Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-30

Hearing In the Police C0uPt To-day
Crfticizing Appointments OF Coloreil
school Teachers.

The case OF William Calvin Chase, editor of
the Bee, charged with criminal libel, was called
tor trial in the Police Court this morning, Mr..
Thomas appearing for the prosecution and E.
NJ Hewlett for the defendant, who entered plea
of not guilty.
Mr.. Thomas stated the charge to the court,
and said he expected to prove that the defend
ant was responsible for the Objectionable publ
cation, which was as follows:
The appointment Of Miss J. 8 in the county is
loudly condemned by parents and the people In this
ment our young ladies who more worthy of the
place. Virtue and respectabty are At discount 1
the opinion that the in the county has been i'm
% M 10 Sustain
ton. and will applaud and compliment those who are
Sndes ~ neaSy cloud Of Suspicion especially when
do all in my power TO have things righted am sur
prsed at the way things are going on.
The above article. he said, was published in
the Bee of September 10Th.
The second article was published on the 18th
of October, and reads:
The appointment of jamie Norris Is subassistant In
the seventh school division has created quite stir In
rejection ON fhe teacers who haHe annced the
selves rs ladies. Mr.. Brooks knows we'll as do
in the schools there are ladies in this city more
worthy II he is unmindful of The circumstances in
Washington consider this appointment not only an
Insult to the people but reflection the teachers of
men is there for our young ladies when they see that
such persons as Mis- Spears the county, and Miss
erence to young ladies whose parents have raised them
TO kn0w right from wrong: Females who associate
Win married men. and women who can do as they
please, seem To have the preference. Why is this
they should be- have BEEN informed that certain
female boasts of her influence certain official
single young lady says that she can make a certain
marfed man do as she says, am sure it looks very
The latter article is taken from letter to the
Bee headed Louise to Clara
The defense admitted that they published the
paper.
THE TESTIMONY.
Dr. Purvis. who is the trustee for the public
schools in the county, was The first witness
called. He testified that Miss Jennie Spears
was appointed by the school board about Sep
tember 1st, upon his recommendation. She
was a single woman. Witness had a converse
ton with defendant at the hospital, and de-
tailed the conversation, as follows
why did you appoint Miss Spears?"
Because she was recommended as good
did you know she was . woman of bad char
acter7"
did you know she had had a childe'
"Well, she has," said defendant, and witness
said he would inquire into 1t.
On crOss-examinatiOn witness said he had
never Investigated the case, but had seen Super
intendent Cook about it, and he gave her
good name.
TESTIMONY OF MISS SPEARS.
Miss Jennie Spears testified that she was ap-
pointed a teacher in the public schools by DIR.
Purvis. Witness attention was called to the
articles mentioned and said the charges made
against her in them were false.
On discrimination witness said she had
lived in this city for nine years. Witness de-
clined to answer whether she was q mother or
not, and said that her parents had never at
tempted to force ony man to marry her.
This closed the testimony, and Mr. Hewlett
claimed that no case had been made out.
THE CASE SENT TO THE GRAND JURY.
The judge, in disposing of the case, said 'sup-
pose a woman has made q mistake in her life,
has she no right to reform? Suppose when she
was fourteen years old some scoundrel had in
nuenced her to do wrong should she lie shut
out from all hopes of prosperity in the future?
To undertake to canvass the matter in q news
paper is doing what the law will not uphold.
The case was sent to the grand jury; bonds
$500.