Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-26
The Trouble In That Eastern School
Building.
1 BIG BROTHER OBJECTED
Testimony on Both Sides as Pro
duced in Court.
EYE WITNESSES TESTIFY

The trouble in the Van Buren, school an
mex in Anacostia between SeIden NJ. Ely,
the principal and AHoeious Thorn of
Twining City, as heretofore published in
The STAR was ventilated in the Police
Court today. AS heretofore published Mr..
Thorn, who had deposited $40 collateral at
the police station, forfeited the collateral
by his non-appearance, and the case came
for trial before a jury today because Mr..
Ely thought SO was not enough for the
treatment he had received.
Lawyer Ralsten represented the defend
ant, while Mr.. Mullowny appeared for the
prosecution.
story of the Trouble.
The principal OF the building was the first
witness examined. He started off by tell
ing Of the rules Of the school, and said that
while the boys were there he had a right
to exercise the same authority over them
that their parents have.
IF they have right to whip the boys"
he said, $50 have L.
Then he told of the complaint made by
Miss Erb, the teacher of Clarence Thorn.
This was to the effect that the boy had
been engaged In a fight. and when he was
called in and questioned and because of
his conduct the principal said he slapped
him. The boy broke away and one OF the
other boys caught him. In pulling away
from this boy he tore his clothes.
About o'clock in the afternoon, he said,
the defendant, who is the boys brother
came to the building, and after talking
about the matter, invited him Qhe prin-
cipaD out to fight it out.
IF you want to whip any one," he said.
whip me-"
Pupils Frightened.
This language used by Mr.. Thorn, said
the principal. frightened the girls in the
room, and they started to leave the puild-
ing, but he turned and told them to be
seated. AS he did so. he said, Mr.. Thorn
slapped his Jaw He paid NO attention to
1t, but the boys then left their seats and
were coming out in the hall to take part
in the affair, when ne turned to them. and
then, he said Mr.. Thorn struck him on
the same jaw with his fist.
did he hurt your the witness was
asked.
Not very much,' he answered, my jaw
was little sore the next morning"
Miss Erb. the boys teacher, was also ex-
amined. but she did not know much about
the trouble, as she had not witnessed the
meeting in the hall.
Several of the boys were examined, and
they gave evidence corroborating that
given by the principal.
After recess several more boys were call
ed to the stand and they corroborated the
statements made by the principal.
Edward Grove, ore Of the boys. did not
ScS uOFH Siep MI. Ely, Out he u6dTu
the noise made by his hand coming in con-
tact with the school teachers face.
Mr. Thorn, ne said, asked what right Mr..
Ely had to heat the boy and tear his
clothes, and Mr.. Ely said that he only
slapped the boy, and added that he lad the
same right to slap him that his parents
had.
Mr.. Thorn then invited him out in the
yard. saying. Beat me and tear my clothes,
I'm a man, every inch CT it,
FOR the nefenae
This closed the testimony for the prose-
cution. and Clarence Thorn. the younger
brother of the defendant, about whom the
trouble happened, was put on the stand.
He testified that Mr.. Ely struck him
several times with his fist and kicked him
This happened on the front steps, and
when they got inside his coat was torn IN
his 0he boy's) effort to pull away. He
went home and told his brother, who was
sick, Of what had happened.
On cross-eXamination Mr.. MuIlowny at
tempted to get the boy mixed in his state
ments, but the little boy said: you can't
fool me-"
Guy Thorn, another brother, gave SINH
lar testimony. He said he saw Mr.. Ely
strike his brother and kick him, well as
knock his head against the building.
When he saw Mr.. Ely kick hts brother
he said he picked up stone, but did not
throw 1t.