Jas. M. Turner's Reply To Mcelroy's Charges

ÏY the Ptoplt of Vif-.Statt of Michigan: On my return home on the evening of Oct. 3, 1890, my attention was called to an assault upou me la the Detroit Frec Press of that date bj oneJ. F. McElroy, ex-superintendent of tbe Michijran School for tbe Blind. Tbe charge were of such a grave and acrious nature that, as matter of course, I reallzed that ihe people of the state of Michigan were entitled to an immediate reply from me. I should have been niuch gratified to have been able to have forwarded by followina mail my defeuse, Dut tbis eeerued impracticable, for the reason that I desired to place before the people the testimony of several persons named in tbe article, as architect, slntc-rootors, contractors and partios who furnisbeil supplies for the coustructiou of the buildings therein referred to. l found Mr. Ebert8 of Detroit ablent 1d New York, and was obUged to cali him by telegraph to Lansing ia order to obtaia bis aflidavit, which was proruptly done. Auother, on whose testl mouy Mr. McElroy uiidertook to convict me, vras J. C. Vincent of Grand Rapids. I was otdlged to cal) him bj telegraph to Lanting and obtaiu bil statement. Mr. John Jordr.n, who furnisbed the brlcks lor the buildings at the school for the blind, now live in Detroit; and Onding him froni home, 1 was obliged lo cali bim frotn a difttant purt of the state. Tlns diüieuity was experiencedwith other wituessM, und you eau readily see, ha& requlred time to arranco. I have, howi ven mysolt no rest, and have hurrie;l forward the coinpilation of my reply with ihe irromest dispatch of wblcb 1 was Ie. The delay nccessary was alike nnnoylng to me and tho pablic. 1 comiort myself, bowever, with ihe tbougbt that tbe spirit of falrness pervades tbe atmosphere of Michigan to gucli au extent that uur citizens would not condemu me until I had beeu heard. My appointmeut as a member of the board of control of the Michigan School for the Blind was made by tbe late Gov. Croewell tn 1S80, without solieitation from me; in fact, my iirst kuowledijo of the appointment was tbe roceipt of a telegram from him aonouucing m}' scïcction. I promptly wrote :i telegraphic reply declinhnc the appointment; but Buch preseure vas brought to bear upou me by Dr. S. D. Binghain and other citizens of Lansiug that 1 vcry reluctautly consented to serve on the board and end wbat aid I could toward the permanent location of the lnetitution and the confctruction and e6tablÍ6Qmeut of the scbool. I remained on the board during the balance of the term of Gov. Croswell; also during the term of Gov. Jerome, Ciov. Begole, Gov. Alper, and a po.'tion of tbe term of our present Uov. Luce. My flrst meetiug with the board was on Dec. 7, 18SÜ, at wbich meetiDK I was elecled treasurer, and iiïed bond. I copy froni the public records of the institution, page 11: "On motiou of Mr. Applesate Mr. James M. Turner was elected treasurer of the board. The treasurer-elect ülled out and eitrned the bond in accordance with law." Thls wil! explain about how I :mce to be treasurer, and1 in reffurd to the bond, the insulöciency of wbich Mr. ttcElroj was so exercised about. Th juni! tiled wus for tbe suiu of $lü,U0O. On my accesión to the board 1 found the J. F. McElroy named in McElroy' article alr"ady employed as superintendent (ifthe iu&titution at a salary of $1,000 per ycar. öubsequcntly [liane 15 of record under date June 14, 1SS1, lü-s alary was increased to 81,200 per annum, and tubsequeutly [page 34 of rocord under date June 18, lbS',j it was increased to il,4U0 per anuuiu. At tbe meeting of the board held July 81, 1SS3, a record of which is coutained on paces 43, 44 and 45, 1 ind ou the lusi named page the following entry: Thnasestloc of tlii'appointmcutof oflicers, teachers and employés, for tne year comroenoing with September next, beioz under oonstderatlon, Gov. lieeole moved that the Ealury of the sucerlutendent be flxed at 0 for the period named. Carried. it will bo understood that at the commencement of Mr. McElroy'a connection with the institution hls duties werc necessarily limited, the school tben being in lts iufaucy, but eradually, by the extensión of th school, and the extensivo building oper&tiou6 incurred by the board, hi work became n?ore vuried; more people were placed under bis charsre and the pi.ichasee for the instif.uion which were carried dn by him became annually greater in vtlnmt. TOO MUCB OP A JOB FOR M'BLBOY. Wiile in tbe earlier year of hig employmeut bis work wasreaonbly satisfactofy to the board, the job finally became altotetbtr too large for htm, aud the board beean to flnd tbat while he was tho man they wanted 1d some places, that he wa entirely incompetent in otbers; aleo that an idea seemed to be growing upon him tbat the state of Michigan was a great biir state, and that one ot bis particular oillces on eartb was to recklessly 6pend a eoodly portion of the state funrls. Hls extravaêance in purchases, and nis utter lack of business ability to determine the kind aua values of goods needed for the lnatltution finally determined the board to roake a cbanee in lts method of doing business Accordingly on the SSth day of June, ÍSSOJ lt #a uuanimoualy decided by the board of control' tbat, whcreaü, Mr. McElroy ha been receiving a alary of $l,C00 per annum, and had obtalued all tlio Büpplic8 for running hit house at state expense, and also had the help in hls house furnished, t wns decided to jjreatly eurtail bis expenditures on said account, and requiro him to pcrsonally incur tho exponse of maiutainiuir hls own household. Tho number ot high teaB, dtaner parttes, tocials and other meetings at his house haring bv tnis time become so extenslve, as well as expensive, and his family haring at thia time como to regard themselves as the supporters of a social fabric here in Lantlnfr, and the entertainments all being furuished at state expense, the board uuanimously feit that thcir duty to the taxpayers required vigorous steps to be taken, andconsequently anew arrangement was decided upon, is lodicated iu the record of the meeting of Juuu 3, 1880. I copy from tho public record kept at the iustitutiou, pages T3, 74 and 75: In considemtion of the creatlyincreased work iu supei-intcmlluK tho construction of buildings, the board has allowed Superintendent Meiiiroy a salarv of $],GUO per aniim, aud baa furalshècl talm his home, provideu for oue iervaut, and paid tho expansus of his tablet Now that tho work of tho building is completad, the board decided to allow his salary to remain at the same fiuure. Sl.liOU per auuro, but it wonld no ioueer pay the expenses ot' his Household, except heatinir, washiuir and lichtniK: he to provid for hls Own tublo independently of the institutiou and to pay uoh domestica as he ohoso to employ. The board hIbo dccii & sleward. This will relieve the suporintendont of the dutfes of tla purohaftioft for -mi ion, and enable hlm to devote lus time to tho work of teaching and suporintending more especially the school work proper. After consuitlnit with Prof. MoElroy be v, as fouud to bo agreoable to the new arranpoments. As tho Uutiea which miiriit properly belone tobotb the posiüons of superintendent and steward have bithuito devolved on the first naraed officer alone, and as the arrangement now conteniplated is a uow departure, the board soes fit to plaoo on record in understRndiuK of the duties that will hereafter pertain to the positions of superintendent and steward: 1. The superintendent: He is to have charjre. dirooiioii and superintendeney of the school work proper, shall teauh such classes aa he eau best do, not less than two, shU exerclie a vigilant suporinteudence of the woik of the tenchers, tnolddlng lnstraotlou in the broom shop, and suoh other dopartraents of instruction as may from timo lo time be introduced, and shall prornplly report to the board any inetanco of insubordination on lbo part of either teacher or sc'liolar. any int'tllciency on the part of any teacher or any (fiss breaohos of decorum or of tlie ruies of the institution by either teacher or soholar. Ho shall condnct n 11 correspoudenoe coucerniuic the scholars, and hall si tu t tho dirtottoiM o Uu board Litallos In tho record] In rexard to the management of tho school are carried out. Aud the board recommonds that tho superintendent keep a record of each matter of interest that may iriso in the work of ihe school, utid present the same in writing to