, 1890-09-25
Seven Of His Pupils Tell
Tales Out Of School.
THE POOR OLD MAN CONVICTED
whereupon Superintendent Libby
Deprives Him OF His
Certificate.


The charge on which the trial was
made read as follows:
Joseph Wetmore, the teacher In In
dian Prairie school district No. 10 OF
Spokane county, is charged with habit
unl use of tobacco on the school GROUNDS
and In the schoolhouse, bo;h by smok-
ing and chewing, during term oil TWO
months of school, which began about
the 10th of June OF the present year.
Witnesses--J ohnnie Ahrnes. Norman
Finch, Charles Davidson, Marcus Hen.
ming, Lena Honning. Elba Lincoln. and
Alba Godfrey. I. 7. BROOKS.
September l3, 1890.
The defendant, who Is an elderly
man, with snowy beard and hair,
entered plea of guilty, which was
afterward withdrawn, he stating
that the charge was not correct IN
all details, while 1t was partially
true--that while he had smoked the
allegation that be also chewed was
untrue. Accordingly, the witnesses,
who were children that had attended
school during the summer, were
called.
The first was Johnnie Ahrens, n
boy of about IL or IA years of age,
with sullen, stolid countenance,
his shock of hair looking more
unkempt from the short straws
sticking in IL from the hay In which
he had ridden into town, and his
hands and face bearing evidence Of
the dusty road he had travelled.
After stating that he knew the
nature of an oath and being sworn,
Johnnie testified as follows:
1.-THE teacher chewed tobacco In
school, and smoked both In the
schoolhouse and on the grounds. i
seen him take tobacco from his
pocket and chew II, and seen him
light his pipe in the schoolhouse."
In reply to question from the
teacher us to what time II was that
he chewed, the boy said that 1t was
while the class was reading.
Teacher--How do you know 1t was
tobacco?
Johnnie-I seen IL.
Teacher--Did you smell 1t or taste
II?
nie-No, but 1 know tobacco
when see 1t, from bark or any
thing else.
Teacher-Where was I when you
saw me take the chew?
Johnnie-You was settin' by your
table.
Mr.. Brooks-When did this hap
pen?
Johnnie-In the spring when he
was teachin'.
No more questions being asked
Johnnie he was allowed to retire,
and Charlie Davidson, another pu-
pill, was called to the stand.
Charlie, like Johnnie, is a typical
country schoolboy, freckle-fnced,
shock-headed and exceedingly un-
comfortable in shoes and coat, and
with hands that have been intim-
ately acquainted with dirt for so
long periods of time that they are
cracked and chapped and the dirt Is
fairly ground in.
Professor Libby took occasion here
to instruct the witnesses as to the
nature of AN oath, after which
Charlie was sworn and his testimony
ran as follows: IL
"He chewed I'm school hours and
smoked in school,"
Mr.. Brooks-How do you know?
Charlie-I seen him.
Teacher-Did you see me chew?
Charlie-Yes.
Teacher-How do you know
chewed tobacco?
Charlie-I seen 1t.
Teacher-What kind of tobacco
did chew?
Charlie-Plug.
Teacher-How big was the plug /
had?
Charlie--About this big-square;
showing space of about two
inches on his hands.
Mr.. Brooks-When did this hap
pen?
Charlie--Last summer when he
teached.
Charlie was here excused, and IL,
year old Norman Finch was called
and sworn, when he said:
~ saw defendant chew tobacco
In the schoolhouse. couldn't say
for sure that he smoked. 1 nevel
saw him."
Mr.. Brooks-When did this hap
pen?
Norman-When he was teaching
school.
The teacher declining to ask any
questions, Norman was allowed to
retire, and Marcus Henning, an
other Yhite-headed, saucy looking
pupil, took his place
Professor Libby-Marcus, you ma,
tell us what you know of the mat
ter.
Marcus-Well, saw him chew
tobacco in school all the time.
Professor Libby-What do yol
mean by that? DO 1 understand
that you never saw him without h,
was chewing?
Marcus-No, / don't mean that
Mr.. Brooks-He means that h,
chewed frequently.
Marcus-Yes; that Is what
mean.
Mr.: Brooks-Did you see hin
smoke, too?
Marcus-No; | never seen hin
smoke in school hours.
Mr.. Libby-Where do you live?
Marcus-On Williams prairie.
The boy was then excused anC
Mr.. Brooks stated that there wer,
three little girls present, that /
their statements could bc admitted
without their taking the oath
would be called, but they were to,
young to be sworn.
Mr.. Libby stated that IL he wa
the defendant he should object dc
cidedly to such statements, and /
Mr.. Welmore objected he shoul,
sustain him.
"Well," said Mr.. Wetmore, sit.
getting late, and / should like m,
dinner, but I'd like pretty well /.
hear what the girls have to say"
Accordingly II was decided I,
rlaca Aluna Godfr, who oava. no