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

not go and full board would not 90.
though Stratton asked us to 60. We
let the teacher go on teaching, al
though the teachers certificate has
been revoked.
1t appeared that Mr.. Darge had
been summoned to get the pointer
from the school house, and failed to
do it. This lead to quite a contro-
versy. He explained that he had
made an effort to get it, but had no
key to the school house.
A recess was taken until l Is D. m.
Both sides agreed to the fact that
the teachers certificate was revoked
after her arrest The defense rested.
Mrs. Stevens was recalled by the
state in rebuttal. She said that she
had no feeling when she went out to
the school house, except to shield the
teacher. The defendants attorney
seems to have made an attack upon
me, his opening speech being compos-
ed OF complaints against me. l say
this in self-defense. 1 said that a
warrant for assault in the third or
second degree could be gotten, and
that this was penitentiary offense.
Made no threats against her. but spoke
to her with the greatest kindness.
Said nothing of warrant in the first
degree. Really believed that a war
rant was then out. Knew the teach
er had done wrong and sympathized
with the parents of the child, but
wished to shield the teacher from ar
rest. Had no unkind feelings against
the teacher. Knew when / saw child
that perhaps l ought Immediately to
revoke the certificate. I revoked it
after long deliberation and after full
correspondence with the State Super
intendent, and at his express direc-
tion. The defense moved to strike
this last out, but it was admitted. l
did not see DR.. Andrews nor did 1 say
that the child's flesh was beaten I'M
til it looked like beef steak. The
teacher said to me repeatedly that
she had lost her temper, both to me
alone and in the presence of others.
She said it, 1 think, before the school,
when she told them that she agreed
with me that she should not teach
the school longer. She expressed over
and over again tnat she was glad that
I had come to prevent her arrest.
Mrs. Stevens had jotted down sever
al points which she wished to justify
herself upon. Some were admitted
in evidence and others were not. She
had made no threats of any kind.
The case rested here and the at
torneys proceeded with their argu-
ments.
During the afternoon the room was
crowded to suffocation with men and
women.
The trial of Miss Edith Kinney was
completed Saturday afternoon, and
the case was argued by w. E. Young
for the defense and w. r. Geddes for
the prosecution. Judge Porter was
very fair to both sides in his charge to
the jury. He read the statute declaring
that teacher is justified in giving a
child a reasonable and moderate
whipping, the same as a parent would
be. The only point left for the jury
to decide was whether the whipping
inflicted was more than the law per-
mitted. The jury was out but few
moments, and returned with YER
dict of not guilty. Miss KENNY was
then discharged, and received the
congratulations of her friends.
One of the jurymen afterwards
stated that the Jury would have been
unanimous for conviction had it
not been for the settlement which the
teacher made with the family. The
evidence upon this point had been
ruled out.
This case has attracted a great deal
of attention, and County Superinten-
dent Mrs. Stevens, has seemingly
come in for an undue share of criti-
cism for her course in the matter.
She did what she conceived to
be her duty. She first went to
the district to shield the teacher IN
til the matter could be fully investi-
gated. She laid the facts before State
Superintendent Kiehle and received
his instructions to revoke the teach
er's certificate. This she finally did.
She first endeavored to have the mat
ter settled up, but this failed and the
case got into the courts, unfortunate
as it was.
The outcome is probably the
best for all concerned. There is
no doubt but what the child received
too severe whipping, but the teacher
has already suffered sufficient mental
punishment. To have found her
guilty would perhaps have had tend
ency to increase any spirit of in
subordination among the pupils OF
this and other schools, and the effect
would have been bad. The law re-
QuireS teachers to preserve order