Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-04-13
WHAT WAS THE CAUSE
SChOOlbOy Dies Under Pc
Culiar Circumstances.
BLAME ON THE TEACHER.
Statements of a Doctor and the Teach
er Regarding the Affair.

BosToN, April i3 The Warren school of
Charlestown is exciting The interest of the
Bunker Hill community by reason Of a
rumor which has gained ground during
the past few days that boy was so beaten
by6 teacher that he died from the effects
II the punishment.
The boy was John f. Welch, a son OF
Mr.. and Mrs John Welch, poor but re-
81 ectable people, who live at 45 Miller
street.
call was made on Mr. and Mrs. Welch
yesterday, and story was elected from
the mother of the boy:
MY boy was 8 years and months old
at the time of his DEATH" said Mrs Welch.
"He attended the Warren school, being a
member of Miss Osgood's class, which is in
the primary grade. | have a daughter,
Lena, who also was in Miss Osgoods room
up t1 the time my little boy was punished.
Both children have always been
Very Good and Obedient
at home, especially Johnny.
"The whipping occurred at the Friday
morning session, March TO- / never knew
anything about 1t until after the death OF
my boy week from that day, and then |
learned OF IL through Lena and several OF
the school children.
ut appears that Johnny had incurred
She enmity of his schoolteacher for some
reason or other. Miss Osgood told him to
perform some school duty, and, not re-
spending very promptly, she took a rat
tan and beat him over the hands, at the
same time ordering him to the dressing
room. Ii was out there that the terrible
punishment which caused the death of my
boy took place.
After Johnny returned to his seat he
continued TO sob considerably The
teacher then called for the class in reading
and asked Johnny to get up and read The
boy must have been all tired out or did
not understand, for he did not rise This
excited his sister, who made "a motion to
him TO ge: up, but instead OF obeying her
he looked around with a wild, vacant
stare in his eyes. She was tempted to run
home and tell me, but she feared the
teacher. The boy finally quieted down.
"When he came home / thought he
looked somewhat wan in appearance. I
asked him what the matter was, but he
simply said, nothing
''In the afternoon he returned to school,
and nothing occurred until the next day
Saturday, when found him in the front
room, at the window, with his head rest
ing on the sill. j called to him and then
lifted him up. The boy was working In
spasms, his eyes rolling about in his head
and froth was filling his mouth He was
ia that condition for several hours, and
sent for doctor.
"Dr. Holmes stended him and came
several times after that, the boy taking
the fits quite frequently up to the follow
ing Friday night, when he died.
I'VE buried him at Mt. Auburn Hardly
had we returned from the funeral when
rumors reached us through the school
mates of Johnny and Lena that the boy
had been cruelty beaten by the teacher,
and every body said it was that which
caused his death. / went to the head
quarters of the school committee to make a
complaint against Miss Osgood was re-
ferred to Mr.. Pettigrove of Charlestown,
to whom preferred the complaint, but as
yet l have received no word from the
board"
DIR. Holmes Statement.
Dr. w. ID. Holmes was seen about the
matter, and said that he attended the boy.
In his certificate of death he had given the
cause As commissions.
The boy might have died from blows re-
oeived, although he saw no evidence Of
any on the body, or from a shock to the
nervous system from excitement or fright
attending whipping. He had been told
that young Welch was an inveterate
smoker III so, this also would have a
weakening effect on his nervous system.
The Teachers Story.
Miss Caroline +. Osgood, who teaches
ha Cl ms NJ w ha oh
were members, has been teacher in
Charlestown for p years. She denies that
she abused the Welch boy or whipped
him in any manner that would have
caused his death.