The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-01
Mr.. GrifHn's Side of 1t.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Jouznsl
In reply to the allnslOns of the journal to the
chastisement gave my stepdaughter and to the
proceedings in court, growing out of the same,
desire to say that the conduct of said step
daughter had become such as to demand the
treatment 1 gave her. AS was natural, her
mother was anxious to bring her up respectfully,
to surround her with goOd influences only, and
make good woman OF her. In her efforts to do
this she'was foiled by the stubhorness, if not
the perverseness of her child, who refused to
obey her commands or be governed by her
advice. She insisted ON setting her wishes at
defiance. Through bad influences and associa-
lions she acquired the habit of running out at
night in company with people who, if not abso-
luteiy bad, were not known to be good, remaining
with them, and out of her mothers and
influence through unreasonable hours of the
night Against this line of conduct her mother
had protested, without effect upon her >ried
to chastise her for her conduct, without success,
and began to despair OF her ability to save her
from moral ruin. 1t therefore became a question
what she could do, and was appealed to to cor
rect her, as she deserved, and TO induce her
thereby TO render obedience to her mothers rea-
sonahle demands, II it we're possible to DO IL.
This promised to do, and did reluctantly, using,
nj 1 thOught, suitable switch with such severi-
" as seemed TO me proper, ihntcting upon her
person no wound or injury. The truth is, in my
efforts to use the switch she caught and wrested
il from me, breaking it into pieces in the act,
and rendering Ii comparatively harmless. Con-
sidering her known obstinacy, and the necessity
Of decided measures to enforce obedi-
ence and her from her vi
cous associations, and the fact that
her mother, who is my wife, heartily indOrsed
my action in the premises and insisted on my
doing it, submit that my conduct was not only
proper, but that but performed a duty from
which could not shrink. / simply did what my
wife physically was unable to do, and what
seemed to be the only practical mode of saving
her child. tits not true, the papers say, that
l pleaded guilty to the charge OF assault and bat
terry. MY plea not guilty, and the court
found against me. 1t is not true that the senti-
ment of my neighhOrs is against me; 1t la the
other way, with the exception of one who, It is
thought, influenced by the smell of costs,
and few others influence by him. Outside of
this influence, / challenge the naming of any one
who does not heartily approve of my conduct In
all thai / did. When the case closed
before Justice Thompson, and the daughter, re-
fusing to accompany her mother home,
or claiming sine would not but
forbidden her to enter, she commenced a pro-
ceeding TO have her sent to the RefOrmatory.
She believed it to be the only course she could
1opt to save her child from the moral pollu-
{ M that threatened her. With it had nothing
to DO. 1t her business and not mine. The
matter was informally laid before the cOnrt, the
judge concluding not to commit her at the time,
but to give her an opportunity of returning
her home, which he directed her to do, and com
plying with her mothers requirements, find
ing home among good people elsewhere and
the court specially admOnished her to avoid all
vicious associations MY conduct from first to
were only those of a mother to save her child.