the board at eaoh meeting thoreof. ". The steward: It shall bu tho duty of fnis oflicer to keep the books and records of tliB institution, to mako all purebases for the saine, to receive and account for the proceeds of all sales of brooms, work, oto., to oversee any work that may ba In irugreds about the buildiniïs or irroundu and to have ■teneraj charee of tho male employés of the institutiun. The superintendent la (amülar v.iiii tiio steam, water and liko systems of the Institution. it s um th hlm that sbould exlceucics arlse in whioh his inliniiite knowleage would be of use, that tho work necessary to bo dono should be dmio under hiü suoervislon. Tho board decided that in case any question of jnrladlotion should arlse betwt superinrendent and steward. that it should be reierred for decisión to tl. o resident n of the board. )n page 74 under date of June 9th,lS8Ö, is found the folloiving: Prof. J. P. MoElroy was formally engnsed fortlie yeor 1SS!' 7. on the terms more fully set forth in tho record of yesterday'i ceedinKS. Un rtioommendation of the superintendent the followlng teaobera were rcunitatied for the school year of ltSi-T at the smns set opposite thelr name, beinc compensaüon (or Itin montlis: Ü. Ö. 11;1'-!.. $"00: ('nrria Noriimali. Kont, $300; Ella Rider $150; Auron '. iiltkeilee. gCOü; Mrs. A. ' lilukeslee, í;'00: Alioe Uailoy J400. The remainlne employea of tiio institution will be retained or dlsmlwed iu accordauoe with tho steward and new matton when thoy boKin their dutlcs. Xue board 'decided to discontinue the use of water from the well of the institutiou. aud to at once make tho uoOesaary -onnection with the water works system of the oity. It was decided to close tho laundry as soon as possibic aftor tho vacation beirint. The board decldsd to discontinue at the close of tne school the use oí' the elecirio light and not to aaain use it duriUK vacatiou. and the treasurer of the board was instructed to procure what oil and lamps may be necessary for use in the buildiOK. M'EI.KOï' 8PITE AGAINST TUBNUIt. Up to this date there had been no serious dliliculty of any kind between Mr. McElroy and myself. I realized iu voting for the resolutions adopted as aboyo that, being tho local member of tho board, McElroy would be especially incenscd at me, aud tnat no doubt be would barrass and annoy me beyoud measure for iuaui;iiraling sucb a deep cut in bis salary and for so limiting hls powers. The rcalrzation of this fact, however, did not deter me from doing niy full duty to the state, and it wa from this time forward that McKlroy beau tu announco and itistet upon my utter unlitness to serve on tho board of the institution. It was at this poiut thnt ho lirst realized that the board of control, on whom devclopcd the respousibilities of the proper conduct of tbe bcliool and the inauguration of economtes that would be approvcd by the people, were detennined to shape tho polie.}1 and cour.se of ihe nstituiiou, and absolutely control its expenditures, bowever dlstasteful buch control and brldltng was to McElroy: and from th!s day forward, so far as I was concerued, and l thlnk so far as every member oL the board was concerned, hc apiieanod nte, bumptlous and rebellious. At. every meeting of the board ttaereafter be cbafed and fuiaod and objerted to the system of expetralturea wtlich the board adopted, and to wtlcti they unaniinously adhered trom ttie date abbve mcntiouea. Wbereas, herétofore, McElroy had been superintondcnt óf tbe school, steward oí ttie institution, makinj 11 purcbaees, biring and dUchargir.e all help and nctini as a sort of uutoiirat or Íboh-Bsh, 'the board fouhd tt neceesarj, as tbe foresotnp record ahows, to takè from under hls cbarge Uot only all tbe belp employed about the '((rounds, barn, laundry and boller bouse, but also to take from under bis supervisión all tbe maids and help abput tbe buildings, includiutr cooks anS eervants of every kind. lijs powers were so limited under thls resolution and action of the board tbat at times be scen;ed couvulsed With passion, constantly finding fault and objectine to the arrangement and apparontly harboriug moro spleen and veuom acainst. ms tban any otber, be knowinsr tht the r.nolution adopted and the polisy inaugurated was nt my suggestion. Had it no't been for tbis meeting and the action then taken, tbe relations Ootweon McKlroy and mysolf would doubtless have proved pieasant until Ibis day, provided I bad meekly and raildly oonsented to allovr bim at all times and tinder all circumstances to shape the poücy of the institution and determine eveiythiug; forit he wiNtSS nis own wat. Ilis idea of tha board of control of esid institution was that it should ratify whatever purchases or arrangement ho ín bis mighty wisdom had seen fit to make: but I was not built that way; neitberwore the otber members of tho tioard, and it coneequently kept the bridle in place as long as he remained in charge of the school. The steward cbosen at tbis meeting, Mr. L. C. Bulter, and Mrs. Hutler, who was choeen as the matron, were, however, constantly harasaed and annoyod and differeuces were constantly referred to me as the referee named ín tbe resolution above quoted. You will noticc that In order to avold friction between the uew stewnrd and superintendent in the conduct of the worlc of the school, tho board took groat pain to carefully define tlie duties of eacb, :i6 above, and also as quoted above, that when any difTerences arose thoy woro to be raferred to the resident member of ths board tor decisión - I beiug the recident member. Yon will notice also in the record abovo quoted froru that "the board decided to discoutinue the use of the water from tho veil of the institution and to at once make the necessary connections with the water worka system of the city." In explaOBtlou of tbls deiermiaation of the board 1 will state that although the instituliou at tbis time was paying a btatcd amouut per annum to the city for ail the water it deslred. certain tanks in a toner from which the suppiy pipe led were not connccted with the city water, and coneequently Mr, McElroy, without retrard to expeuse, ineleted upon keeping a man most of the time lugging water from the well to his cottage, and to the kitchen of tho institution, whereas it could all havo been readilv had without expenso by a rfmply change of water connections. McElroy objected etrenuously to this, insisting that the city wator was not good, and that ïhe well wator was more palatable to him and others at tho school. This in face of the fact that the cUlzent of Lanting wore almost without exception u-iug tüo public water aud generally talisfied with it. Ton wil) notice in the minutes of the above meeting also "It was decided to close th laiindrvaR soon as possible after vacatiou beglns." This order was found neeessary to be made by the board for the rcason tiiat McElroy was disposod to retain the help nd keep up the expense of maintalning thd laundry during the vacation for his own personal convenience and that of his family. You will notice in the above record, "The board decided to discontinue at the close of the school the use of the electric light and not use it agaiu durin; varation, and tbo treasurcr of the institution was instructed te procure what oll and lamps maybe necessary for use in the buildings.'1 This order the board found necessary to make for the reason that the electric light was furnished to the insUtutiou and the superintendent cottage by an Edison electric light system establisued by the board on the premises which vrheii' running required steam to be kept up on the boiler and a man oAployeú in attendance on thu euginc. McElroy's idea was to keep this up duriuir the tammer months in order to propcrly light his cottage and lend netter elïeet to soirees and other bocial eutertalnmentt held at liis house at the expense of tho state. The arningements above notert seomed particuluily distasteful to McKlroy, and as the resolutions were drawu and BUggftSted by ni)'self, he soomed to feel au especial anlipitthy to :ne. Allthi.s. however, uwulc no dilTerttnce in my conduct aml nodifference in my detcnuination to conduct the scbool in accordance wilh wcll aettled business principias and economie.. It would have been easier for me pensonally to huve allowecl the tiiing to drilt along and avoided all friction and unpjeasantuess. THE PDRCH18BS Oï MATr.