The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-08-08
Institute for the Deaf and Dumb.
Delaran. Wisconsin,.

Dei2fin. ~ iscDHsiEs
To correct misrepresentation and to
relieve unfavoTable impressions there
from, the Board of Trustees Of the Wis
sonsin Institute for the Deaf and Dumb
present the following plain, concise state
ment Of facts respecting their recent
action:
In February, 1877, the attention Of this
Board vas called to certain rumors and
charges against the character of Mr. G.
l.. Williams, then teacher in the Insti-
tute. A member Of the Board was i'm
mediately deputed to follow up these
rumors and ascertain what evidence could
be obtained to substantiate or refute the
charges. He made dilisent inquiry and
brought in his report, from which it APP
peared that there was ground for suspi-
cion that Mr. Williams had been crimi
nally intimate with young lady, former
- pupil in the Institute, but the eyi-
dcnce was too vague to establish his guilt
in that respect. 1t wa-, however, mani
fest that lie had visited aud correspondent
with the young lady in question and with
other former pupils in way prejudiclal
to their good and likely to work mischief
in the Institution. One of the Board
was then sent out to confer with Mr..
Williams. On his return the following
resolution was passed, viz:
Whereas, 1t has come to the Inowl-
edge Of this Board that the conduct of
Mr.. G. l.. Williams, teacher In this In
stitute, has been so imprudent as to seri-
ously impair, if not totally destroy, his
influence as a teacher, therefore,
Reaoired, That said c. L. Williams
is hereby requested to tender his re
signation, to take effect Immediately; his
salary to continue to March |, 1877.
This resolution was read to Mr. VIII,
Jams in the presence Of the Board, aud
he rendered his resignation accordingly,
and it was accepted. 1t was understood
that he was at the time, fully cognizant
of the runors and suspicious above re-
ferred to-
Some time after he had left, Mr.. VIII
Jams represented to the President and
other members of the Board that he had
been wronged by published statement
to the effect that he had been removed
from the Institute for gross immortality,
and asked for an investigation for his
vindication. The Board, on the 30th of
March, 1877, gave him hearing in the
presence Of the father of the young lady
above referred to. The statements on
both sides were vague and vehement, but
brought no new light On the matter in
question, except that Mr.. Williams pre-
scented an affidavit which seemed to re
Heye one circumstance that had sustain
cd the suspicious of his guilt. There
was no reason to think that an investiga-
ton on the special charge could reach a
satisfactory conclusion. The real occa-
sion for asking his resignation was Who'll
ly unrelioyed. That his case might not
appear before the public in false or ex-
aggerated aspect, however the following
negative statement was given him:
I'm accepting the resignation of Mr.
c. l.. Williams as professor In the
Wisconsin Institute for the Deaf and
Dumb, the Board of Trustees have not
been called upon to investigate any char
ces of immoral conduct on the part of
Mr.. Williams, nor has any Judgment
been pronounced by them derogatory to
his moral character.
BY this, the Board intended to say on
~ that Mr.. Williams did not go out of
this Institute as one tried and convicted
of adultery. More than this they refused
to say in his behalf
Soon after this, SIR. Williams began
wiring letters defamatory aud insulting
to members of this Board and of the
State Board Of Charities, to the Governor
and other officers of the State, tiingiug
out freely charges Of Iewdness and other
crimes against Trustees, Principal, Stew
ard, teachers and other employees of the
Institute These were regarded only as
expressions of spite and malice, or posi-
bly, insanity on his part. He persevered
in this course, sparing no pains to trump
mp charges, especially against the Princi-
pal and Steward. until some members Of
the Board of Charities were induced to
give ear to his statement and to think
there must be something IN them. H.
qUiries made by them seemed to bring
out some evidence sustaining the charges.
That Board accordingly asked a con-
ference with our Board on the oath Of
April last, when they laid before us di.
gest of the statements made to them. At
the same time, the statements, IN details
most gross, and ii language indecent.
were through the agency of Williams,
thrown before the public by the press.
Our Board carefully considered the mat
ter as thus presented by the Board OF
Charities, aud spent day in making in
quirles Of teachers, matron, and other
employees of the Institution. 1t was
evident that this Board was not The
proper body to conduct thorough in.
vestigation, for three reasons:
!. They were themselves implicated
and therefore must be presumed to be
interested and prejudiced.
>. 1t was doubtful whether the law
gave them authority to compel the at
tendance of witnesses, or provided fol
the expense of an investigation conduct
ed by them.
o. 1t was the special business of the
Board OF Charities to make such investi,
CATIONS and the law gave them full au.
thorty and made all necessary provision
for their doing So.
1t was accordingly voted that the fol
loving communication be sent 10 the
Governor;