National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-11
A TEACHERS EOOE
Miss Evans Fined for Kicking Frankly Fiana-

gan,
Mary Evans, the teacher who recently be-
came unplcaantly prominent by tho alleged
maltrcatmcnt of Frank Flanagan, one Of her
little boy scholars, was tried In the Police
Court Saturday on the charge Of assault and
battery on the boy, and fined ono dollar. Gen.
w. ". Browne, school trustee Of the Second
district, IN which Miss Evans school Is located,
appeared as her counsel, and was very jealous
in her defense. The witnesses were principally
pupils in the school who Witnessed the affair
out Of which the charges grew. There was
some conflict Of testimony. some Of the boys
testified that she came down the aisle OIL
Franks right side, and others on his left side.
The school was engaged In spelling match at
the time, and the boys were sitting, rs
the regulations prescribe with their arms
folded behind them. Several Of the boys
missed a word, and the trouble between the
teacher and Frank followed upon that. Frank
Flanagan testified that the teacher got into
passion aud called them ounces" and coming
to his seat administered three kicks in his
left side. which injured him and made him
sick. The other pupils corrobOratcd Franks
testimony about the kicking. Gen. Browne
expressed surprise that she could kick him So
high. One OF the witnesses Endorsed her ahil-
ity for kicking high by saying, why she
kicked me once in my hands when | was
standing with my hands behind me-
Mrs. Flanagan, the boys mother testified
that Frank had no external injuries, and
when he complained he was attended by Drs.
Herbert and iichrcnd.
James Renter another little pupil testified
for the defense that Flanagan was sitting with
his foot in the aisle, when Miss Evans came
to him aud told him to PCT his foot in under
his desk, aud kicked or showed his foot In,
giving him slap on the check at the same
time. Witness was looking all the time, and
did not see Miss Evans kick Flanagan in the
side. When she kicked him On the foot Frank
said, I'll tell my mother on you."
During the testimony Gen. Browne alarmed
the court by saying that he HI information
that Mrs Flanagan was talking to the wit
nCsscs. who were kept in the attorneys room.
Mrs. Flanagan was sitting mcekly In the
courtroom all the time, and the General
apologizcd by saying that il must have been y
ease of mistaken identity on the part of his
informant. The Court. however, admonished
her not to converse with the witnesses Gen.
lrOwnc put on the stand little boy named
Lewis Fietric, who testified that Mrs Flana-
gan told the witnesses in the witncss-room
that Miss Evans kicked Frank in the side
three times.
On the other side Attorney Miller produced
witness. George Briscoc, who testified that
all Mrs Flanagan had told them IN the wit
room was to tell the truth. Miss Evans
had kept some Of the boys after school and
promised them that If they would be On her
side she would let them ont carly every day.
George mentioned the names df several Of the
witnesses who wese present when Miss Evans
made this alleged offer. and they were called,
and fatty cont radictcd him.
ten. Browne, in his address to the Court,
called attention to the conflicting testimony.
lie said it was physically an imposSihility for
Miss Evnus to have stUU,l on the ri sht side Of
FlanaFans d,sk aud 10 have kicked him on
the left; and ii was u moral impOSsibility for u
woman of Miss EvHus's character to have
kicked him ut all. He paid high compliment
TO the ability Of the teacher. and said that the
rules If the schools justified her in everything
that she had done. lie thought that what had
appeared in public print about the case had
| created u prejudice against Miss Evans. 4
Cleveland paper put it down that a boy WIS
kicked to death by n teacher, and the Wash.
| ington papers had been more moderate, though
one Of them had said that the boy was nearly
gone, and Miss Evans had been characterized
| rs u murdcrcSS. The truth was simply that a
teacher had inflicted corporal punishment upon
one Of her pupils, and had neither exceeded
propricty, or the rules, He made an appeal for
the teacher. who would be ruined and deprived
OF her profession if the Court gave Judgment
against her.
The Court imposed n fine of 81, and in Civ.
| ing his Judgment remarked: II am unable ia
hold that this was justifablc exercise Of au.
thOrity in the infection of punishment. But
10 very serious results have followed; there Is
| no medical evidence presented. lfany danger.
Gus consequences had followed there would
have been evidence Of that kind offered. This
| teacher is young, energetic, and If she has
erred from indiscretiOn she Is of an age to i'm
prove by her experience. If she has an in
trinity of temper it can be corrected