ülAI.. It is charged tbat I was gulltv of many irregularities in the purchate of material and varionf other dltbnrtementt for ac count of the school. On thia subject I dosiie to sav this: At a moeting of the board, Dec. 7, 18S0, (see public record of the institution, on page 11), the following was itdopted: Resolved that all requisitions upon tlie ■eeueral for money appropriated by the lceulaturo for this institution siiall be tijruetl ty tlic president or president jiro toni. of this iioaro, and that the oorreotneHB of eacli individual voucher and reeoipt shnll be certilied to by the superintendent of tlio iustii.utiou, etc. You will see from the above that it was I, and tho public records of the ineVUUion will show that the order was never violated: that the correctness of eacli individual voucher, requisition and receipt should be eertlfied to by tbc (superintendent of the institutioD. Although dudug mv term as treasurer I aisbursed over $300,000, Includiug all the alleced irregular aud illegal payments, at, cited by McKlroy, eacta and every voucher, ttia pay ment of whicU he criticises, each requisition on which 1 drew mouey, wat certified as correct by him, in accorüance with the above resolutiou. Il e al6o complains that funds wcre drawn from the state treasury when not needed, m autwer to which I have to state that evcry requisilion on the auditor-general, coveiing all the appropriations by the state legislature whi'.e 1 was treasurer of tho board, wcre not ouly signed by the president of the board, Townsend North, but each and every one was certiHed as correct by this eamcniau McElroy as superintendent. The l'ree Press charges, "Turner, contrary to law, furnished the brick for the school." Against this allegatiou I deeire to enter my most pmitlTe dental. 1 never sold the brick to the State School for the Wind for a single building constructed at that institutlon. McElroy knowa well enougb tliat i did not. All the brick usurl at that institution wore used by contractors who lu active competitio-.i with builders thruugliout the state had secured the job by riglit ol being the lowest liiddei. Althou:h the coutractor once h:ivin;r been awarded thu contract, being the lowest bidder, and llavinp Uleil satlsfactory bouds for the cnrryine out of the contract, wouhl have been entitled to purchasn, and I would have been legally entitled to scll to inch contraetor any and all building material), the fact is that I nover in one singla iust.ance did scll brick, slate or other building materlals as chareeö. McElroy Vnetr tliis when be charged that 1 did. Ui Mtpport of bis alleatious that I furnished the state ttie brick and slates for tbe north and south wlngs, be introduces the tcptimony of one John C. Vincent of Graud Kapids; and althoueh tbi man Vincent in tbe aflidavit markod ''Jixhibit B'; in tbo Frec l'ress of Oct. 3 fails to state abeolutely tbat tbe brick and slates were purchased from me, I decidei tbat 1 would.take Mr. McElroy's own witnees. I tbrreforu submit heréwith tbe affidavlt of John C. Vincent as follows, and marked EIDIB1T i. State of Michigan, County of Ingham, ss. John C. Vincent, being duly sworn, duposes and says tliat liu is and bas been for many years a rcbidout of Grand KaplUs, Mlch.. and tbat in the vesrs ISS4 and lü5 he was a memoer of the nrm of Farr it Vincent, contractors and buildfrs, and that durinic sntd jresn ald firm had the contract for constnioting, and (iid construct the buildings known as Mie north and south W1PET3 of the niain building of the Michigan Sohool for th lillnd, located at Lanitng. Bloh.: tbat bo has carefully road the ltetroit Free Press of Oot. 3, 18ÖU, and the charges thcruln made by .1. !'. KtoBlro; azainst Mr. James M. Turner, then a local meinber of the board of control for said School for tho Blind, in wbicb Mclroy chargos that Vincent or tbe firm of Farr & Vincent waa required by tlio said Tumor tn purcliase briok and other malcriáis trom Mm, tbo said Turner, and alao charging that by such requii'ements the buildings werc made mucb more exDeniirethánotherwlse. Thi deponent insists that all such charges againstMr.Turnoruia.de by the said Mulilroy are wholly baseless and without any foundation whatovnr, and tbat any statemt-nts of tho kind rofleuting upon the charactcr of Mr. Turner are simply ontrageous, ana donbtloBS inüpired by nialice. 'l'bls deponent states tho fact to be that soinc time in the month of Juno or J uly, lK;i,thpro apneared in tho CHncatio 'l'iibune, letroit i N'ewa iind Lanilng Hepublicau an invittion to contractors, Issued by the board of control of tho Michigan School for the Bliud, requetting bldfl to be submilted furtbo construction and completlon of the norlb and soutb wings of said school for the blind; tbut in pursuanoo to sucb itivjtntlon tliis deponeut, ander tbe firm name of Farr & incent, submitteu a bid or tender for tho work; the same to bo completed iu accnrdnnce with the plans and specificatlons preparad by Willlam P. Applayard, architect; that thls doponenf. nppoarod at a meeting ol' tlie board beid Julyol, 1883, at wbloh were present (iov. Josiah '. Begole, Townsend Norih, Torn S. Apulegate ara Jame1 M. Turner. Tlio various bids were oponed, and it was bete that this deponent first met the said Jame M. Turner, against whoni tho allegations aro filed by the Raid Mcl-ilruy. this deponen was introduced to Mr. Turner n tho preseuce of tli aboyo named gentlemen, and that any and all eonversations had witb htm were had in tlie pre.iRiice of the governor and tho board as abovo described. That upon the opening of the bids tho tenders were as follows: For furnishiuir all materials aud completicn of work: Farr & Vincent, Grand Uapids.. ..$.".8.7!. 00 C'olllns & Jeyucs, Detroit 5V.O4O.U0 Fuller & Wheeler, Lansing 64,646.87 Riobard Glalster, Lanslng 70 Martin & Hilliard. Lansine 81,503.78 That thls deponent.or his firm of Farr & Vin cent, being the lowcst bidders the contract was awarded to thom, and formally tmtered inlo betwten mid iirm and Josiah W. Beeole, Xownsend North, lom s. Applegate and Jumes M. Turner, comprising said bonrd; the two buildings for tho lump sum of $5T.8",6.üü; wbich sald formal contracta aro now on Ui at said school lor the blind: that afier securing tho contract for the conatruotlon of said huildluxs, as bofore men tioned. this denonent on behalf of hl firm had a convereation with ono John Jordán ing, .Mich.. a brlekmaker. whlcb. resultcil in the pnrobMe ly tho aid firm of Vincent frnm tho said Jordán of all the brlok renuired for the ooustruotion of said buildings; that this deponent. or tno Iirm of i íirr & 'inccnt, nevcr bought of James M. Turner a single brlck, nor bad any ooDTetsatlon with the sald Turner In relatloa thertto; thac tbcre vaa uo suggestion bcfore t'.' letting of said contract or after by the said James M. Turner, orany othermember of the board, as to where he shoukl purehase auy kind of materials, or wliat priee h should pay for the same; that on the contvary he was always treated fairly by eaoh ry tnoinber of aaid board and never coerct'd by Mr. Turner or any other member In relation to the purchase of brick, or any other matter or tbing; that all reports to the oontrary by the said .1. !■. McKlroy are scandalom and malicious and wholly dovoiü of trutki that onos uaving takeu the contract to construct said buildinzs in acoordanoe with the plans and specltications, said deponent declare! he was at perfect liberty. and a lawful right to oontraot with tha said Jamos M. Turner, or any other person, for tlio materUli DeceMan for said DuildinjcB, aud that ' tbere coulu be nothing in such au arrangenieut not fnllj iu harmony With tho itatutes, as well as right aud good coiitiOleuoè. as this deponont had infBolent and satisfactory bondB for the ooustruction and completitn of said buildings, as provided In the plans amlspeoifloatlonSt and was Dot Umitdd by siatuto or otherwise as to where the material should be procured. Thls deponent. statcs that his attention has algo been called t" a copy of au atlidavit alleged to havo been prooured from him and pnnted iu aald Detroit Freo Prees of Oot. 8, [890, whiih said aftidarit was procurad froni Lliis deponent by one Jay P. iec, attorney, of Lïuiinfi. Mtlch. This depooent Btatesthë faottobe that said altldavlt was brouttht. to him already prepared by the san] Jay r. l-i-i, .nd tht it wjts siïieu by this dcp;nent withuut a fuil anderstondloji ol oonlenta. This deoonent farther M:ms that :is to tlie slau aterlne luto tho roofsot suid imiidingi. the speolScatlona callud forBanjtoror .M'.ciii'un stat s, whloh Dennitted him to nae l'cr.u.. BÜites; a grado of alatea Inferior t o elther Lbe Banicor, Me., or 'M slates; thst ihe arohiteoi iu charge of the work itated to this deponent that in drawinft the BpeotfloatloDS he madeamtsn, ,n not writinï tin' mjh-íiíoatiOD "Bangor, Me., slate:" that the slates from HiuiKOr. Punn., at Ihe time conld be porohaied lald down in LaosloK ai aboul S4.:u or $.r per square: whlle tho slutes of Baugor, Me., or Mlohigan were wonu at tho regular market prioe at the saine timo, íí'i.'