The San Francisco call., 1896-02-25
An Angry Father Severely Ar.
raignS School Director
Henderson.
THE o'CoNNOR INVESTIGATION.
Charges That Were Not Sustained by
the Evidence of the Witnesses
Called fer That Purpose.
School Director Henderson faced an

| OCuOOl sDlTeCtOT IltHu6ISOH ldCGu all
angry father at the meeting of the COM
mittee on rules of the Board Of Education
last evening while the investigation of the
charges brought by the director against
Principal O'Connor of the Horace Mann
School was gong on.
Richard Wheeler, the father of one OF
the female pupils, was called by Mr..
O'Connor for the purpose, as he said, OF
showing that the charges were inspired by
malice and were without foundation. MIR.
O'Connor claimed that the director had
gone around among the pupils, trying to
get testimony against him.
The chairman, Director Knox, ruled his
testimony out of order as no foundation
had been laid for it, but the witness in
sisted on making statement. Going close
up to Director Henderson and shaking his
finger in his face he said:
Henderson, you came to my house when
[ was away and placed my daughter into an
EN- barrassing position. She is a young
girl only 16 years old and unused to the
ways of the world. You tried to make her
do something she did not wish to do,
testify against her teacher"
Then he started to walk out, and as he
went said, soto voce, but loud enough for
those about to hear:
'You dirty dog, I'll break your neck if
you ever invade my home again"
Director Henderson leaped to his feet
and shouted:
"1'll go out in the hall with you now if
you want to fight"
Mr.. Wheeler said nothing, and the COM
mittee rose. While the members were
standing Wheeler again approached Hen
derson and said, while shaking his fist in
his face:
Henderson, you are no man. You had
no right in my house, and you know it.
Don't you ever come there again and try
to lead my daughter to do something she
should not-go against her teacher"
Chairman Knox ordered the beliigerenS
father elected and the gathering quie ted
down.
The testimony previous to the scene was
given by the attaches of the department
| regarding the language used by Principal
O'Connor, on February 4, in the school
yard.
All agreed that Mr.. O'Connor had COM
pared the manners of the children to Dig
ger Indians when they had laughed in his
face and had told them that their conduct
had made them dlscredit to their parents,
themselves and the school. These express
sions were admitted by the principal when
the charges were filed.
None of the witnesses had heard Mr.
OConnor use any such expression as "Get
yez to your rooms or "For cents would
give you good bullyragging."
George Meihling, the Instructor Of the
drill, testified that the girls were unruly
and in confusion, giggling and talking,
when Principal o. Connor opened the win
dow and lectured them on their actions.
He thought that the principal had acted
perfectly right.
81 can handle boys" he said, fercely
and then pathetically, 'but oh, those
girls--they laugh in your face and you can
do nothing with them
He was sure that no such language
as "For cents / would give you good
bullyragging'' was used. His testimony
was borne out by that of l. P. Kincaid, the
inspector of buildings of the board; Miss
Graham, one of the teachers, and Mrs.
Kate Sullivan, the janitress, all of whom
were present when the scene in the school
yard took place.
Mrs. Sullivan said that she had heard
one of the visitors say that the pupils
ought to rebel and put On their hats and
go home.
After hearing the testimony the commit
tee went into executive session and held a
| long consultation on the question whether
or not the time of the board should be
taken up with a formal trial. One Di-
rector said that the whole examination
had been farce, and that nothing had
been proven except what the principal ad-
mitted. 1t was finally decided that the
testimony would not Justify the trial. The
question of censuring the principal for the
language used was discussed but the COM
mittee refused TO say what action il would
take on anv of the points until the m eet-
ing of the committee of the whole on
Wednesday.