The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-19
NO SIGN OF SCANDAL.
The Charges Against Miss Mar
tina Johnston.
SCHOOL BOARD IN COMMITTEE.
Two Children Put on the witness
stand by Carnes-Testimony as 10
the Teachers Character.

committee OF the wnOte last evening 70 III
yestigate certain charges brought against
Judson p. Wilson, professor of penman-
ship. and Miss Martina Johnston. teacher
Of the Denny school. by the American
Protective Association, represented by
William Csrnes as its secretary. D. A.
Spencer was made chairman of the meet
ing. The only member of the board absent
was George II. King. W a. White, as
attorney for the board, gave the committee
the benefit of his legal advise
As the charges were separate and dis
tinct against the two accused the COM
mittee decided to take up the case OF Miss
Johnston first, who is accused OF gross
vulgar1ty in the school ROOM"
Mr.. Carnes had came prepared with
lot of documentary evidence in the shape
OF aff1davits and a copy Of the telegraph,
which he proposed TO introduce; the trst
being from school children testifying To
words alleged 10 have been used by Miss
Johnston and the paper to verify state
ment made of the last meetings. report.
Mr.. Spencer told Mr.. Carnes repeatedly
that the committee was ready to hear any
charges that he might have TO bring
against the lady, but they must be in the
shape of witnesses, who must confine
tACAI bcstiAnOIf ~ aSlu1A AdItS ahA Va
their own knowledge. Carnes was not TO
be so easily put down. He insisted on
reading the paper and his affidavits Being
again checked he insisted on everybody
being sworn. The board, Mr.. Spencer in
formed him, was not q judicial body and
no swearing wonld be allowed. Carnes
wanted to know il he was to be choked of
ana called for the reading of the minutes
If k. fa~s rofa To ha
call for this;meeting. Carnes made final
attempt to have his atfidavits introduced,
and appealed to his rights as an American
citizen and taxpayer. but he was finally
quieted. Mr.. White saying that affidayits
were easily made If witnesses were here
who knew the facts, they ought to be pro-
duced before the board. 81 don't think"
said Mr.. White, shat affidayits taken in
secret societies, in ex-parte examination.
should be recognized in a public body
such as this school board" Witnesses
could be heard and cross-examined, and
affidavits meant nothing. After final
struggle the affidayits were excluded, with
Carnes declaring the ruling as un-Amer-
lean.
Ida Samples, a school girl in Miss john
sson's room. about Is years old, was called
ments: That Miss Johnston used slang;
called the pupils liars 'fools;" said
COMPOUNDED; :" called lessons rotten"
boys and girls "blocxheads, ounces"
saw her pull children's hair; made the
girls cry by unkindness; she herself had
to leave school because of i'll treatment
at Miss Johnston's hands, who choked
her until the marks remain on her neck.
On the cross-examlnation she admitted
that her conduct rate" was about So, and
for the past two months Miss Johnson has
treated her kindly.
During all this testimony Carnes wan
dered from the subject. and had to be
called to order. The mother and father of
the girl were called. but as they knew
nothing as 10 facts and only what they
had heard their daughter say, their testi-
mony was excluded, much to the irritation
of Carnes, who again fell back on his
American rights.
Miss Ella Mcconnell. another pupil,
about II years old. remembered Miss
Johnston using the word fool once and
liars. slipshod. blockheeds, but never saw
anything improper. Her testimony
amounted TO very little.
Carnes protested that if he was not al
lowed to introduce what papers he wanted
and say what he wanted that his hands
were tied and he had no more witnesses,
but would ask for an adjournment TO
bring in these children.
. Miss Johnston desired to have her wit
nesses heard, as they could not again
come some having come from a distance
These testified to the general excellence of
her character covering periods of from six
to sixteen years by the most reputable
people in the city and state. Mr.. George
Donworth. Mr.. Boyd J. Tallman, Prof. An
derson. former president of the university
and of Whitman college Prof Hollenbeck.
Mr.. Van Doren, Col. Paul D'Heirry, Mrs.
;. j. Russell, Mrs. ]. h. Brooks. Mrs. f. E.
Niehels, Mrs. Amos Miller, Mr. Fink and
Superintendent Barnard all gave the very
highest testimonials as to her lady-like
conduct in public and private and her
efficiency teacher. Superintendent
Barnard spoke of the general supervision
he had over her room as Of all the others;
also of having had his boy in
her charge: LAS superintendent
will say emphatically that / consider
Miss Johnston q frst-class teacher. Ia
fact / have so much confidence in her
that in a class of unruly children I Sc
lecfed Miss Johnston as specially auaili-
lied to maintain order and discipline /"
and the subjugation of his own boy. one
of the unruly class. was the best evidence
OF Miss JOhnston's fitness for her trust.
He had questioned his boy since these
charges had come up relative 10 Miss
Johnston's language in school, and he
had never heard her say one word that
was not proper.
The committee adjourned until Friday
evening az O'Clock