í) tu i" per Bqoare f. o. b. I.íhisíiiií; tbat with a view to obtaioine the best materials (or sald buildings the sald board of control of said sohool for the blind declded to reotify the omission of the arohiteot iu relatlOD to i-; whiohohanite was oarrled out and resulted in the plaoing of Michigan sluu-s du tin roofs f said buildings. 'l'his deponent statos that the slats so farnlshed wasof tli very hitrheat tuality and grL'atest valué, and lunch moro thati wortli tho differenco (whlch amounted to SI. U per sqtmre) bt'twuon the priee originaUyaereed upon and the prioe noally pald this deponent by said board. ïhlsdeponent fnither st;iie that all pavi onaooount of saiJ slates, cu1 un account of any other inatiiials or work ou ; buildiocit were pald i him uu the recular audlted voaohers of said school lor tho blind; and üv.a eaoh and every one of suid vouohers veii oertifled as correct by .1. F. MoElroy, superintundenv, tho very manwho charaos Irregularltles lnsaidpayinunis: and wim, if my reoolleotlon U correct, was the fii-st man to rail attention to tho Inferiority oí tlie bangor slate whlch was boins delivered ou the round. JUIIN ( . IM'KNT. 1 heroby cortity that. .1. C. Vluoentha road the forccoiuK atlidavit, by him above Bubscribed, and that be kimws tho contenu . ;ind that he swears the same to be truo Iu every particular. c; , i ROE C. COOPBB, Xotary Public iu and for iugham county, .Mich. .IOIIN' JORIJAN'8 TK3TIMONT. Iu the above afMavlt Mr. Vincent swears that all bricks purchased for the noi th and eouth wingt (and wbich the Free lJrc6s allozos were purebased froui me) vvore purchased from one Johu Jordan. It occurred to me that the public would like to bear from John Jordán uimsuit on this subject. 1 tborefore traced up Mr. Jordán' wborenbouts by tcleK'rapb, and beg to submit herewith hi tsstimony on this 6ubjict: State of Michigan, county of Ingham, ss. I, Johu Jordán, belDg li:ly SWOTO, depose and say. I reside iu tbo city of Detroit at ilward avenue. I am 48 years of agc. ,1 was fur lü years cntraired in tlie brick business, for a part of the time in the employ of H. li. Hall of Detroit, and the balance of tha time at i.ansing on myown yard; that I havo oarefullj nnd tbc Detroit ree Press of Out, 3, 1BÍK), especiallythecommentsof tiiat paper rchitivo to thealleited sale of brick hy James M. Turner of Lnuslng to tlie Michigan School for tho Blind, or tó Farr & Vincent, ooutractors, and the affldavit of one John C. Viucenl, beariue on that subject, wiilch statements are wickodly and maliciously falso in erary particular. Aud deponent further Ath MíjU he, xtot Jaines M. Turuer, sold and donvored to the firm ot Farr & Vincent, oonCraotott, all of the brloK usediuthe coustfuction of the iiurih and south wings of tho Mlchitran School for the BHud, as theroin doxcribed, in all ahnnt l.ïilO.OOi), Includinic the fc brick for said buildings. That the said liriek were sold by me to Karr & Vincent at or below the regular market prico for snch brick, arul that tlioy wero paid for to ino by the said Karr & Vincent, and that said James M. Turner had no interest whatever ín the sale or delivery of any of tbe brick in suid buildings. The statements of the said Kree Press, the said J. F. McElroy and .7. C. Vincent In this reliard beinit wholly and ibsolutely false, and without the slightcst foundation In faot, Ictthited to injttre tho reputtition and stand ng of the said James M. Turner. And deponent further saya tliat the sales above referred to were not iuatie to the Micbltcan School for the Blindt but to Fan A Vineni.t, contractors, and no une conuoctedwith tho school for tho blind had anything to do wlth the trausactlon as fur as 1 Wiis concerned. And dononent turthor says that if the said firm of Karr fc Vincent could have obtaiued the briok chcaper from (Jwosso or auy otbT market they wero at perfect lilierty to tío so, as thoy wcre uot influenced in auy way by this deponent, or by any person actintr for hhn, ihe transaction being made In tho recular course ot business and in the ordinary mannor. .Ioiin JORDÁ2C. Svf-'rn and lUbsorlbed to beforu me ihis 8rd dayof October, lbiW. Geohqf. C. Cooi'EH, Notary Public in and for Ingham l ountv. Midi. WtLLIAM n. KBEKT.s' TRSTIMONT. As the name of o:ie of the most prominent ürius in the roollnif business ín this etate is connected wfth" the MoEIroy allegatlons the public would probably be best sul isfieil wlth the testimonv of one of the members of the firm of Eberts Bros. of Detroit, whose uame was draggeil into this contioTersy. I tberefore siibmit herewith, the affldavit of Willlam II. Eberts, senior memoer of the said iirui: St te of Michigan, Count y of Ingham, sí. W. H. Kberts of Detroit, Michigan, deposes anü says that he resides in the city oí Detroit, where he was bom: ba has been onRaged sílice 18T1 In the roollne business nndertho ftrOQ name of Kharts Brothers. At present ho reside-s at tne Wayno hotel, in ths city of Detroit: the factory of iinn beintc siluated l'X.' to l'JS 11 ;h streef west; thnt be hasreadthe Detroit Pree Press ol ' KrUlay, Oot. 8, 1890, and IU otsault npon Mr. James M. Turner; also that ho has read theooir.munication In said paper, marked eihiblt l', purportlnit to bo siftned by .iay P. Leo, and dated May ü, 1887; also the remarks of salí papor by Mr. J. F. MoEIroy, as B prelude to sa!'! exhibit D. This deponent fnrther statea that the slatc rootinp on tho north and south winfcs oi' tlio superintendent'! oottaga at the Michican .School for tho Blind, as referred to in the above Communications, was furnished and lald on by the said ürm of Kberts Bros. if Detroit, Mich. Thateaoh of said roof was lald with No. I quality Michigan álate lor which the saiti flrm of Kborts Bros. receivcd the rate aud prloe of $'J pur square from the ald .-Vhool for tho Ulind, accordinKto airreennut with the board of coutrol of said school: t.hat the firm of Kberts iiros. purehastid the slate for Bald roof from tha Mii'hi)Ean Blata C'o. of Arvon. Jiarasra couuty, ilich., In the recular course of business and at the recular market prloe, and that the price rect'ived was oonsldarably below the aotual vlue for tnoh roofs; thuy at that timo beinit well wortli $H per sduare lald on In Lansiiiji: that the material fnrnlfthad wasthe best thdt could be procurcd; and all the work in oi tlierc with was done in tho bost mauor known to thtj trade. This deponont furthcr stotes that eaob aud i-very voucher of whioh payment was mado by tho said school for the blind to tho saitt lii-m of l-jberts Uros., ovqtíDíc tha work and material in all of said roqfa, were duly Hiidited by the board of control of said school for tho biimi, and also cortliicd as correct by J. F. MoKlroy, tlio same party who uiakt-s tiic charges of Irreffulgrity, Thtsfleponent furtli8r statss thathe party Wlth whom Mr. .Iay i'. l.eo had t!;e alleged interview on the 3()th day of April, 1887, and not his brethir. Jolm H. Bberta of Detroit, Mica.; that tho ailoeed interview was nút had with this doponeut alone, bui that lt was had at his oflioo on High treet, Detroit, in the pressnoe of Jolm M. Bberta and Mr. James Ij. Thomson, tho bookkoeper of tho firm; that this depouent made no atatoment or insiuuation of anythint; that could he conjured or dlstorted into a statemeni or nsinutUm rolleotinj; upun tho regularity of the traatacHon abovo named; and that each and overy part of the transaotton r-elathiK to the rooiine of the aboveiiamed buildings was atorbelowthe usual price for such work; that no part of the tranaaotlon ooald possibly rellectupou the inteffrity or good uame oí Mr. .lames M. Turner, or any other mumber of said board of control; thkt at the time said worlc was dono Mr. Turuer was a uiemborof the boaid of control of sfiid school for tho blind. This dopotieut fnrther state that ha is and ahvays has been in politici a