The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-07-01

school previous to her present school.
Mrs. Stevens, county superintendent,
gave her second grade certificate
without examination, marking it one
higher than the certificate for which
she had been examined. Had difficult
ty previously with Lizzie Stratton in
regard to pronounciDg words. After
working with her awhile each time
the child would pronounce the words
correctly. On the day in question
the trouble was over the words
''bends" and lend" She pronounced
the former correctly and l thought
that she could pronounce the latter
correctly. | had her sit on the front
seat and told her that after school 1
should whip her if she did not pro-
nounce the word properly, for 1
thought she could. After school l
locked the door and went out and got
poplar switch two feet long. Did
not strike her over dozen blows.
She did not scream but cried some.
Did not strike her on the head at
any time, nor on the nose or face. Was
not mad nor specially excited. The
whip broke and l gave her two light
taps with the pointer across the
shoulders. She did not seem to be
hurt more with the pointer than with
the whip. She then pronounced the
word correctly and dismissed her.
1t was the first whipping l gave in
that school. The superintendent of
schools came out two days afterwards
and ordered me to close the school.
Mrs. Stevens sent for the school board
and the Stratton family and we met
at the school house. She said that
DR.. Andrews said the child was
pounded up like beef steak. We all
examined the child. At that time /
had been threatened so that l was
nervous.
At this point the prosecution offered
to cease Directing and allow every
thing to 60 in, in case the prosecu-
tion would be permitted to rebuff it.
The other side agreed, but the court
desired that immaterial facts be kept
out of the evidence.
Miss Kenney stated that she was
threatened with criminal prosecution
by one of those in the school room at
the time. After the threat handed
Mrs. Stevens SIS. On the motion of
the state this answer wassstricken
out by the court.
Mr.. Young persisted in this line of
questioning and Mr.. Buck attempted
to shut him off, holding that Mr..
Young was committing contempt of
court, and was liable to fine and i'm
prisonment. A lively war of words
ensued during which Mr. Young stat
ed that if necessary he would pay his
fine and go to Jail, but he was here to
stay. Mr.. Buck held that his oppo-
nent was attempting to prejudice the
jury by asking improper questions,
and wanted the court to enforce the
law and shut out such questions. Sew
eral sharp personalities passed be-
tween the attorneys and the audience
INDUCED in such merriment that the
court theatened to order the sheriff
to clear the room. This had a quiet
ing effect.
Miss Kenney stated that she prom
ised to close the school, but has been
teaching since in the same district,
under the direction of the school
trustees. She saw no Jumps on the
chid's head.
On cross examination, the witness
stated that Lizzie did not at any time
refuse to try to pronounce the words.
She had never been obstinate or i'm
pudent or fractions, and was as good
as the average pupil.
My certi ficate was revoked week
ago yesterday, but 1 have been teach
ing ever since. Did not say in the
conversation In the school house that
I lost my temper, nor did 1 tell
DR.. Andrews that I lost my
temperl but told him l
might have whipped the child harder
than l ought to have done. Did not
lose my temper when l whipped her.
Upon redirect she said: 1 cried
at the meeting because Mrs. Stevens
said that DR.. Andrews said that the
child's flesh was pounded up like
beefsteak and that it was peniten-
tiary Offense. She said that there
was warrant out for my arrest and
that they would have been out for me
had she not interceded in my
behalf. The warrant was for assault
in the first degree, she said.
Mr.. Anderson, one of the trustees
of district 143, was next called. He
described the injuries as he saw them
the second day. The girl walked
naturally. Mrs. Stevens said that
there was warrant out for Miss
Kenney's arrest for assault in the
first degree. The defendant has
been teaching since the whipping
with the consent of the board.