Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-08-13

The Reason why He Acq uisted Gogler,
Who SO Brutally Beat His Daughter
The Girl Provided For.
Yesterday representative of the JOURNAL
AND COURIER called upon Judge Thompson
and interviewed him as to the grounds of his
decision in the Gogler case. Judge Thomp-
son said he had been very unfairly treated by
the newspapers. He had been represented
as holding that father had the right to
punish his child, no matter how brutally, If
there was occasion for punishment. He stated
that in rendering his decision he had distinct
ly stated that no parent had the right to IN
duly chastise child. The evidence before
me showed that there was just occasion for
punishment and that the punishment was
not brutal. As to the occasion of punish
ment, 1t appeared that the girl had been dis
ports of her bad behavior had reached her
father. He had frequently reproved her and
she had promised to do better, but had con-
tinually broken her promises. About three
weeks previous to the punishment he had
called upon Chief Bollman and asked his adj
vice. The chief told him the girl was too old
to be sent to reformatory institution.
ishment without his knowledge, and was
gone away two days with some friend whose
name did not transpire in the evidence.
She had before this given her father false
account of places where she had been, when
she had previously been absent. The next
that her father heard of her was at Mrs.
Whistler's boarding house. He called there
and requested her to return. She promised
to come home that night, and did so. As
| <LAro l., bod
versation with her about her absence. She
told her father to wake her at a O'Clock to 20
down to Mrs. Whistler's to let in the milk
man. He did wake her in accordance with
her request. He had no whip with him at
that time. A conversation followed in which
he asked her, where she had been. She said:
eat Mrs. Hackett's." He said that was not
true. She told him he lied. He then went
into the kitchen and took a
small dog whip and whipped her.
she testified that she did not cry while being
whipped; that she dressed herself afterwards
and went to Mrs. Whistler's, about a mile
and half away. The judge said he had
himself examined Mrs. Willard, who testified
to the girls condition, with great care. She
testified that there were no welts on the girls
body; thatithe skin was not broken; NO blood
was to be seen, and only red marks-marks
which blows not unduly severe would COCA
sion. She was not beaten with black
snake whip, as stated by some of the news
papers; that at least was not the evidence.
As the evidence was presented, the girl had
severe whipping which she appeared to me
to have deserved. 1t did not appear that
she was at all injured, or that the chastise-
ment was at all brutal.
What evidence the representatives of the
press may have collected I do not know, or
when--might have been presented. I tried
the case on what was presented. 1t has been
said that DR.. Converse should have been
called. 1t is not the duty of the court to
prepare the case, or summon the witnesses,
or issue copias, unless it Is asked for by the
counsel for the state or the defense. Mrs.
Willard was present, as she swore, when DIR.
Converse made his examination, and SO far
as the court could see the facts az to her con-
dition were fully presented.
Agent Preston of the Associated Charities
says that he has found good place for the
girl and that she would soon leave Mrs.
Whistler's, where she is now employed.
Attorney j. P. Goodhart, who defended
Gogler, when seen last night, in commenting
upon the CAGE said that whatever the State
might have presented or proved, it was evil
dent to any unprejudiced observer that from
the evidence offered in the trial, Judge
Thompson could do nothing but discharge
his client.