Denu-crat, aud thai wliiie lt niiKlit acoriic to the advantaeo of the party with whlohhehasa tdentlned toallowtho insinuatfonaud !loKatious ulamst ttie said Turner to go un-.ffoted, tliat his sense of fairuess andrlgbt prohibits his keoping silent under all renmstanoet of tha aawult upon Mr. Turner; and tlits depoueirt furtlier Btatea that any attempt on the part of saitl Froe l'ross or said .1 . )■'. MoElroycr tho eaid .Iay 1'. Lee i" Bmlroh the name of said Turner in connectlon in an mitrare upon oominoa ilec(Micy anti to be deploied by all KOud ciltzens. This ueponent fnrther states that he ha3 kn'own Mr. Törner for many yean, and has nlwaya found nlm, aml now bellevea him to be, n tboroiiclily üpright, honorable and onsi--!iM)i business man aud citieu, aud that any construollon or dlstortlonof the fncts In conuectlon with the transaction of tlie irik's übovc roferrcd to which reflapts npon an] ciUzenmual of neoasstty be notonly llbelons, but outragcous. This deponent fnrther (tatet that ho nu I ba ftlate business tor nearly 30 years, and tliai ni lias beeuoulled to the statement of tbe said Free Press ïhai the huard ot (niitf'1) it' the said bchool for the Blind r-nid $1.10 per square differenoe between bangor, Pa., slute, whloh wasde llrered on their srounda and rejeoted, and No. 1 Michigan slate. And this deponent msisjs that lf said board obtafned tne chance for tha prloe named, thai ii was oertatnly in theluterestol the i 'Sople of the v' Michigan, and of rniifili trreator valus iüd that tin! actual dlfference iu ralue between tho slates named was at that time Super square u favor of the Mlchluan slate. and that the buildings now roofed with Michigan slato aro maou moro aubstantlal and lasting, and of muob more vaiuo than if roofed with Banfror, Pa., slate, and that this faot is well known i all slate dealers thronishout the oountry, Michigan slates raUng in Quallty as high as auy slatLS produccd in the workf, Deponent furthur stutes that ho wants to emphasize tbe fact thut thoro was uoi btng whatever said t the time of the aliene. 1 m,torvicw with said .Iay 1'. 160 that could by a posslbllil v lic oonstrued u any way uto any Buoh conversatiüu as it is claimed was had with his brother, aud that, the substanco ol' tbis allejced ntervlow ís utterly and absolutely false. for, as beforo stateu, not only ho liimsolf was present, but. also our bookteeper and myself and inmniileto oall to mind and make this statement in this oon nection froo from auy doubt or question. W. li. Eberts. On this 4thday of Octobor, A. D. lbHU, personally appeared before me, a notary public, V. II. Eberts ol Detroit. Mii'l.i.. tome known to be the pan y who subsoribedto t!io foregolng Instrument, und who swears that. his aUidtivit as therein set forth is correct aud truBinevery particular, and that he has read the same and knows the conteuts tliereof. GBO. C. Coi Notary Public in and for Insham county, Mich. SOME SCI'PORTIXO EVIDEXCE. In support of the recollectiou of Mr. Williaui II. Kberts in lenard to the alle;eü interview wlth Jay i'. Lee, I beg to submit hciewith the afttdavit of -Mr. John M. Eberts, the party mentioncd in the l.ee statement, and aleo allidavit of -Mr. James L. 'ihorason, the bookkceper of tho fir.-u of Kberts Bros. ueretoforo roferrcd to, so tbat wo now have the testimonv of the three persons pre6entat the interview had witb the said l.ee, which is quoted iu the Freo Press article: State of Michigan, Connty of Wayne, ss. JohnM. Eberts, of the city of Detroit, of Miid county and state, beinir fust duly sworn, says that he is a membor of the flrm of Eberts Bro., in said city of Dotr it: that has road the afiidavit or ff. II. Eberta, lis brother, rolatlve to the McKlroy attack Dublisliod in the Detroit Free Press on Oct. 8, 1890, regarding an alleged interview with one Jay P. Leo, and has alo rcad said interview, niarked exhibltw." That said afüdavlt of hls brother roKardinjr'satd interview is truc in ftvrv particular to the personal knowkulire of this dcponent. Deponent further says, for himself , In adcliti'in to what his brotner bas stated ín said affldnvit, that Iho alleifed interview as reported by said I.co is without iny foundation whatever, aud that this dfl itively af'sortü that ho nevor had nny conversutiou whatever wlth said Itíe as stated in said ininterviow, elther dlrectly óf iudirectly, at the time as in saifl alleged intorviow stuted. or at any otilar tiinf, aiul that theonlyoonrersatton ever had by said Leo, to tho knowlBdge f this deponeut, was is in his brother's atlidavit stated, and at this time deponeut's said brother, W. H. Eberts and Mr. James 1.. Thomsou. thobookkeeper of Eberts Bros., were present. JonN M. Kbf.uts. Subscriijed and sworn to before me this Or.li day of Uctober, A. i). 1890. Ja mus L. Thomson, Xotarv Public in aud for W'ayne county, Mloh. State of Michigan, County of Wayne, ss. James L. . Ibomson, belnctlrstduly sworn, says that he resides in the city of Detroit, Mich. That he wus in the year 1BS7 and still is in tho euiployment of Bberts Bros., who are eueaged in tho rooflng business in said city. That he ha3 read the affidavitó of w. H Bbertt and John M. liberts, who constitute the lirtïi of said Eberts liros. That ho kuows ilio contenta of each of said aft!, davits mado relative to an interview alleeed to have been had with ouo Jay P. I.co on or about May :.', 18S7. That he is the one thero referred to by eacn of said affldavits, and that ho was present at the time of said allegcd interview, and the matter stalod by saiil W. 11. Eberts and John M. Eberts with regard to what tooit place on that occasion is true to tho personal knowlcdjfe of this deponont, aud nothiicc was st&tod whatever as reported in the claimod interview by said Lee, or anything of a ltke import, as this deponent can positively state, a he heard everythins that occurred on that occasion betweeu I.ee aud .Mr. W. H. Eberis. jmis i,. Tbombon, Subserlbcd and sworn to before me th'is Olh dar of October, A. 1). IKK). ROBEBT W.'WüBB. Notary Public in and for Wayne county, Mich. Xt will be seen irom tho foreqroiug affidavits of the partios who iurnished materials, who coutracted for tbe ercetion of the buildings, aud who laid the shites, that neltner the brlck nor the elfttee, nor any other Dtiildine: material was sold by me to the inBiHutiou as is charged in McKlroy's indlclmcut. McElroy, however, knows as well as anvbudy can know, that when the buildings in queition were eontracted ior and let to the lowest bidders that tbe successful bidders had a just, perfect and leeal richt to arrango with me as an individual, for any of the mate rials entering into t-aid bulMfng. But he must have soma material trom which to spin his yarn, and therof ore tbe building niaterialB were eelected. TUK MILK SKl.I.lNC OHAW It Is also (barbed by McKlroy that I wrongfully sold mllU to the iustitution of the RChool ior the blind. The public should know about this ui i l It business and where the shoe pinchos. X tberefore state, without fear of contradicción, that the Snterence grew out of ruy breaking ud extravagant purchases oí mille which I found were beiag made by McElroy irom a very particular íiiuuci and bosom companlon'of his, ona A.' J. Holcomb, whom I dtscovered was selliiiK milK to the Üeform School here at Lansiui; at four cents per quart, and at the same time supph'iní it to his friend McElroy ior the insUtution of the .School ior tbe Blind ut livo cents per quurt. I objecteil to this arrangement. The vouchers in the auditor ren(ral's oflicu will tucak ior tliemselfes on this subject and show tlmt Mr. ilolcotnb altaneously inpplylni; the Kefortn School and the School for tile Blind with milk, the former at four cents per quart and the latter at live cents per quiur. I subinit herewith abstract ot vouchers in the auditor eueral's ollice bhowinï dates, qtUDtlties, rates and ainounts purchased of said iiolcomb as follows: : OOh KOK BLIND. Dnto. 1SSG. Quantity. Katn. Amount. Jan 1,828 qw iets Feb 1,203 " 6 " . ..i,;.'7t " 5 tm.to Apr 1,208 " 4!cts .... 64.U ukiciüm SCHOOL. 1880. Quantity. Kate. Amount. Jan M0 Qtl ots $25.60 Feb SCO" 4l .4U Mar .-"O " " Apr 10 " 4" 24.110 'these vouchers are numberecl respeol for tho school for the blind 1S02. 166, 1008 and 1818, and lor the reform school Jammiy. 