The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-18
VILLAIN OR VICTIM,
Horrible Charges Made by
Little Girls Against
School Principal
Elston.
MANY ACCUSERS APPEAR.
And President Russ Of the Ho-
boken Board Of Education
Suspends Him.
MANY ACCUSERS APPEAR.
MATTER FOR POLICE ENQUIRY
If the Allegations Are True, the
Accused Should Be Punished
"A Teachers Brave Course.

President Russ of the Hoboken Board
of Education last evening suspended
Principal William H. Elston of School
No. of that city for taking undue liner-
ties with a number of the girl pupils Oh
the school, none of whom are over thlr-
teen years of age. Miss Middleton, the
Vice Principal, has been placed In charge.
A special meeting Of the Board will be
held Monday evening, when charges will
be preferred against Elston.
The expose of the Principals alleged
actions created a genuine sensation In
Hohoken last night, and. large and popu-
lous though the city is, yet there were
hundreds who would have taken pleas
ure In applying to him coat Of tar and
feathers.
Miss Leonard, a teacher of the sch ool.
is entitled to the credit of exposing the
alleged misconduct. Among the cbii-
dren, IL is said, it had been common talk
for month past. Coming TO the
teachers ears. She Immediately investi-
gated the matter, She visited the
mothers of sthe girls, and satisfied both
them and herself by the children's al
mission OF the truth OF their school
mates talk, She then insisted that the
mothers complain to the Board of Ed
ucation, 1t was 8 delicate mission for
the young lady, but she sacrificed her
natural repulsion from such task In
order to save little children from further
abuse.
Here are the charges as they are made
by Elston's accusers.
THE GIRLS STORIES.
Around the holidays, Frieda Potter OF
No. 6S jefferson street, was sent to the
principals room for being late. While
there. Elston made her sit on mis- lap and
fondled her and otherwise acted indis-
creetly. The child was shocked and
cried The principal threatened to whip
per if she told any one. Mamie Rookie,
,f No. 20 Monroe street, some weeks ago
Tas also treated in the same manner,
she says. Both children told their parents.
but Mrs. Potter, owing TO the TACT tha5
she has to go out to work, did not com
plain. The mother OF the Rookie girl is
an Italian and did not know what to co.
Last Monday, Mamie Disch. of Newark
street, was sent to the principals room.
and she too was subjected to 1ndignities.
She did not tell her parents, as she feared
Eiston's threats Among the girls OF the
class the matter was now common talk,
aud ali feared being sent to the Principals
room. On Tuesday. Frieda Potter was
late and sent again to the Principals
room. She ia thirteen years old and well
developed for her age The Principal
closed the door. and, sitting down. took
Frieda on his lap. The indignities the
child suffered, according to her story.
were simply infamous. The Principal
kept her IN his room all morning. and
when he let her go to lunch told her re
return to his room after. She did 80, and
he again. she says, began his brutalItles.
He frightened her so badly at this time
.-l-n fan T1fG
grasp, and ran crying into the
hall. Elston followed her, and brought
her back. He told her to wine her tears.
and coaxed her not to say anything to her
teacher or to her parents. She said she
would. He then threatened her, and
about two o'clock sent her to. Miss
Hoehnle's class, one lower than the one
she was in.
THE REVELATION.
Next day Miss Leonard became aware
of what was going on. She at first
doubted that such a thing was possible,
but she determined to find out, and so
she visited the mothers OF the girls above
mentioned. The children were question
ed by their parents and teacher. Their
stories were of such Il nature that Miss
Leonard insisted on the parents com plain
ing to the President OF the Board of Edu-
cation, Counsellor Edward Russ, OF the
law firm of Russ & Heppenheinler. The
heard, and Immediately cancelled all his
engagements, and began an lnyesttga-
tion.
Accompanied by School Trustee Hess
and Superintendent Rue he visited No.
school, and had the teachers and The
pupils summoned before them In the
presence of the Principal.
The little ones recited the facts above
set forth, and, though questioned sharp
", told straight stories. The Principal
denied every accusation, and became SO
positive that Frieda Potter exclaimed:-
"Oh, Mr.. Elsiou. you did do that; AID
you told me To dry my eyes aud not to
tell any one, and you said you would
whip me if did"
Satisfied OF the truth of the children's
statements, President Russ Immediately
suspended Principal. He will be dis
missed unless he can disprove the
charges.
A TRoUBLoUs CAREER.
Elston has been Principal of No. 5
School but few months. Since his con-
nection with the public schools OF Hobo
ken he has been involved in endless
trouble. He was Principal of the High
School, ana while there he was charged
girls. When the matter was made
public, the parents of the children
dreading the potoriety, would not press
the complaint Lister he kept moneys
due the Board. The third charge was
for not paying Fl over bill. he having
collected the money from the High
School pupils For this he was tried and
the Board decided TO transfer him TO the
primary school This was done, instead
of disinissing him, Elston giving the
Board his resignation, to take effect next
Sep; ember. A week ago ne beat boy
pnpil with undue severity, 1t is charged,
and charges were preferred against him.
FLsToN's VERSION.
Priucipal Elston, al his home. NO. lO3l
Bloomfield street, said last ht:-sThis
latest scandal is something Ike the
charge that was trumped up against me
several years ago when / had charge OF
the High School. 1t seems TO me ike
persecution. I deny the statements
made bv these girls. Freda was so
frequently absent from school that she
was behind in her studies. sent the
truaut officer to her home TO notify her
arents of The many days that she was
lp~eut. Her mother came to school with
ser. / examined the girl before trans
erred her 10 a lower grade. gave her
N example in long division. left her In
me Office while went ~ tue classrooms.