The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-18
YOUNG BRUISER
Who Is Too Strong to Study Strikes
His Teacher
HISS MITCHELL At LINCOLN SCHOOL

Fined $50 For Assault in Police Court
TOday-A Nest UHprOvoked Attack
by the YOun< Ruf1ian.
Miss NJ. S Mitchell, teacher of the Ia
and Sb grades at Lincoln school, was
struck a terrible blow in the eye yester-
day noon by a refractory pupil The
offender is Willie Wilson, aged II, son
of w. H. Wilson, member of the board
of education.
Young Wilson has long been a terror
to Lincoln school teachers. Two years
ago he started to attend Miss Mitchelps
school. bur was suspended after few
days of school for persistently playing
truant He is II years of age and is
stockily built with good shoulder action,
The trouble yesterday occurred just as
school was being dismissed for the noon
recess. During the morning Miss Mitch
ell had noticed that Wilson was not
working. He was writing and the teacher
asked him if he was studying his lesson.
He said he was not. She then asked him
TO bring the written matter to her.
Instead of doing as requested, Wilson
got up. walked to an open window and
0O44D0EdL01y tuo nOl0S 10 pieces,
threw the pieces out of the window. At
that the teacher told him to remain after
school at noon, saying that she must
punish him for disobedience.
When noon arrived young Wilson
stood up with the ranks to march out
''I3e seated, Willie. l told you to re-
main after school," said Miss Mitchell
Il won't remain" answered the defiant
pupil
"You must stay said the teacher
firmly.
81 can't stay today was Wilson's an
swer.
At this Miss Mitchell walked back to
where her belIigerent scholar was stand
ing. Taking him by the arms she at
tempted to push him back into his seat.
Wilson grabbed hold of the desk and
prevented her. To make him loosen his
hold the teacher slapped him a light
blow on the cheek.
She saw that she could not manage
him, and turning to one of the pupils,
asked him to go after the principal. As
she was turning back towards the young
ruffian, he struck her with all his force
with his clinched fist in the left eye.
AS the teacher had no power to pre-
vent him. he then walked out of the
school room. She tried to keep him by
keeping his hat, but this did not stop
him.
Miss Mitchell pluckily kept up the
work of teaching until the middle of the
afternoon, when the principal told her
to dismiss school for the day. She went
Immediately to the Office of her brother.
DR.. NJ. r. Mitchell, the city physician, and
had the wound dressed and bandaged.
When the doctor saw how badly his
sister was injured, he had young Wilson
arrested for assault.
Wilson's testimony alone would have
convicted him this morning in police
court. But the teacher and pupil were
also presentto give their testimony. Miss
Mitchelfs story was substantially the
same as related above. a cloth was
passed around the left side of her head
aud over the eye to exclude the light.
At the request of Judge Ferry she re-
moved the bandage at the close of her
testimony. The flesh all around the eye
was black and blue and the eye was red
and discolored. 1t was an ugly looking
| bruise, and as the judge looked his feat
ures hardened.
Charles Gerburick, student,
was called. He said, SHE was
writing notes on his desk, and Miss
| Mitchell asked him if he was studying"
"Was he studying?"
"He didn't have a book in his desk.
She told him to bring the notes to her,
and he walked to the window and tore
them up and threw them away. She
told him to stay after school, and when
noon came he got up to go out. Miss
Mitchell went back and tried to push
him into the seat. Then she asked some
one to go for the principal, and as she
was turning towards him, he struck her"
"W hat did he strike her with?" asked
the city attorney.
''Why, with his fist"
| Young Wilson's story was almost ex-
| actly the same as the others until he
! got to where the tussle occurred, "She
/ came back and took me by the arms" he
said.
Then there was long pause as
though planning his story. Finally he
said 1--WE both had hold of each others
arms and were pushing each other back
and forth. In that way her head struck
mine here" pointing to his forehead
just above the right eye.
"Where's the mark that it made on
your head?" asked Mr.. Bird
81 couldn't find any," replied Wilson.
THAT'S all, replied the city attorney
quickly.
81 can scarcely conceive of boy OF
your size striking his teacher" said
Judge Ferry more earnestly than he
has for some time. sit was your duty &c
obey. l have no doubt that you delibe-
ratelv struck her. and tine you $780,
Young Wilson Immediately said he
would appeal the case. His bond was
placed at 800 and Mr. Wilson was SEM
for to his drug store on East Fourth
street He signed the bond. He said
II do not wish to uphold my son in any
meanness, but think he did not get jus
tlce this morning aud | will appeal the
case to the district court and fight it.
bliss Mitchell was unable 20 teach to-
day and her pupils were dismissed at LeI
request instead of substitute teacher
being put in. She said the school had
hardly been organized yet and she
thought it would be better For the pu
pills to lose day or two rather than try
to learn two systems.