880; February, 848; Maroh, 119, and Aprih'.tft. X also prest-iit herewith alïidavit of Mr. lionry Ilinuplirey, Kneral acoountant in t!ie auditor-yencral1!; offlcOi of suudry aalient portlont of tbe Mclilroy munifesto. siaieof Mtohlgan, County of tusht ïiiit. Huniphrey, beini Uuly sworn. i oath says that ha rei oltyofXjansitiK. and luis lor I bat 1; is the general acoountant oí iho aadltor-general's offioa i I l Mlohljtan. Túal ezamined every Toucl: 'i1 everpald fi couut of the Michigan School ior the Hlind bj Jamei M. Turner, treasurer, during hla term as a membor of lald board of ttie ■obuol for ths blind, and that ho thuis each ry voucher so paid to baT6 been eertilicd us correct by.J.F. McK'.roy, gu tendent And turther, deponent sjs that uot a voucher showinji payuieuts to James 11. Turner for auy of the brick or other material used iu tho erectlou of the south winï, north trimt or resíllenos for tho supmimendeut. or for brfoll or other material used In tlio workshop or dormltory, nor the enifine hoUjBO aud laundry building, nor lor inilk uvou by sald lohöol lor the blind, ia stated In tbe affidavit of J. iiblished ín the Detroit Pree Press (let. 8, : liKNüv li ' hSubscrtbed and sworn to before me this Ctli day of October, 1890. iu Ui - N'otary Public for Inicham couuty, Mlch. It will be scen froiu the abovo how báseles McKIroy's charge was in these respeots; as not a cent was over paid to me for mllk for tho school for the blind, and never a quart pi mllk or a drop of milk v.'us ever delivuiod to the school ior the blind by me, or any material sold by me to the schojl ior any of the buildiugs thereof. SAVED MONET ON TH SI. ATE. Every taxpayer will belleve and insist that il' the product ol tbe uieat state of Mlcnifran are uqua! or superior in quality and as cheap In prlce that, they Ehould at all times be iriveu in the construction of all Michigan public buildings, over producís of any other state, it was this f act whieh governed the board in its determtnation to uso Mionigan slutea In the construction of the coal sheds aud barns. Mi. . J. Dougherty was contractcd with to furnish these slates nt JfS per square, he doing all labor aud furnishing all rna terlals. Mr. Uougherty bcini entirely irrespouslble llnauclally I recoived from the Michigan ölate (;o. of Arvou, Baraera ?ountv, Mich., (in whlcl) X atn porsunall.v intere'sted) a bilí of slates at $ü per 6quure, delivered to A. J. Uonjrhertv, freiirht pald to LaoslnKi Micb., tbis with tue request thut wheii tho voucher camo to me, as treasurer, ior the payment of the slate rooiing done by the said Uoueherty I withhold the amouut duo from him ior the materials, which I cheerfnlly Ut. Í have no apolo'ies to make ior this transactlon. Xt was rigut and legitímate that i should do exactly as X dld, and thn slate roofs on the buildings described ín the IJougherty affidavit, and in the buildings described as the north and south wings, will, through all time, remain as a monument to the good sense of the board krol of tbe Schoot for tho Blind in adoptiujr 'he hishest quality of slate kuowu iu tho raarket ratner ;hin uslng a less durable and less attractivc articlc from foreign markets. Tbere ír no claim that these slate roofs cost too much, aé everybody who has any practical knowledge of the constructiou of tmüdines and vulue of uiateriuls knows wall euough that the roofs on the north and eouth wiugs aud the roof6 on the baru and coa! snede wero extremcly low Iu price aud much below their actual valué. Under tho bead of "proüt ua tho briok" he charges tBttt I pocketed over 18,000 ir jrofits. 1 state positively, unequivocallj and ahgolutely that 1 never dcrived in tbe way of profits $8,000, or eiglit cents, ui ono cent, or any other sum at anv tlrue trora or through a sale of auy .trials to the School lor the Blind during, Jefore or since my connection with thal iustitutio!). and I chtilsnge the world on thls proposition. OME OF H'ELROT'S BISTOBTIOSS. Under the head of "visit of the legislativo cotnmittee" McElroy charges delibérate falsebood and misrepresentntion by me to the members of that committee who, whon respondiuc; to an tequiry to me au to the diiïereuce between the $30,000 appropriated by tha legislature for current expenses of the institutton fortha preceding year, and the blennial report of the treasurer, whieh showed only au expemliture of some $21,000. I rememberdistinctly this interview with the legislativa committee. They seemed surprised that we should have had appropriated for our uso $30,000 and only 6pend $21,000, and asKed about the balance, which I told them was in the treaeury. McKlroy says I told them it was utill in the state treatury, not having been dravrn from tliere. Ha says that he went to the auditor-jrcneral's office and looked the matter up and f ound yhut it had all been drawn. Was it necessary for McElroy to eo Ka the auditor-general's off.ee to ascertain this fact, vrben every requisition for every dollar of the $30,000 hnd been certifiod by bimself as superintendent of tho institución, before delivery to me as treasurer and before pretentation by me at the auditor-general's olCce? I stated to the legislativo committee tbat the balance was in the treasury; tbs reports sworn to by me and filed monthly in the auditor-general's office would cor' robórate this statement. Thoso report were open for iuepectlon by the legislativa committee, or to any cítizen, so all the dis crepancy between the truth and McElroy ' statement in this matter seems to be that while I said the balance was in the treasury he says that I said that it was still in tha state treasury. Further comment on this subject is unneceseary, McElroy'a complaint on this point grew solely out of the fact that the board had nol authorized, him to spend the entire uppropriation, but insisted upon keeping his expenditures within bounds, and thus avine; and reserviug about $9,000 of the funds appropriated. During my terra as treasuror for tha Xnstitutlon for the Blind thcio passed through my hands between $3GO,0UO and $400,000, which aums wero used for current expenses of the school and for tha constructioa of buildings, preparation of the grounds and furnishing tbe apparatus and necessary appurtenances for the mstitution. I was requircd and did file fof each month witU tho auditor a sworn statement as to the condition of the funds, the balance in my hands as treasurcr, th smounts disbursod ana the vouchers to cover the disbursemonts. each voucher beiug certiiled to as correct by "J. F. McElroy, superintendent." All this is a matler of public reeorjd and open, at the auditor-general's office, to the clpsest ■crutiny of any citizen. ■vi'r.i.noT's scnEME of My term of office azpired by limltation m the spring or summer of strait-jaeket into which the board i.art placed McKlroy uo doubt Induoed him to determine that, as hu could nul i tools of tbe members of the board, ha would from timo totime. ai tucir terrns of ollice expirea, malie ist.iu?lt upon them, and if portsiüie prevent their reannointuicnt and secure a board mure; to his bellest.'. .My t(ra ing ilrst I was no doulit. selee as tha lirst victini. llethercfoi my term did not expire uutil .luly, his aseaults upon me toOov. Lj time in j-'ubiunry, 1S67. My rcooili is that the charges awainst me were not only all those published in the Frep : but also every crime and mltdemeanor in the category. Gov. l.uoi; udviBed me of these assaults and i;nv an opportunity to make my uxplau which were eutirely satisfactory to him; so zuucu so that he ilnnlly told me that ha had never eutcrtalned any idea but that of giving me a reappointment, and that ha had seen no renenn for changini; hlaruind. 