Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-08-08
Institute tor the Deaf and Dumb
As Delavan. Wis.

l.
to relieve unfavora BILE impressions
therefroia the Board of Trustees Of
the Wisconsin Institute for the Deaf
and Dumb present the following
plain, concise statements of facts re-
lspecting their recent action: as
i In February, 1877, tbs attention
| of this Board was called to certain
rumors and charges against the char
acter of Mr.. 9. l.. Williams, then a
teacher in the Institute. A member
OF the Board was Immediately depu-
ted to follow up those rumors aud
ascertain what evidence could be
obtained to- substapti ate or rcfuteI
the charges. He made diligent in
quiry and brought in his report.
from which it appeared that there
was ground for suspicion that Mr..
Williams had been criminally init
mate with a young lady, formerly a
pupil in the institute, but the evil
dence was Too vague to establish his
| guilt in that respect. 1t was, how
lever, manifest that he had visited
and correspondent. with the young
lady in question and with other FORM
er pupils in way prejudical 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 bis return the follow
ing resolution was passed, viz;
WHEREAS, 1t has come to the knowledge Of
10 III go tI,n nfN ~ Y ny
liams, a teacher in this Institute, has been so
imprudent as to seriously impair, if not totally
destroy his Influence as a teacher, therefore,
Resoi0ed, That said G. L. Williams is hereby
requested to tender his resignation, to take eff
feet, Immediately, his salary to continue to
March L, 1877. Isl ngct ~
The resolution was read to Mr..
Williams in the presence Of the board
and he rendered his resignatio &C.
cordlugly, aud it was accepted. 1t
was understood that he was at that
time, fully cognizant of tho rumors
and suspicious above referred to.
Some time after he had left, Mr..
Williams represented to the Presi.
dent and other members of the
Board that he had been wronged
by published statement to the eff
feet that he had been removed from
the Institute for gross immortality,
and asked for an Investigation for
his vindication. The Board on tho
Both of March, 1877, gave him a hear.
ling in the presence of tbs father of
the young lady above referred TO.
rho statements on both sides were
vague and vehement, but brought no
new light on the matter ia question,
except that Mr.. Williams presented
an affidavit which seemed to relieve
one circumstance that had sustained
the suspicious of his guilt. There
was no reason to think that an in
vestigation on the special charge
could reach satisfactory conclusion.
The real OCCASION for asking his res
ignation was wholly unrelieved.
That his case might not appear be-
fore the public in q false or exager-
ated aspect, however, the following
negative statement was given him
'In accepting the resignation of the Mr.. G.
l., Williams as professor in the Wisconsin In.
stitute for the deaf and dumb, the Board of
Trustees have been called upon to Investigate
| any charges Of immoral conduct on the part of
Mr.. Williams. nor has any judgment been pro-
nounced by them derogatory to his moral
| charac ter"
By this, the Board intended to say
only 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, Mr.. Williams be.
gan writing letters defamatory and
insulting to members of this Board
and of the State Board of Charities
TO the Governor and other officers If
the State, finging out freely, charges
of lewdness and other crimes against
Trustees, Principal, Steward, teach
ers and other employees of the In
stitute. These were regarded only
as expressions of spite and malice, or
possibly Insanity on his part. He
persevered in this course, sparing no
pains to trump up charges, especial
ly against the Principal and Steward
until some members of the Board of
Charities were induced to give ear
| to his statements and to think there
must be something in them. Inquir-
les made by them seemed to bring
out some evidence sustaining the
charges. That Board accordingly
asked conference with our Board
on the Oath of April last, when they
laid before US digest of the state
ments made to them. At the same
time, the statements, 10 details most
gross, and in language indecent, were
through the agency, Of Williams,
thrown before the public by the
press. Our Board carefully consid-
cred the matter as thus presented by
the Board of Charities, and spent q
day in making Inquiries of teachers,
matron and other employees of the
Institution. 1t was evident that this
Board was not the proper body to
conduct thorough investigation for
i three reasons
| l. They were themselves impli-i
/ Gated and therefore must be prcsum-.
sumed to be Interested and preiu-,
! diced.
2. 1t Was doubtful whether the
/ law gave them the authority to COM
pei the attendance of witnesses, or
provided for the expense of an inves-
tigation conducted by them. \
3. 1t was the special business of
the Board of Charities to make such
investigations snd the law gave them
full authority and made all necessary
provision for their doing so.
1t was accordingly voted that the
following Communication be sent to
the Governor
| 'sThe Board OF Trustees of the Institute for
Deaf and Dumb have at the suggestion of the
| State Board of Charities and Reform, consid-
cred charges preferred by Mr.. G. L. Williams,
| duplicating the Principal and Steward of the
Institute in immoral practices. They have
made preliminary inquiries respecting these
| charges and are convinced that they are mall
/ icious in aim and without real foundation. But
the matter in which they have been thrown
before the public seems to demand thorough
investigation Of ali matters involved This
Board therefore request that you call upon the
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