The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-16
ACCUSE tion Affecting
His Veracity Finally
Withdrawn.
ALEXANDRIA CASE
HEARD BY BOARD
School Superintendent Says He
JeoPardized His Soul by Work
ing on Sunday, and Swept
Buildings When Janitor
Was Drunk-Bucking-
ham Case To-Day.

tendent Of Public Instruction TO admit
that he had no testimony TO prove
charges against the vcracity OF W. T.
Hodges. division superintendent of
Pchools in Alexandria County, Fred s.
Swindell. OF counsel for the prosecu-
tion, endcavored yesterday before the
State Board of Education 10 snow that
the increase in Mr.. Hodges's salary
from $1,000 to $500 had been given
illegally.
On one occasion. In the afternoon.
when Mr.. Corbett, member OF the
County Board OF Supervisors. was on
the stand, Superintende Stearncs call
ed attention To the fact that no proof
had been offered sainst Mr.. Hodges's
yeraclty. and severely censured the
prosecution for Offering such evidence.
This charge was finally dropped. Mr..
Stearnos saying that he didn't like u
have the character OF I, man ruined on
euch testimony.
Dirngrec TO His Illness.
Edward Duncan, chairman Of the
Board OF Supervisors, tho main Witness
upon whom the prosecution relied 70
prove its charge that Mi Hodges had
made false statements in regard 10 mis-
salary, was not present. Mr.. swindeli
said that he was not present because
lie was i'll TWO witnesses for the de-
fcnse sworc that they SAW Duncan yes
,erday. and that lie was the picture
OF health,
George II. Rucker, clerl, oi tie coun-
IS court OF Alexandria, testified that
MIR Hodges had done as much fot alex
andria County as any citizen who had
lived in IL all hts NE he said that
Mr.. Hodges MAS worth more IMAM Was
being paid him.
Frank Lyon, rcputed 10 he one OF the
wcalthlest and largest lando "ncrs IL
the county. owner OF the AleHandria
Monitor. a newspaper, said that MI.
Hodges was absolutely well-suited Tor
the position OF superintendent and
that he had come 70 the hearing pur-
posely 10 obtain information for his
paper III there is anything 10 criu-
cize in his actions he said. II viii
be printed In tho Monitor. ! have
been utterly unable to nnd anything
IN any OF his actions TO ciiticize'
Iir Lyon stated that the Mon!to: and
the Commonwealth. another Aiexan-
dria newspaper had never agreed on
any question which ever arose in the
county until the matter OF the super
tntendcncv came up. We both agreed
on this" he said I'm sorry We had
10 agree. but couldn't help II
W. w Douglas, one OF the lawyers
for the prosecution and also one of rs
witnesses. said that one OF his main
objections against Mr. Hodges was tina,
lie talked ungrammatically He had
no sooner finished than one OF his
colleagues said, you was which
caused utter to run through the
room After Mr. Hodges had been
called to the stand and had finished
his statement, Mr.. Stearnea took oc,
casion to remark to him. The board ~
fully satisfied that YOU are able TO
use the English language correctly.
The lawyers representing the super
yisors who brought the petition 70
have Mr.. Hodges removed, ana others
were Fred s. Swindell, W, W. Douglas
who said he was retired lawyer ano
Major u. w Z. Ewing. Major Ewing
was a candidate against Mr. Hodges
four wears ago. After adjournment
when IL seemed as If the prosecution
had lost. Major Ewing said that tho
matter would be brought before the
Senate
Question of Compensation.
Mr. Hodges was represented by Rob-
inson Moncure. formerly member OF
the House OF Delegates and FRANK
I.von. lawyer and newspaper owner.
Numerous witnesses We're put on the
stand by both sides, and the hearing
was not concluded until nearly
o'clock. Mr. Swindell argued hfteen
minutes for the prosecution. Mr.
AIoncur. rested his case without argu-
ncnt.
In tho petition for the removal OF
Mr Hodges it was charged that he
had contracted with the board of SUI
prrVisors 10 serve four years at totai
compensation OF $1,000 q year. Al the
end Of the first year, IT was alleged, ne
induced the school board surrcptitious-
Is to increase his compensation TO
SlSoo Il year, without the knowledge
of the supervisors or Of the taxpayers.
ard that when called TO account. he
said his salary was only Sl.20o year.
Ills conduct in this matter has been
such as to cause him TO forfeit tho re-
spcct or the people the paper went
on, and thus destroy his usefulness
rs supernt endent." Mr.. Ilodges's re-
ply vas an unqualified denial of all
the charges in toto. He said that "the
charges were conceived in hatred of a
political adventures whom prohibited
from exploiting the county school sys-
tenn for political purposes in the am
hilton OF office seekers, in the love OF
trouble Of chronic and mostly unem-
ploycd agitators" He denied that lie
had ever been party to anything
under cover
Had Grnnh Jury Report.
A grand jury report was offered as
evidences. aa was voucher for s4S.G4.
which It was charged. was paid to Mr..
Hodges in 1912. several weeks prior
10 the date II should have been Issued.
The grand Jury report set forth that
all the alleged excess salary paid to
Mr. Hodges came from tho school
boar,. Mr. Hodges claimed that n part
OF tho extra oalary was offhet by tho
amounts paid him for expenses on
trips In the interest OF tho schools.
Andrew Torreyson said that no had
Continued on Ninth Pagc.)