The Portland daily press., 1866-05-05

The recent case of assault and battery"
which resulted in the conviction and sentence
of Brunswick schoel-teacher for the brutal
beating of child of 10 years, may well demand
the consideration of the public, from the prin-
ciples involved, lying as they do, at the very
foundation OF our educational system, and pos
sessing the deepest interest for all who are anx-
ious for the proper training of their children,
and the maintenance of the laws of the State.
An article which appeared in the Evening
Star OF March 30, grossly misrepresenting the
facts Of the case, and attempting a vindication
Of the criminal at the expense of the tribunal
which found him guilty, has suggested the pro-
propriety of acquainting the community more
correctly, with this specimen of school disci-
pline which receives the cordial sanction" and
approval of school committees, and of the SUI
perintendent of the Board of Education for the
State of Maine.
whose previous good conduct elected the COM
mendation of the State Superintendent himself
and which was incOntestably established at the
trial, by the unwilling testimony of the defen-
dant's witnesses, was, for the grave offence of
chewing gum" or the contempt" manifested
by an involuntary repetition Of the crime)
seized by this discreet and judicious young
man" and subjected to merciless beating with
a aohite-oaE aohlp-staf, which would have dis
graced the slave-driver of Carolina plantation
AT the second or third stroke, the weapon was
cracked and splintered by the severity Of the
blow, and the teacher desisted in his work long
enough to wrench off the twisted portion, by
placing it under his feet, thus leaving in his
hands the ctet6-end OF the weapon, more resem-
bling the billy" of a constable, than the appro-
pirate corrective of one who professed to stand
in loco PARENTS to his pupils A tough, rigid
white oak club, more than three-fourths of an
inch in diameter at the head, and tapering to
length of about 20 inches, would seem to be ca
pable of inflicting sufficient punishment by the
use OF the smaller end; but this experienced
and successful" teacher thought otherwise, and
reversing the instrument, by grasping the smaller
extremity, he proceeded with this bludgson,
while he firmly held the child bent down across
the sharp edge Of school desk, to inflict TWEEN
LYNNE or more, deliberate, powerful, blows,
given with the full swing of the arm las testi-
fed in court,) upon the ribs, loins, hand and
knee OF his unresisting victim. Deaf to the
pleading cries of the sufferer, he completed the
outrage, and forced the quivering child to his
feet upon the platform, where his tyrannical
Jealousy soon detected CLEAN of latent disap-
proval IN the scholars cOuntenance, which he
Instantly essayed to Danish, by again collaring
ms vlctm, ana threatening to beat him until
he could not stand" threat which he avowed
in open court that he would have executed. A
more unnecessary, unprOvoked, and unlawful
exhibition OF brutality, never dlsgraced civil
lied community, and those who have allowed
the educational authorities of the State, to be
implicated in apologizing for this gross instance
ofrufianism, should be held to strict account
ability by the fathers and mothers of the chill
dren of Maine.
1t is urged in extenuation of this crime, that
the boy was not injured for life, and that the
assertion of his being able to use the power of
locomotion after the act, and to ride horse at
walk, distance of some 800 wards over a
week after the assault, should exonerate the ju-
dicicus individual in consideration of his mercy
in stopping short of mayhem or murder. Sucb
arguments will hardly prevail in our enlight-
ened community, even though it is vauntingly
boasted in the Halls of Justice that a teacher
of the pubic schools in Portland, has within a
lew days, by his own statement, committed an
outrage upon one Of his pupils, thrice as e1ces
sue as the one described, while the principal of
high schoolin Brunswick, (which is composed
almost entirely of young ladies,) exposes his
FISTS in the witness box, as the instruments
with which he compels obedience; and those
eminent guardians of the children's welfare.
who have SO cordially approved the merciless
hammering of child, for an alleged contempt
of the rules of a school teacher, and who have
listened with complacency to these exhibitions
of scholastic bravado, should be more discreet
in permitting themselves or their opponents in
the public prints, to express their contempt and
disregard Tor the verdict of Court of Justice,
and the law of the land. The distinguished
jurist who presided at this trial, expressed his
Full concurrence" with the verdict of the jury,
as amply sustained by the evidence; and moth
ing but the most unblushing efrontery, and
the basest ingratitude could support the friends
of a criminal who had just appealed to and re-
celved the clemency OF the Court and the pros
ecution, in attempting to impugn the integrity
ment.
IL 1 ms has been emphatcally "test case" and
a+E ertalnly important to all members OF soci-
vcyn 70 Know that the lao protects alike the
grettsd ana h the old; and though it may be re-
that wh;i.y many honest lovers of humanity,
haan Tne the scourge and whipping post have
neen IN punished from the nation, While the scat"
our ~ Jofen ger permitted to lacerate the flesh of
ferule, and the club still swine ,n enJ en- sne
the tender bodies Of our offspring vet Il is
something to know chat even AMONG os, at,;1'
dren, (the only victims aloy surrendsred n ~
lash,l there is ahmit to brutality which even