The herald., 1893-02-26
AUGUST cLAuSSEN'S DEATH,
An Investigation by the Educa-
tiOn Board. .
The Prosecution Occupy the Whole
of the Session.
The Boys Mother Claims That whip
- ping He Received at the Carey
Street School Brought
About His Death.

The circumstances attending the death
of the little school boy, August CLAUS
sen, who, it is claimed by his mother,
died in the fore part of this month from
the effects of whipping administered
By teacher in the Carey street school,
were OF such character that the board
of education felt bound to investigate
the matter. The investigation COM
menced yesterday afternoon, and the
prosecution consumed the entire time
until twilight, 30 that the defense had
no chance TO introduce any testimony
in behalf Of the accused lady. The mat
ter was postponed till Tuesday evening,
when rebutting testimony will be intro
duced.
The committee met at 20 yesterday
in the Office of the city superintendent
of schools; present, Directors Platt,
Buehler and Wills and Superintendent
FrieEner. After some delay the meeting
was called to order by Direcsor Trask,
and the case for the prosecution was
stated by Mr.. g. @. Stephens.
DR.. Wills-Mr. Stephens, will you be
kind enough to inform us why this mat
ter was published in the HERALD before
| it came to the cognizsnce of the board
Mr.. Stephens--The charge was filed
here on certain day prior to the pub
| licstion of the article in the HERALD,
and once filed here it became public
property. We have an absent witness,
Miss Minbard, from whom l have q
letter bearing upon the place.
The first witness called was DR.. Gates,
the coroner. "He was called upon to
hold an inquest on Saturday afternoon,
by DR.. Powers, the health officer, upon
the body of little boy. DIR. Garrison
had been the attending physician in the
case. He told me the boy died Of typhoid
fever. The family told me the boy died
from the effects of punishment. 1 sub-
| sequently met the health officer, and he
told me the matter would be made the
subject OF investigation. So made the
inquest, and was satisfied that what I
had been told by DR.. Garrison was cor
rect. l only examined the child's face"
The prosecution asked what were the
symptoms of typhoid fever. He gave a
| lengthy description of the disease.
Mrs. Elias was the next witness sworn !:
ness, but saw him two hours sitter death.
"Who showed you the child's inju-
ries?''
"His sister. There was long mark
OF a strap across the stomach"
Director Platt-Did you tell anybody
that Mrs. Claussen told you that he was
playing with some Spanish boys and fell
over pile Of rocks?
s'No, sir, never heard anything like
that"
Director Trask-How old was this boy
and what was his condition when you
last saw him alive?
He was about IL years old, and as
stout boy as you could find in town Of
ais age.
Director Platt-Do you know that he
was out in q "shivaree" party of boys
after the whipping?
| 81 do not know of any such case"
Mr.. Trask--That will do.
| The next witness was DIR. Garrison,
who stated that he was called to ste
| august Oauseen. He made six vieits in
ali, one on February lat and two on the
20th OF the month, and three on the Sd.
L diagnosed it as typhoid fever at once.
DR.. Wills-Did you see any marks upon
the child's abdomen?
"None ex pect what made by blister
| ing him, that uould eee."
Director Platt--Did you give him any
othsr treatment beside blistering?
The doctor then detailed the II leatment
given.
DR.. Wills-Do you believe, doctor, that
blow upon the abdominal region could
produce typhoid fever?
DIR. Garrison-Not without the pres
ence of bsccili in the system.
Director Buehler-Did the child tell
you when he was in pain, doctor, that
he was suffering in the region Of the
stomach from whipping given him by
his teacher?
DIR. Garrson-It was told me 30 by
the mother, but not by the boy himself.
Mrs. Oaussen (excitedly)-He did
tell you that, doctor. 1t would bs bet
ter ii you did not lie like that. I heard
him tell you that myself.
DR., Gsrrison-If he did, | did not
| hear it.
Mrs. Claussen, sworn: I am the
mother of August Claussen, d leased.
He was in very good health on the 2sth
of January, and when l came home that
night he said he had pain in his
stomach where the teacher whipped
him.
Mr.. stephens-What did she whip
him with?
A strap cir.
Mr.. stephens-Did he eat anything
that night?
Mrs. Ulaussen-He ate nothing but a
little chop that night, and the next
morning he ate nothing. I took him
out with me in buggy, and when he
came home that afternoon, about
o'clock, he was taken with bloody dis
charges from the bowels. He had
high fever and would eat nothing. l
took him out again on Saturday for a
drive, and then got home at in the
afternoon. He was very i'll all Sunday
and all Monday; he lay abed all day
Monday. On Sunday night he was very
sick at his stomach, and on Monday
night he vomited profusely. He would
eat nothing and only drank some choco-
late.
Mr.. Stephens-Did you ever see him
at any other time when he came home
bearing evidences of chastisement?
Mrs. Claussen-Yes; he came home
several times with his hands black and
swollen, from being whipped with a
strap.
Miss May Claus sen was the next wit
ness. She said her little brother said /:
Mamma, cannot stand that teacher I;
she whipped me across the stomach IT,
day and made it very sore."
|