Morning journal and courier., 1890-06-17
PAUL eHsnAnD,s DEATH.

PAUL G&WAAHUsS DEAVAs Public Hearing by the Committee on | Schools Last Night - Statements py she Doyss Father, Mother, Drs Oul-
 man, Scho0lmates, Principal Lewis
 Miss MalIahan - Principal LeWi'
 Whipping Machine. Messrs. Adler, O'Brien and HowaTth' tne board of educatlon's committee on schools held e public hearing of the facts relating to the whipping of Paul Gsbhard by Principal rewis of the Webster district some time ego, which, 1t was alleged at the time, hastened the boys death, which occurred soon after. The boys father and mother, with several others. were present and seemed convinced that the boys death was caused or hastsned by the thrashing which he received.
 MT. Gebhard said: My boy was sulky. He had convulsions and was very much rup. tured. He was sick for some time last win ter. After he got better I sent him to school. I kept getting notes from the teachers complaining of his tardiness. Several of these times had purposely let the boy sleep, for thought he needed 1t. On May 22, when came home in the even ing, my, wife told me my boy had , beer with blotches. He had been hit upon the head and his body was covered with red marks and bruises. Next morninp I told the boy to come to my office and I went with him to MT. O'Brien, and he told me to go to Superin- tendent Dutton. told MT. Dutton that the boy had been tied to bench and whipped. MT. Dutton did not believe it, He advised me to go to Principal Lewis myself. thought it would do me no good to 90 to him. I thought it would do no more good than to ask cat not to catch mice. told MT. Dut- ton would not send my boy to school again until he recovered from his thrashing, and then not unless l was sure no teacher would lay hands on him. MT. Dutton did not do as much as I thought he would. He simply wrote letter to Principal Lewis. In the evening I went with my boy to Dr. Oulman. He said the boy had been too se- verely whipped and gave him some pills. The boy complained of pains all over his body. He soon fell into convulsions and died.
 In answer to the questions of MT. Adler, Mr. Gebhard said the boy was twelve years old and had been attending the public schools since he was seven years of age. He was weak and did not learn rapidly be- cause of the condition he was placed in by medicines and opiates. He died week af- ter the whipping. MT. Gebhard never whipped the boy himself, for he knew 1t was dangerous. Dr. Whites report was wrong about the medicine given the boy. But four pills in all were given him. Dr. Oulman was called the day after the whipping. The boy was never so healthy as before the whip- ping, and it was hoped he was coming out of | his ailments.
 Mrs. Gebhard said ths boy was sick all winter before last, and in the fall he went to school. He came late home from school sev- eral times. He said the boys worried him and kept him in the yard to tease him. One day he came home from school and said he was to be punished by Mr. Lewis. The rea- son he gave was that he had gone out the teacher and told her Paul could not be pun ished. for he was ruptured and had fits. The teacher eaid Paul was not such To bad boy and did not think that he would be punished. About | two weeks after several boys came home from school and said Paul had been punished. They brought Paul home soon after. They said Principal Lewis put Paul in what was called "machine," tied to @ bench while he was whipped. His back was red and blistered and he could not sit down for | two days. His head ached and he could not see distinctly. He said that Principal Lewis had punched him in the head and eyes aud had hit him with strap all over his body. The day before Paul died he could not see 
 and weaker, complaining of pains all over his body, until he died. I told Miss Malla. han, the teacher, three times that Paul must not be punished. The next thing Paul was | whipped, and whipped to death.
 | Mir. Lewis killed him, he killed him, che exclaimed. The night after he was whipped
 blind.
 Little Jakie Winnan of 254 Davenport | avenue who brought Paul home after the
 whipping, said Paul could not see on the way home. He saw Paul for two or three days afterwards. Paul felt sick every little
 while, had headaches and blind spella.
 Louis Beyer, aged fourteen. of 247 Daven.
 port avenue, told of the whipping machine
 tied him hands and feet. After the boy wal
 tied the principal pulled string and pole upon which were knotted ropes' ends began to revolve and the boy was struck by them
 on head, face, legs and body. The
 "machins" is kept in small dressing room. While keeping the pole and ropes' ends going strapping the boy himself.
 pr. Oulman stated the boy was in Q bad condition when brought to his office. His eyes were bloodshot, his head was covered | with red marks, there were scratches on hia temple and ears. He could hardly speak. told MT. Gebhard the boy was weak and it might cause his death. gave him some bromide of potassium. I did not see the boy were taken of red marks were found all over his body. I doctored the boy before this and knew he had epileptic fits. have given him oelsemium. account for his blindness by the overhea.ing of his blood. A mild whip ping would not have irritated the boy to sach . degree.
 Miss Mallahan testified the boy had been | IL n.1~I n had visited her three times upon various oc. casions and once had told her the boy should not be whipped. The boy was punished be- cause of truancy, not for tardiness. She did not tell principal Lewis that tho boy was subject Co fits, but spoke of his mental con- dition as being weaker than that of most boys of his age and size. She did not notice anything peculiar about the boys actions after tho whipping. She did not know oi any ''mschine' used by Principal Lewis in punishing scholars.
 Principal Lewis said his first knowledge of l the boy was one day last winter when Mics Mallahau, the boys teacher showed him sev- eral excuses from the boy's mother for his absence. The mother said the boy was sick, but Miss Mallahan had seen the boy playing in tho streets. He knew the boys teased young Gebhard. Chief among the boy'a | tsasers were boys named Cook and Fitzger. aid. This difficulty, however, was soon overcome. When the case of young Geb' | hard's truancy occurred Principal Lawif questioned the boy, but could get no reply | The boy would not answer any of the princt | pals questions. The boy seemed stolid and exprsssionless. MT. Lewts took him to hil little whipping room and threatened to pun. ish the boy unless he told where he hai gone. The boy smiled and put his handi
 behind him. The principal tried to get hi hands, but the boy caught hold of the strap The principal then turned him over and spanked him. The boy would not then holt out anything but his clenched fist. Tn, principal opened his hand and slapped 1t. Tn,
 boy finally said he didn't come to school be- cause his mother would not give him an um
 brella. He went 10 his uncle's, but woult not tell where his uncle lived
 In the afternoon Mrs. Gebhard came to thu
 school and said that the boy had been unjust
 ly punished. He received @ letter iron
 Superintendent Dutton day or two aftel
 that the the boy seemed unfit to be pun
 ished and 1n case of further dlsobedience b,
 should be reported to the superintendent.
 In reply to questions, Principal Lewis said
 he had positively not struck the boy on tn, head or face. As to his "machine," Princi pal Lewis said the idea was absurd. Tne
 noise which was said to be @ falling over o
 the "machine" was due to falling window
 stick, which was knocked down during thu