1 had served, however, on the board contiuuously for about seven yaars, during all of which ttmo 1 was a resident member of tho board, nnd the work of tho laying out of the grouuds and the looking after the coustruction of the buildings devolved largoly upoo me. l had given frecly oi my time during this period, and that X was not serving for pecuuiary consideratlons, I think, may be udged by tho followlng shonings from the reporta of tha auditor-general: The inyments to tha resident membors of ml state boards siuco tho Jaw hx such per Ulom anti expenses pa from the irenenil fund of the state in lütíl ir il irifltitutions theu orRauizod and for which per diem ás well as oxpeuses wera paid up to .funo 30, 1837, the date my term expirod. as follows: Mtohtjtan School for tne Blind.., S Hl 00 School for the i)eaf , 7iü IX Keform school . Ituiusi.rial Homo for ölrls : Stalü prison r. ) Rata pnbltc sohool , Normal suhool J,301 t ■wnr na declined heappOwtí!ent. I had persistontly and continually neglected my own business tor the benefit o{ tho school. X was not tbere for tha money that was in it but had cheerfutly Berved ou the board from pure.ly pairiotio motives. I dedded finally to declino % reappointment and so told Gov. Luce, who at my suggestion very cheerf ully appointed as niy successor ilou. Daniel L. Case. I was not forced to withdraw my name, in fact no pressure wüs brought to bcar upon me, except from JIcElroy, to tukc any such step. The withdrawul ol ny name was for purely personal reasons, and X withdrew it, or declinad to be a candidate, after having been assurcd by Gov. Luce that he would give me the appointment. The statement of McElroy that 1 had iuduced Gov. Alger, Jame F. Joy niid James McMillan to nmks per, peals to (lov. Lnc in my behalf is falso from start to liuish. I never applied to any of the gentlemen abovanatned for assistance in this dlrectisa eithcr persowally or otberwine, and neither asked nor expected any person in the etate of Michiiran to sea or intercede with Gov. Luce iu my behalf in this regard. As ihe gentlemen named above as doing 80 much hu tu briiifi abüut my renppoiatment are distinguished and honorable citizens and residents of Detroit, connrmatiou of thia statement can easily be obtaiued by applying to them. The spring and summer of 1837 was a tryiiifr time to the nerves of this man McElroy. In his anxiety for the care oí the funds of the institution and his anxiety to properly regálate the appoiutuents of the gentlemen who were to stand wntoh and guard over him, it is no wonder that ho overreached his mark in many particular. During that summer ho w;is partioularly solicicous about tno Insuiliciency of my bond, nd the enormous amouirV by me. iHe seemed to f eel that this money really could only be safo if X would lot blmtabeitaod hold it for me. 11e haj groat confidenco iu bis own Int( and ability to manage great finauciai trusts; and I have no doubt he would nava been untirely 6atisliud had I elected to iülow him to koeji the fundo. Thoamoiint, however, was uot so much as he feigned to tliink, and the inteiesis of the stata were not in such jeoiutrily ds hc ropruseuted. This, you will tue bj record of the school for i uudor date of Aug. 7, 1887, which readl as follows: MONEY OUT OF DIS OWN FHNDB. Tothe board of ooatrol liicliioa Sehcwl for tho Blind: Gentlemen:- Tour eommjttco aipoiutod to settle with tho latt the boanl have performed that (luty and find tliat tho lato treasuror, eceived f rom allsourci ; blunnial report i . sum of $22,0.'0.33 and tlmt ho ha diabursed imt of tho Institution the sum of :i), leavinz a balancia of $49.08 duo liini f'.ir that amount disDiirsed for tho inwill appear in detail by referenco to tho account of receipts and i iturts herewitn submitted. D. L. Cake, ui-man of Comuiitt.be. LANSLNO. Aug. 2, 1887. ,The otuer member of tho committce Was Uon. 'iownsend North. Oq pago 91 ol the record, uuder the saine date, occurs the followinc: Mr. ü. G. Itaco, who. nt tho last meetine of the board, was roelected to the positlon of erary teacher, whioh posltion he has hold for two years last nast, was choson aetloe superlctcndunt for the term becinnintr -bent. 1, 1887, and endinsr Jmifi HU, 18S8, for ' and his wil'e. iu adúition, to bayo tbair homo in the schooi building. Frora the above vou will eee that althoagh McElroy iolt that the mm ii my hanüs was in groat jeopanly of bslng lost and that my bond of $10,000 o:i fllö at the Capítol wüs not suffleitnt to protect the lntereets of the pcople, the facts are that upon a full and final ettiement lt was found that inslead of the enormous sum alleged to be In my hands the iustitution owed me $4U.0S, for whicü araount I received the check of D. L. Cas'j, who was my suecessor in ofce, as Bhown by the abovo report and recorö. 1V1!Y M'ELUOT WA3 DISCHAROKD. I retlred from the board by llmltation lorac tima in Juue or July, 1887. McElroy's conduct and management of the instituUon had flnally become so rank that ou Anir. 2, 1?S8, as Bliown by the record on pace 91, Mr. U. O. Kace was unanitnously eelectod by tho Ooaid tosucceed him. This was unüoubtedly the straw that broke the camel's bsek. To be turned away from tho state rib to which he had becorae 60 attacued wao a blow greater ttian ho could well bear. He then aud there, no doubt, determined to keep his gun loaded for me, and I ought to be under Itstirg oblipjatioiis to him for finally sbooting it ofl and eiring me au opportunitj to put inyself on record before tho people in answer to tho allesrations whlch he has privately peddled for the last three years, aiid which have boon given verbal clrculïtiou general1,? throujfhout the state. While it would have been in bad taste for me at any time to havo rushed to the nowspapers with ray defense of theee matters, wheu they were beiug eimply paesed from mouth to rnouth by McElroy and a coterib by whom he was s'urrounded, it is a privilege which I appreciate to be able to answer iu detail the samo charges, riow that they ara foramlated into tangible shape. TIIE CBAEGES OF PROTEST MATTER. In fiamSne head-lines the Freo Press anuounces that the iustitution was "muJeted for charges of protest"- referriup to the checks drawn Dy me and alloged to have been protestad. There may have been such a caso during my career as treasürer, but if thcre was, and McElroy will point out the voucher in which the state paid such protest fees, I will aree to forfeit 4100 for every dollar so found. MeElroy dv.olls at lenjrth upon the matter of protested checks, but uniortunately he follöws all that ho say about them wíth a letter from Cashier Coleman, which I quote as follows: ' Dear Sir- There was a mlstake. Tho check for $l,103.72, iudorsed by you; wasnot poid. This notieO was urobably Intcndod for somebody else. The $1,103.72 was sent Back to Detroit fdr payment yciterday. Yours, etc, Ji. L. ColE.man. Cashier. 'Tho protest to wliich he refers, and tlia ouly proteat of which be gives u.s ony evidoaco, is cheek ior $250, which Air. Coleraau sjtys was a mistake. Tho truth ie, tod aooe can controvert it, tüat eTery check over drawu by me for the School for the Bliud or in payment of any bilis or vouchers tor the School for tho Blind was promptly paid. McElroy says: "On evral occasions Kr. Turner absented bimself from the city bo that 1 could not get track of hi m through his clerks In bis office. The inetitutipn accounte were very mueh deïayed in payment," etc. Can It be possiblo? Dunop; the entire eeven years wbile troasurer of the board, I was maniigin? fcdvoral largo concerns in Lake Superior, as well as haviug interesta that callad me to New ïork, Chicago, Detroit and othor citiee, and it is more than likely that on many occasions I was not to be found at my desk. Wbile everybody who has any kiiowiedge on the subject knows as Wil as 1 do that I continuad to serve the statu as member of the board of control lor the Schooi for tbe Blind, greatly to the sacrifica of tuy own private iuterests, and Qany times Í allowed my own affairs to aujfer in order to have every detail óf the inelitution's business carricd out in a ■liuaiuess-liüe ïnannor. I may havo been out sometiuies when McElroy called, but itcElroy knows, aüd everybody knows wliu had dealings with the School ior the ]liud, and certainly the people who furnï.shed supplies, materials, labor, etc., to the -ynount of nearlv $160,000, while I was couuected wfi.h the institumust of necessity have called o-'ten, yet not one of the:u, McElroy ei, ever presented a properly audiicd voucher du!y certified as correct i)y "J. F. McKlroy, superintendent," but tbac the sama was promptly paid. KLT OVER 200 INDIVIDUAL ACCOUKTS. fiow, In regard to the gross misuse oí the fuuds belooginjf tó be State School ior the iiliud, l have only to say that in my offiee at that time, as aow, tbere wero mort tbau 200 individual accounts, luriui; ttio time of my iocumbency as treasurcr of tho iustitutioo, the account of the school for the blind was added te, the other accounts iu ray office. On liopy occasion, isstantly upon the receipt of aiiy funds for accojuntof theiostitution they were handed over to me by my caehler, Mr. C. P. Ten Eyck, to bo placed to the credit of the institution, where they reinalned and were notmixed with anyothdr account. Whcn vouchers or pay rolls, duly audited aud certified by McElroy, woro preseuted they were paid eitber iu carreucy or check and charged against t!ii account. Not one dollar of the school funds while I was treasurer of that institution ■was ever loaned to any individual, corporation or bauk, for any time or for any amount. Nor did I while connocted with eald Iustitution evor recsivo from any sonree ono penny of interest on any funds ia my hands. Mr. McElroy cite the case of otber institutions whicu he claims reccived i per ent on their nonth!y balances. 