Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-09-05
In MICHIGAN.
HOW JENNIE WEBB PUNISHED
HER PUPILS.
Frank Cooks Mother on the Witness
Stand.
Various Matters of Current Home
News.

PONTIAC, Sept 2.-The examination of
witnesses in the Jennie Webb case is still
going on. Fred Nisbett, a 12-year-old boy,
testified that Miss Webb struck him in the
face with her fist or closed hand, with such
force that the ring on her finger cut his
nose severely. For another similar
ofTenso she seized him by the waist and
collar and tore them to pieces.
Mrs. Ella Jane Cook testified: 1 am 80
years old. Frank Cook was my boy. He
was IL years old. When he came home
on the 9Th of May / noticed that his collar
button was gone and saw some scratches
on the right side of his neck one inch and
q half long. He told me he had some
trouble with Miss Webb. i examined his
legs. They were black and blue. The
marks were too thick to count. They
were on top of each other. Three of them
were very deep and distinct on the right
leg, and one deep one on the left leg. The
calves of both legs were one mass of
bruises. He had on thin cotton stockings
and short knee pants. He never had any
serious sickness previous to that whipping,
nor had occasion to call physician. l re-
member DIR. Gray being at my house on
the 18th and 14th of May, between the
first and second whipping. That was to
see my daughter Edith. She had sore
throat; asked him TO look at Frankie's
throat. He said that the throat looked
red, and prescribed sulphur treatment.
frankie had only a common sore throat,
lasting only one day. Sent Frank back to
school on the 9th day Of May.
l examined his bruises about 10 minutes
after he entered the house. Exhibit A"
the strap was shown to the witness.
There must have been 20 or 25 blows with
that or some such strap inflicted on Franks
Annbs on his first punishment. | think that
tho marks on his neck were made by either
q ring or finger nails. He was always to
school on time as far as l know. Never
had any complaint from his teacher. /
knew ut this time he was to have second
whipping. He had been to the school sew
etal times to receive his threatened punish
ment. Miss Webb would not take any
NOTICE of note from me. On one occasion
Miss Webb told him to go and wait until
.she was ready to punish him, that she
would not admit him to his studies until
she had done so. l saw Prof. Fitch and
complained of the condition of the boys
limbs, and called his attention to the blood
on the boys stockings. Frank stated that
there had been scab on his leg which
and made it bleed Prof. Fitch gave my
boy note to take to Miss Webb. When
he came homo he complained of feeling
sick. Up to this time l had bathed his
iimbs with warm water and white lima
ment. On the 18th day of May | went to
see Mr.. Mcconnell, afterwards to Mr..
Hitchcock, then to another member of the
school board. / wanted to get Frank back
to school without second punishment.
Miss Webb sent a note TO me by Frank.
As near as can remember the contents of
the note were:
''MRs. Cook know you have been to
the superintendent and to the school board.
As it is, don't why Frank should escape
punishment Sfor disobedience any more
than other boys, but don't think it is my
duty TO punish him while he is sick; but
when he gets better send him along for his
punishment"
Tuesday, the 10th, he was able to go to
school. lie got back home at noon. /
again examined his legs. He said he had
taken his second punishment, but did not
think it was so bad as the first one. The
reason why Miss Webb had made the sec
ond punishment lighter than the first one
was that she whipped him until he could
not stand it any longer, and Frank said,
ooh, please STOP" and she ceased whip
ping him. He was beaten the second time
over the bruises received at the first one
Both legs were black and blue. / should
think Is or 20 blows were given in the sec
aond whipping. He came home sick on
Thursday. He went to school again on
Friday. The previous Wednesday / no.
ticed something wrong in his right hand.
called in DIR. Gray on Sunday, who pre-
scribed for the trouble. He did not come
again. called DR.. Galbraith in on Tues
day afternoon. Frank was getting worse.
saw Miss Webb three times about
Eranlie's condition, once on Sunday, May
&c, after he became paralyzed. She staid
an hour. She came again the Wednesday
following. and saw Frank in the bedroom.
She came again on Saturday morning.
That after the complaint of assault and
battery was made against her. She said
she had heard that Frank was partially
paralyzed from the whipping she gave him.
She did not deny much that / said frankie
had told me. She proposed paying part Of
the expenses attending Franks sickness If
L would accept it. The third time she
came 1 refused her admission. She said
she wished this matter settled up with out
SO much publicity. told her the case was
in the hands of the lawyers. She must
settle with them.