Huntsville gazette., 1891-10-03
AN UNFORTUNATE OCCUR
RENEE.
A Student at the State CoIored Nor
NAL School Seriously Injuries
a Teacher
BY Throwing a Small Ch'sei-Strik-
ing and Embedding Itself in the
instructors Forehead,
The Injured Man Not Expected to
Live.

News reached the CITY late WeuneS-
day evening from the State Normal
School, about three and half miles
from town, giving information of one OF
the most peculiar occurrences that ever
happened, which is fully explained in the
following statement of facts pertaining
to the unfortunate episode furnished us
by Prof. w. H. Council, Principal of
the School:
prof. Renfro is in charge Palmer Hall,
where the boys have their dormitories.
1t has been necessary for him to inf1ict
punishment in one or two cases to en-
force discipline. Tuesday night at nine
O'Clock, the retiring hour, in the dis
charge of his duty, he found it necessary
to punish Ebenezer Kahn, lad about
sixteen years of age, from Gadsden.
Kahn became very stubborn and ran out
of the door and shut the door behind
him. Prof Renfro followed him to the
door and Just as he opened it the boy
threw small cold chisel which he had
been carrying in his pocket, and which
we all thought simply struck Prof. Rem
| fro and glanced off. He bled freely and
| was sent for, and dressed his wound mo
one ever thinking that the whole iron,
about three and half inches long, had
been imbedded in his brain. There was
only the appearance of slight cut, and
the iron did not protrude in the least. -
Later on Prof. Renfro did not rest easy
and VIM. Ross, who rooms will. him,
gave him quarter of a grain of NOR
phine. Wednesday morning and all
day, he was extremely dull and ret
icent, answering all questions in the
shortest manner possible, but keeping his
bed. AS the bottle containing the NOR
phine had remained in his room all night,
i suspected that he had taken few pei
lets without our knowledge, hence late in
the evening insisted upon his getting up,
dressing and walking out. He arose,
dressed and walked with Prof. Ross in
the adjoining room, all the while show.
ing extreme languor and dizziness. These
manifestations aroused the suspicious of
Prof. Logwood, and he, at o'clock Wee
esday night determined to make careful
examination of the wound, and to his
amazement discovered what we though
to be fractured bone or some other hard
substance Immediately under the surfac e
of the skin. We, for the first time, be-
came alarmed and telephoned for DR..
Lowry, and, as | feared there might be
something serious, asked him to bring
along Col Flether, Chairman of the
Board of Trustees They came, the Doctor
examined the wound. and to the aston
ishment of all extracted the iron from the
Professors head. The whole thing is a
mystery. How such thing thrown by
boy could have 80 imbedded itself,
can not imagine.
didn't make thorough investigation of
thescase forthe reason that | regarded the
wound as being only slight, and did not
wish to disturb Prof Renfro at that time.
Indeed regarded it as a case where the
| Professors pride and mental feelings
were more hurt than his body. AS soon
as discovered the true situation, plac-
ed the boy in the hands of officers of the
law.
This is the first difficulty of any char
acter that has ever occurred in the school,
and you can not imagine the sadness
which pervades the campus. The STU
dents are under perfect control, respect
full and kind TO one another and to the
teachers. No more obedient students
can be found in America, and this affair
| fills all with amaZement and deep regret.
| Prof Renfroe is one of the brightest
young men of the negro race. He be-
longs to worthy and talented family.
He graduated from the scientific and
classical courses of Howard University,
Washington, d. c., and is one of only
two who eyer so graduated. He COM
peted his course last May and this is his
first year as a professor, having studied
with that object in view.
Kahn, the student who assaulted Prof.
Renfroe, attended school here last year,
and in intelligence and good department
stands first class. His conduct has ever
been perfect, and he has all along had the
confidence and respect Of his teachers
and mates. He was a member of the
Junior Normal class and was learning
the blacksmth's trade. At his trade
none made more rapid progress than he
and none were more dutiful in every
way. The Instrument with which he
assaulted Prof. Renfroe was the fist tool
which he made at the forge.
We so seldom have any difficulties
with students that this whole affair
seems like some terrible dream"