'i'Lis I know notbing about, and it was certainly none of my busisess. I had quite as raucli confidence in my own iustitution as in that of any otliers; and iuasmuch as there wae no statute or rule requíring that I make any other depository than with myself, I did not see fit to do so. I wa at perfect liberty to bury the money in the fielde, carry it in my pockets or bold it in the vaults in my olllco. The accouats current of this inetltution on Gle 'S the suditor-general's office showmg jlho condltion of the account at the close ')f each month disclose sundry advances (y me ranging from 812.83 to $2,049.68. OTBXK OF M!EI.BOï'3 CUAI18E3. 8ome portions of McElroj's charges are to reekiug with filtíi and slime that it is ieneuta the dignity of a decent man to etoop to answer them, but the ezigencies of this case are such that I prefer to liuve the whole case known. He says: "I also charge Mr. Turner with being an unCt man moraUy to be a member of the board of control of tnis inntitution.'"It is also a matter of current talk that Mr. Turner leasen his property for purposes of prostitntiou." "The house here referred to is the notorious house near tha iier works on Michigan avenue." abore is quoted from McKlroy's cotnmunication to Gov. Luce, April 23 1887. Sen what Jamos A. Park, the city assessor of Lausintr, says.ou this subject ia tbe fóllowing affldavit: State of Iflchleau. County of Ingham. ?s. - A. Park. boiün duly sworn. deposes 1. ho is a resident of tho city of .:, where he has resided for manv that he is alto tho assessor of tho 1 LaasiDff, to which offleo he was I iu tho yeïr 18Se, aud that he has filled the office of assessor in said city oontiuuously for the years 18SU, 1887, 1Ü88, 18SÍ) ííutl 1890. Ueponnnt further sr.ys that ho has read the alloirations acainst James M. Turner of Lan&iiif,', Mich., appearlng in tho Dotroit l('ree Press of Oot. 8, 18U0, and thu statement of Dtained; that his attoDtion I ;t'clally called to Mclilruy's statement as follows: "It is also raatter of oi that Mr. Turner loases bis property f or parposes of prottttuttoo." "The house hero vefcrred ín is the DOtorimi homo near the city wator works on Michigan avenuo." Deponent fnrther says (referrlnc to liir.t abovo (juotatioii) that he is familiar with the "Í tho particular proporty or premises above referreii to by McElroy and that. lie, tho saiil deponent, has carefully cxamined the records and asessment rol!s in the ofllce of the city assessor in said city of Lanslng aud limls that the property referred to for the year ltf;4 was assessad to Mary A. Slye, and that the said ürüperty was ; toMlnnle Bell for the years 1S85, 18Si, lssr, :.i'.d that the property in miestiou was not assessed to Mr. James M. Turner for any of the years above mentiuned. .l, mis A. 1'ark. Sworn to and subscribed buioro me this tth day of October. A. 1). I Hknky Hr.MrnRF.v, Notary publio in and for Ingham county, Mich. In this connection I dosire to say that I most euiphatically denounce the charcos of this man McElroy as above made, and deny every line and item of them aud iurthermore, il McElroy, or any otber person will come to Lanslng and point out tüe property that now or at any otber time has been renteit by me for purposes of prostiuition, as above charged by MeKlroy, I will promptly exeeute to any party eo pointing out a deed ín fee simple and clear of iucumbranco of eacb and cvery parcel of property so designated. In the Freo l'ress, under the hcad of "events following amdavlt," McElroy gives a Muuchauscn version of conversation and conduct on ray part and pleadIngs had with turn aitcr his ellorts to induco Gov. Luco to decline to reappoini me on tb board. As to all this stuff I wil! siraply leave it to the people througbout the state of Michigan who know me to dotornsine wbetber I would be liiiely to lie down and let the wagon run over me as mdicated in his fairy tale. Under the head of tin editorial in the Free l'ress, enlitlcd "Mr. Turner's Accuser," it is mentioned that in 1S76 McElroy was principal oí the Indiana instltution for tbe blind. MeElroy was never at tbo head oí any institution in Indiana, or any other state, untll he was placed in charta of the Michiiraa School for tho Blind. It also 8tate6 that in 1S37 he resigHcü from the Michigan School for the Blind. Tho word "resigned" in tbis connection is a misnomer. The editor should have used the word "bouuced," as McKlroy was uot allowed to resin from said institution; on tbe contrary, the records of the 6ehool. on page 91, under date of Aug. 7, 1887. sbow that be was uuanimously "firua" by the board of control, and Mr. U. G. Race chosen acting superintendent in his stead for the term endino Sept. 1, 1887. And. furthermore, I desire to eny, and every member of tho board will bear me out in this statement, that this man McElroy for eight months previous to the date on wbich his services wero dispensed with had bocome so robcllious, insubordínate and gencrally disareeable and unsatisfactory to the board that his services would have been dispensed with long before the above date bad not the board been held by a contract with blm whicli did not expire until Sept. 1, 1887. They. therefore, suffeied blm to remain and dravpay froin tho institution, when they knew'that he had grown unfit for tbe position which he theu uusatisfautorily illled. THE LIQUOB BONUS HÁTTKB. McElroy charges that several voars ago I eigned the liquor bonds of Martin Iludson, his son, ïi. 8. Hudson, and one Thompson. It is reireshinsr to iind one eh&rge that is true. The Thompson place above referred to was owued by L. S. Huilson. Tbo late Mr. Martin Hudson and liis eood wife, as well as every inember of the family, were very near to me. Whea I was manied my wife and 1, as younp; people, went to üve with them at tbe Lanslng house. They treated us aa part of thcir own family and as tenderly minietered to us, like a. father and raotber, wben sickuess oyertook us; and through all the years that followod the most pleasant relations existed between myself and them, up to the time of Martin Hudson's death, at which time I found tbat ho bad named me in his will aa his eiecutor.The Hudsons had various kinds of assistance from me, and I never could do too much for them. 1 even loaned Martin lludöon as high as $■0,000 on his individual note without iudorecr, and umlertook in mnny ways to reciprócate with him and hia ianiily for past ftvors. The Qudsons kept tho priucipal hotel here at Lumtiug for more than 'O years, and wero highly estcemcd by everybody who knew them. I slgned the liquor bond us above mentioned, and uever sijned any others. I have no apolosies to make for niy conduct n that matter. A PAKTINQ SHOT FOB M'CELHOT. In conclusión, I trust my delay In answeriDg th McElroy onelaught has not diácouimoded and detained Air. McElroy in Detroit, lf it has perhaps 1 owe him au apolugy, a3 he should no doubt have been permitted to regúlate tbc politics of Michigan bj lending to the good peoplo of the Btate a single day of his valuable time. I havo Do doubt but that back in York state wbere he Uves theio are also irnportunt mattere for hitn to regúlate, and I would therefore hope that'he should not be detained on my account. I notice that editorlally the Frec Press 6peaks of the high standing of this man McKlroy. If what il says is true, I wonder that he has not retirad tome oí ihe uurnerous bank notes of the defuuut Capital Wagon Co. on which he was indorser, and in which company he was largeiy interested. It is currently reported that the banks and persous holdiu{ suca paper have beea uuable to obtain puymeuls ou auy of his indorsomanta. in cloeing: I have lived in Michigan over 40 years. I expect aud hope I may continue here to the end. I can nseuro my good friends that if I ever leave tho state it wi!I not no on account of an iuvasion; and I trust that the invasión of this one man frora York state wiil not even alarm my frlends. Lansisg, Mich., Oct. 6, Í8ÍI0.