New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-09
CHARGE OF CRUEL PUNISHMENT PRE-
FERRED AGAINST A TEACHER.

A case which has excited considerable interest
Gmong those personally interested in the Ward Schools
Of the city has for the past two days been in process OF
examination and trial before Judge BOsworth Of the
Superior Court Second Part Thomas DOran, pupil
in ard School No 81 in Monroe street, charges that
on the 22d Of January 1885, John Anderson the prin
cipa Of the school, inflicted upon him most cruel and
unmeroifu Distinguishing him with rattan, throw
ing him across the desks and while in that position
kicking bim and jamming and bruislng his head and
body against the desks. The plaintiff alleges that IN
Consequence of the castigaon he suffered sickness
60 severe to deprive him OF reason for some tme
ind nure him TO such extent that he has not yet
gerfecty recovered his mental and physical health.
The plaintiff though but fifteen years old, brings the
sut himself claiming damages TO the amount of $1,000
The teacher, on the other hand sets up in defense
That the pupil committed an 0tense against propnety,
which deserved punishment, and that the correction
inflicted was proper and necessary, and that 1t was
not cruel or unusual.
Messrs Huntington and Fogerty, the Counsel for
the plaintiff called several boys who pupils in
the school, and who witnessed the occurrence. The
principal points which elected from these wit
Iesses are follows The plaintiff with three o. four
ether boys, had been guilty Of some mischief III which
al were equally implicated, aud had been sent from
The class room to the dining room for the purpose OF
receiving punishment. The defendant administered
10 each of the other boys two blows upon the hand
with rattan, but desired the plaintiff, DEan, to hold
gu, hs hand for the purpose OF receiving greater
teaeher then seized the lad by the neck and panta-
tcoDs raised him from the floor and Hung hun VITA
much violence upon desk, continuing TO dog hun
with tho rattan until in his struggles, he fell TO the
hoor and while upon the floor, the defendant kicked
him repeatedly, and aftervard threw him upon the
deck again continuing the beating for fifteen or
twenty minutes. After this be confined the boy il a
Ioom until p. IN.
lis alleged that DOran taken violently sick i'm
mediatey after the punishment, which sickness was
'uced by the violence IF the beating, and which az
- ted his mental powers to such an extent that for
evera months he was partially insane; tha. his mind
lSs been permanently affected, and his powers Of
petory are entirely DESTROYED. He attended
eusng bis illness BY DR.. Valentine Mott and Dr. John
p Whitaker. The latter gentleman being too III to
ee present in the Courtroom, his statement WIS read
evidence. and was 10 the following effect:
=. Sts 10 Slh dsy q January 100 me ia.5 ~ sx.s
ban IA; snA touDd various nnSks of violence aPo5 ms Boy
one large bruse upon the curve OF ~ 500
E,'s ~ 4A1 Nne suffering under uonouAnlA oehs 81,
Sls. snA when Questioned ppon ordinary s9sJses oas
81 violent passion upon mention Of the name
alefson; be continued under my treatment someialns
- ven veeksi he complained OF violent pain IN tie
me think that these symptoms were tae
rsahu,sot si NE injuries and fright be received ~ me
eoostssahe time Tnu,, W .lan.e bsfore perfect
ses roeiyins - se not yet rscoyeredi he has never
- Previous ;. that tine; hsrs 80 - ~ r., The past
caos- 10y - MAJ time be has been free from cerebral
yspsOus he has e1hSsa disease likely to produce such
- 'aehiine Mott depOsed in substance as fol-
W.. ser the boy while he was under the charge OF
"htakef; made nc examination Gov tho ppTnose
,.oY1nS marks OF physical injuries hut 3rected
HesAoo cnlehy TO sscertaining The Condition az
- No., perceived great mental dsturbapca. he
20 ~ IN ~ give me an inteihgible statement of the
"~'s ne had b'en injured; he soall not