi TO Mr.. Hodges. This man!
asane msis OF called. Neither wa:
tn, yaine If the alleged adventures
men6aned.
Nj Hodges went on the stand ant
was eseS 5o.!ea as to his conduct i
the mat e.. ,4r denied that he ha,
been party q anything under cove,
lie ven an so azplain how numbe
of bills :3seggal oN. him and paid b
the count Seec4f 2aafd vera the re
suit Of trips ha hsa taken in the il
.eeFest of sst.esg gsisee. These WEI
ssasoes ass!sss 6sa ontingSnt funt