The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-03-15
WEBB IS NOT GUILTY.
THE SCHOOL. COMMITTEE EX.
ONERATES HIM OF BLAME.

The investigation Was Held Yes
tsrday and the witnesses' Sta
ries Decide the Case The Testi
lnOny an II was Given.
The school committee met at the Or
ange street school Yesterday afternoon
at 3,45 to pursue the inv, stigation q
the alleged cruelty practiced on Hugl
Chichester by Prof Webb. There wer
present Chairman West, and Messrs. "
F. Randolph, II. A, Gudger and d. T
Millard, members of the committee.
The taking Of testimony was at ono,
begun. The first name called was thai
of Hugh Chichester. The body Of his evi
dence is given below:
~ was sitting at my desk studying my
history lesson. and had bean shooter
fork in my hand. Prof. Webb told ME tC
put it up, and not to study SO loud.
told him was not studying out loud
He came to me and grabbed me by my
chin and threw me down. caught him
in the collar rs went over. He put his
foot on my jaw, and bumped my head on
the floor. My head hurt me all day.
struck at him when was on the floor,
When he let me up took my knife out OF
my hip pocket, opened it and put it in
my coat pocket. He told me to come
down to the office, and we went"
When asked il he generally carried his
knife open he said mo-" He was also
asked il when the teachers took the boys
apart from the others to talk to them il
was usually necessary to make prepara-
tions for defense. and answered mo"
When asked il he was pushed off the
bench or fell of he said he was pushed of.
James Bouis was called. He said he
saw the affair. He was sitting in the seat
behind Hugh. and the latter was knock
ing on the desk with a slingshot fork,
and Mr.. Webb told him to stop and to
quit studying ont loud. Hugh mumbled
some reply. which the witness did no,
catch. He had been studying out loud
two or three days. Mr.. Webb walked
down to where he was and caught him
by the chin. Hugh struck at him as he
reached for him. think Mr.. Webb only
intended to shake him. and did not Set
him put his foot en- the boys face.
The testimony Of the other witnesses
was substantially as follows:
Ernest Muller-l was in the hall, three
or four seats from them. Mr.. Webb told
Hugh not to study his history out loud.
Hugh answered in a very unpleasant
tone ~ was not studying out loud"
saw him fall on the floor and saw Mr..
Webb shake him. but did not see Mr.
Sc5b's foot on his face. could not tell
whether Mr.. Webb was on top Of him or
Tot. heard him hit the floor several
ines. but did not notice him strike at
Nr. Webb.
0tho Atkins-Mr. Webb was at the
lesk with some young lady and told
iugh not to read out loud. Hugh then
aid: 81 am not reading out loud" Mr..
Webb told him not to talk back in that
manner, and went to him. was at the
|esk behind him. As Mr.. Webb caught
lis chin, Hugh hit at him with ,his
lcnched fist. | heard Hughs head hit the
|oor several times. but don't know
whether he fell or was pushed Off Of the
'ench. He may have had a slight push.
did not see Mr.. wrbb's foot on his face.
tut could not see well as was on the
'ther desk.
Professor Webb testified in his own be.
Ialf. and his story Of the affair was as
blows:
The first thing noticed when Hugh
aine in that morning he was talking out |
oud in the aisle. ltismy duty to keep that
'art Of the hall quiet. was explaining
IN example to one Of the girls and heard
omcone making noise and saw il was
iugh. said, Hugh, please stopmakine
hat noise but he did not quit and had
o ask him again. lie said in very imp.
dent tone. I was not making noise.
nd was not reading out loud I walked
o him very slowly and took his chin in
ny hand to turn his face up to mine. lie
truck at me and | grabbed him. lie
truck again rs was leaning over and
il me on the mouth. l leaned forward
n the desk and reached for him. His
ody was on the floor. tried to shake
i'm in order to conquer him and saw his
cad strike the floor. I put my knee on
is breast. When we went into the ot her
Dom ! told him was very sorry il had
but that every time | reprovcd
i'm he would snap back at me. and that
could not understand why il was.
Ifter ! left him the janitor told me that
C had drawn knife on me. and one Of
he girls told me she had seen him draw
knife from his hip pocket. open il and
ut It IN his coat pocket. This wascarly |
, the morning, and during the rest of
he dav he said his lessons very well IN.
ced. had no malice toward him but
'as simply doing what l thought my
uty."
DR.. Burroughs, who examined the boy.
,as called. IL was sent down BY the
rhool committee to see Hugh" he said.
could find no signs Of bad treatment
r bruises. He had a cold and an attack
I pharynsitis, but was not hurt at ALL"
Several other witnesses were examined
ut they all gave about the same evi.
ence.
a. A.