The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
DISTURB NCE IN A SCHOOL.
Trial of the Men Charged With the
0ffensc,
PROFESSOR PATlLL0'S EVIDENCE
Testimony of Others to tho Affair-Both
Defendants Found Guilty by
aJury.

/ yesterday afternoon. The cases against
Frank Stnutberg and Joe Meyer, charged
with disturbing the peace were set for
o'clock and the court room at that hour
was filled with witnesses and spectators.
The disturbance occurred last Monday
at the Longfellow school at the same
time that Professor Patillo, the principal
was assaulted by Frank Stautberg. On
the afternoon of the day OF the affair.
Stautberg went before Justice Husscy.
pleaded guilty to an assault and was fined
s. and costs.
] Complaint was afterwards made in the
recorders court against stautberg and
his brother-in-law, Meyer, charging them
with disturbing the peace. There was
some difference in the charges against the
! two mon as Stautherg was charged with
using indecent language and Meyer was
not
Tho defendants were represented by
Isaac r. Lindley and the prosecution by
Assistant city Attorney Tracy and Judge
L. p. Hamblen. The defendants having
demanded jury. the following Jurors
were accepted: S. Il. s. .Andrus George
Brlnghurst. VIM. Howard. j. V. Dealy.
J. II. Berry and Ennis Cargill.
1t was agreed among counsel that the
two cases would be heard together and the
witnesses We're then sworn and put under
the rule.
The first witness introduced by the
prosecution was Professor Patillo. the
principal Of the Longfcnow school lie
had his head bandaged up and his left eye
still plainly showed the effects OF the
assault upon him.
Tie testified that he was sitting in the
Scnool yard, on Monday. during recess
when Stautberg and another entered tn,
YARD through the gate usually used by
Inc boys They passed by him and went
up the steps. He then went into tho
scho'l house as was his custom. when
visitors came. Just as he reached tb.
front door. they had gotten as far as
the Third grade room. one Of them ran
ped very hard on the door. Stautberg
however saw the witness approacninr
ana turned to meet him and they met at
the foot of the stairs A. Stnutberg VA.
aplro!,Ghlng witness, he began to curse
MN witness had not said ANYTHING To
Stautherg when he began cursing. Staut-
"rF seemed excited and spoke in Il loud
| tone of voice.
Stautherg called witness a Cd d-u
IN 81 IN and caught hold of the
At that time. Meyer spoke up and be-
Ehn denouncing witness for imposing on
Stautberg's children Stautbcre had at
that time stopped talking. but he then
put his hand in his pocket and cut the
witness on the temple and again on The
! head
MIR. I.ndley called attention to the fact
tnat the assault was not a part of this
charge but that Stalthcrg had already
hccn iined for this otf'nsc.
The prosecution admitted this.
| Stautbrrg hit witness twice and the
Witness then made him Never tnttr Int
witness arm, hut he thinks he hit Staut-
berg two or three licks The inr.itor then
came M and got between them II took
some time to got Stau,berg out of the
huildng. number Of children came up
on the gallery when they heard the ours
ing and looked on. Only the witness and
the two defendants were In the hail Of the
iirst floor. however. At that time.
Crosa-eNamined-Thbs happened dur
Ing recess and the children as required
by the rules worc TN the yard Witness
had written note which he thought was
addressed to Stauthcrr's wife. lie didn't
recollect the exact language of the mote.
| been In dish nor and he told him to 20
home. Witness then addressed a note to
his mother telling her to keep the boy
at home until witness could see the faith /.
as to the boys conduct
% Returning to the disturbances In re-
Spouse to questions. the witness said af-
ter he had spoken to Stapthrrg about
keeping quiet, Meyer put in and sai1 ,s,t
the witness had been imposing on Staut-
herg chlldfen, witness ana not know
that Never held Stautbcrg Never did
not use any profanc language. Witness
did not have his knife in his hand when
he approached stautherg. lie got it on
ly after Stauthcrg had struck him. II was
not fact that he ordered Stautberg out
Of tho house
Redirect examine tion-Witness had not
invited Meyer to call and he had no
children 1T Longfcllcw school
Travis Jones. the colored janitor. was
next put on the stand. Witness was I'm
q 1,,,. Of hA ri ,,ltNf tl,n two y
fcndants entered the school house. lie
went into the building a few minutes
later, and Ar, staqtberg and Professor
Stauuhcrg by one of his arms.
Cross-cxamin ID Meyer lad hold Of
Stautberg, when the Witness came in and
'ha tMcYer) was not making any assault
when he saw them. Witness did not hear
Meyer used any profanc lauguage Staut-
berg cursed in the school house ana al
ter he had reqched the yard
The children and school teachers could
hear tho profane language.
Miss May Montgomery, n teacher in
tho Iongfcllow school testified that when
she frat he ID tho disturbance she was
m stairs. she looked down and saw. Mir
Stauthcrg make at Professor pntillo
My. Meyer was doing nothing to separ-
ate them Professor PRtillo was trying
to defend himself lent the first blow
sccmed to hnNc stunned him Professor
patnlo told Mr. Stautherg that he must
not use that language. Stautherg had 10
he taken out by force and he Kept ON us
ms profane languago; Mr., Never had
Professor patillo by tho arm whom Mr.
Stautberg hit him. The hovs called the
ianitor. but he did not get there until the
mon had fought 90 the door.
Tho prosecution, although there were
n number Cr other witnesses announced
that thcv would rest their case and the
defense also rested without introducing
any witness The case was then argued
and given to the jury.
Tho Jury very quickly returned a ver-
dict of guilty as to both defendants I'm
ing Meyer s25 and costs and Stautbors
s5N and costs
The defendants counsel raNo notice OF
appeai ard tho nual disposition Of tine
matter will rest with the highcp court.
IL YOC NEED \ TONIC
Use iiorSford's Acid Phosphate.
1t stimulates the stomach, uourishes
tho nerves. builds tho brain tissue 4
wonderful tonic, Makes delightful bev-