Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-31
PURSUE THE INQUIRY
Many Witnesses Examined Yesterday in
the Stanton Investigation.
THE CHARGES ARE RANDOLPH's.
President Ritter, of the Deaf ana
Dumb Association Not n Party 10
Them-Mr. Forrer Speaks for the
Bonrd-Tcstimony Not so Spicy.

The investigation OF the affairs OF the
/ Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution at
Stanton was prosecuted vigorously
throughout yesterday, and a number OF
mute witnesses were examined.
The committee when it assembled at
$50 o'clock in the morning. went into
executive session. and sat with closed
doors for an hour.
When the doors were opened Chairman
Stubs told Mr.. Forrer, president of the
Board Of Visitors. that the committee de-
sired the records Of the proceedings Of
the board from 1855 to the present time.
A Geographic order was sent for the
books at once. and II is expected that
they VIII be here to-day.
WHAT MIR. TUCKER KNOWS.
Mr.. Arthur G. Tucker was the first wit
ness called He Is a young man Of this
city, and was a student at the Stanton
Institution from 1881 TO 1885, and 1881 TO
1880 graduating in June, 1880.
Captain Doyle, he testified, was princi-
pal when he entered the institution, but
was succeeded by Mr.. Vaughan and Mr..
Roller and returned as principal in lSSi-S.
Mr. Tucker did not know much about i'm
moralities existing between teachers and
pupils. h said. but he had seen Mr. Yates
frequently with Miss - on his lap. He
saw Mr.. Yates with two Of the girls very
often. The former Of these, he said, was
between 10. Il. and II years Of age when
she sat on Mr.. Yates's lap. All Of this
fNa.nrs IL
was between II and 10 years old. In tell
ing what he had heard about the Yates -
matter witness gave the name Of another
young lady, who he had heard. was In
Miss rs room when Mr.. Yates went
in. Mr.. Tucker spoke highly OF MI.
Euritt as a teacher and gentleman, but
said he had smelled whiskey on his breath.
In regard to Captain Doyle he testihed
to having seen him pour something from
bottle in his office for two gentlemen
in 1883. and on another occasion, in the
spring of 1855 he saw Captain Doyle
under the influence Of liquor.
WAS LIKE \ FATHER.
Mr. Tucker said Mr.. Williams. the
teacher charged by Randolph with being
cruel to the pupils. was always Ike a
father TO them. lie had seen him pull
their ears gently. When asked If Miss
was a fuly-developed girl when she
sat on Mr.. Yates's lap. he replied that he
didn't know, but that she was certainly
old enough to do better. He stated that
Yates had In February, 1888, very cruelty
beaten him for interfering with a debat-
ing society Yates was trying TO organize.
He afterwards wrote 10 Captain Doyle
and reported the matter. but the princi-
pal only read half Of the letter, and or
dered him out of the office. notwithstand-
ing the fact that the bruises on his face
were very apparent
Mr. Randolph continually interfered with
the witness, and the sergeant-at-arms
was ordered by the chairman TO remove
him. He was. however. allowed to re-
sumo his seat, and the examination or
Mr. Tucker was proceeded with. He
thought MIR. Bear as a teacher was
rather inclined to laziness. He made a
sign in connection with this statement,
which the Interpreter said meant II
don't care d-n." This he subsequently
made several times. but what il was
he cared so little for was not made APP
parent. lie told OF a mute who had been
drunk frequently during Captain Doyle's
administration. but said no one was dis
charged by Captain Doyle Tor drinking.
Mr.. Berkeley. he said. was not a good
teacher. but a good man at heart. He |
was often in sympathy with his class,
and often was not.
THE STATE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. William c. Ritter. a printer on the |
Daily News, of Stanton, and president |
Of the Association OF the Deaf ana |
Dumb. was the next witness. lie was a /
pupil at the institution from 1889 until /
April 1890 but knew nothing of immoral |
conduct at the school, except what he /
had heard. lie had always supposed that |
Mr.. Doyle drank too much, but he was
usually attentive TO his duties, though I
at times he was not. lie was a hard man /
for the pupils TO approach. Witness saw i
Mr.. Doyle on one occasion whip pupil |
with a barrel-staYe for breaking a spigot |
I'm the wash-rOOm. He had seen another /
boy break the spigot, and. though the |
wrong boy was being punished, he didn't !
feel called upon 20 correct the error.
When asked about Mr.. Williams as a |
teacher witness said he considered him /
10 be a good one. and didn't know of /
his having been cruel. Witness didn't /
think Mr.. Bear was we'll qualified to teach
He was given TO talking about his fell
and superors before the
pupils. and did much toward creating
prejudices. Mr.. Ritter spoke very highly
of Mr.. Euritt, who. he SAID, was an ex-
cellent teacher. He had never seen him
drink. but had smelled liquor on his breath.
1t didn't follow. though, he explained,
that he was intoxicated. Mr. Ritter was
asked about Miss -. and the charge
that she was ruined at the institution.
and replied that he had ker own letters
written in September 1891, to his Nitter's)
wife.
NO RECENT IMMORTALITY.
When asked again about Captain Doyle's
drinking, Mr.. Ritter said the teachers
themselves used TO say that they were
afraid to 90 TO him lest they might
find him intoxicated. Mr. Ritter did not
believe there had been any immoral con-
duct at the institution since Mr.. Yates
had left. He believed Mr.. Euritt had
reformed, and had stopped drink
Ing. lie thought the management of the
Institution was never better than now.
The following written statement of the
witness was read, and made part Of his
deposition:
Il wish 10 make a personal statement
Of my standing in this matter. The
charges brought by Mr.. Randolph are
his own, and he alone is responsible for
the investigation at this time The Vir-
sinia Association of the Deaf. our State
organization, has nothing whatever to do
with this matter. and as president OF
his association | have taken the precau-
ion Of remaining neutral, and / have
1een asked to testify by both sides, which
have consented TO do.
Il shall tell the truth of what has
,ome under my personal knowledge and
hall give every man credit and praise
when / can truthfully do so, and regard
ess of which side he Is on In this matter.
shall tell the truth, regardless of whom
I may injure. The truth must prevail"
The committee then took recess until
=. NJ.
The noon hour having arrived. the COM