The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-05-15
DISTURBING A SCHOOL.
TRIAL OF THE OFFENDING ONE

| UISlU KDINU "A SCIlUUL.
TRIAL OF THE OFFENDING ONE.
On Tuesday last, the Sheritf's Office wa.
/ enlivened for an hour or two by the trial OF
/ VIM. I. Cooling, who was charged by Geo.
I 5. Mattingly with disturbing the public
school in Charlestown, of which he has
been the principal teacher for the last tour
| years. The facts, as adduced from the evil
dence on the trial, are about as follows:
a few days before the 9th of April, Mat
! tingly had occasion, in the discharge of h>
! functions as teacher, to correct Cooling's
! child, 4 girl eight years of aye, at which
| her father took offence. Mr.. G.. thereupon
armed himself with an ugly looking knife
and waited upon Mr.. Mattingly i'll the
school house and swore n number of oathS,
to think of which was enough to make a
person Shudder. He also brandished the
knife about in threatening manner and
intimated that he wished to settle with
Mattingly and craved the favor of his pres
ence upon the green for short time, in
there be made. This unseemly and holster
GUS behavior frightened the children, who
thinking that blood was about to be shed
began to weep and wall at Il terrible rate.
At this critical iuncture. Mr.. Mattingly be-
thought himself of club that was in one
corner of the room-how or why did not
appear-which he gathered up and pre-
I
Cooling retreated i'll a rather demoraliZed
condition. and thus ended for 4 time a nice
little row, which bid fair for Il little while
to revive the lost reputation of the ancient
city.
That afternoon Mr.. Mattngly entered a
complaint before Justice Burroughs, of
Perryville, and obtained warrant directed
to Constable Detord, for the arrest of Cool
ing, and subsequently, on the next day, OBJ
tanned another one, directed to Sheriff
Logan, who visited the fishery where Cool
ing was employed, but, being well known
to the offender, that individual eludel him
ana avoided arrest until Monday evening
last, when Deputy Sheriff Boulie arrested
him and took him before Justice Burroughs,
who committed him to Jail for hearing,
which, as before stated, took place on Tues
day.
The trial was set for ten O'Clock, and
shortly after that time it commenced, the
States Attorney and several witnesses for
the State being present. Mr.. Mattingly
and several bright looking lads, who are
his pupils, testified to the facts us before
stated, when Mr.. V. B. Algard came int
the office and stated that the prisoners
counsel could not attend till one o'clock
but the Justice showing a disposition to go
on with the case, Mr.. A asked that they
hold up for fifteen minutes and he would |
get another lawyer. In a short time Mr. |
Algard appeared again, accompanied by
VIM. S. Evans, Esq, who, after consulta-
ton with his client, demanded that the
witnesses for the State be re-examined, in |
order that he might be made acquainted
with the merits of the case. Whereupon
the examination began de noro, and pro-
ceeded for some time, when the counsel for
the defence asked for II continuance, in !
order to give them an opportunity to sum-
mon witnesses and prepare to defend the !
case. The continuance was granted and !
the case set for trial on Saturday. AT this |
juncture, it was made known that Mat
tinsly had preferred two other charges
against the prisoner, namely, cursing and
swearing and being disorderly on the public .
highway and with threatening him with
personal violence, &c. Whereupon the
counsel for Cooling thought best to submit
the case and the Justice inflicted Il fine upon
Cooling of so and costs amounting to 81 ST,
in accordance with chapter 7, section B. of
the public school law of the State, which is
us follows, and which we publish for the
benefit of all persons disposed to disturb
public schools by quarreiing with school
teachers, or otherwise:
"Any person who shall disturb any pub
lie school in session SHALL upon conviction
thereof before any justice of the peace, be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall
forfeit and pay twenty dollars, to be col
lected as other fines, to be paid to the board
of district trustees for the benefit of the
school house district, or said offender shall
be imprisoned not exceeding thirty days, or
both in the discretion OF the justice of the
peace"
At the conclusion Of this case, Cooling
was committed to Jail in default of $500
surety to keep the peace. Nothing was
done with the other case in regard to pro-
fame swearing, the Justice being in doubt
about his duty in the matter caused by
late decision of one of the judges of court
in baltimore city.
We understand that the counsel for Mr..
Cooling will appeal from the decision of the
Justice who inflicted the fine upon his client,
on the ground that by late act of the legis-
ture justices of the peace are not allowed
to impose fines in any case whatever.