Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-05-26
IMPROPER CONDUCT
Charged Against Deafmute
School Engineer
HAD A PRIVATE PEEPH0LE
Was Caught Watching the Girls
and Children Battle.

Otto Sheliberg, engineer at the stat
school for deafmutes, Is charged b
the officials Of that institution wit
improper conduct and the state boar
of education will undoubtedly dis
charge him at once. Superintendent
Early has made specific charges.
Mr. Shellberg was in town yesterda,
and was seen by a reporter. He de
nies that ne was guilty Of any i'm
proper conduct, and charges that 1T Il
a conspiracy on the part of Sperinten
dent Early and his wife to have hin
removed because he is not member
of the Dunkard church. He says they
want none but Dunkards employed
there.
Not since the troubles at the state
reform school, when Walter Lyon and
other employees interfered and were
discharged at the time Of brutalities
10 boys there, has there been occasion
for a newspaper report Of a scandal in
an Oregon public institution. The
Oregon state school for deafmutes, on
a farm seven miles from the city now
furnishes case Of fragrant abuse Of
privileges by an employe.
Two years ago Otto Shell berg was
appointed watchman at the building
then not completed or occupied. He
proved a valuable and faithful man.
His appointment was good invest
ment for the state as he proved handy
with tools and paints, and as watch
man more than paid his way by extra
work at painting and carpentcring,
and In making general repairs and
looking after the property.
THE PRINCIPLE CHARGE
is that Shellberg, from a private peep
hole in the dark brick tower just Off
the engine room, took advantage of
the opportunity, and looked down
into the large tank in the girls bath
room below and watched them while
there naked. He carried ladder into
this shaft, climbed up about ten feet,
and stood on Il board for fifteen min
ntes and was watched by two reliable
men, under direction Of Superintend-
INT Early. The character of the wit
nessess is such and the evidence is so
complete that Governor Lord, who
climbed into the young mans perch,
was completely convinced of the guilt
IF Shellberg, and felt outraged over
his conduct. lie will demand of the
state board OF education his removal.
a JOURNAL reporter went TO the
Deafmute school last evening, talked
With number of the employees, and
With the officers OF the school. A
great many details of Shellberg's mis-
conduct were supplied, which will be
II necessary. Shellberg
md Superintendent Early got along
irstrate for a long time after he was
appointed engineer, and Mr.. Early
peaks in the highest terms of She'll
'erg's qualifications for the position.
md of his work. Thursday evening,
n the absence of the superintendent.
'hellberg was seized by crowd OF
Ifteen TO twenty of the deafmutes.
ulled out of the engine room and laid
n his back in the hall. The girls
'ere as hot as the boys, and pulled his
air' aud struck him. lie fought
hem OF, but the children were too
luch for him, and had not Mrs. Early.
he matron, and assistant principal !
.itherland, 'interfered and dispersed |
hem they would have handled him
Dughly,
The children at the school all know |
I his misconduct and will carry these
Aports To their homes tomorrow
heh luey scatter 10 all parts of the |
tate. The JOURNAL believes il is
IT better To have the actual facts
nd before the public, and the prompt /
ork of the board in making an In.
estigation and dismissing Shellberg
'om the service of the state will be
act OF good faith on the part OF the
oard that viii go far TO allay an
REGULATIONS and suspicious that will |
set aioat that will be far worse
nan the truth. Shellberg is resi-.
INT of Sublimity, OF a good family
nd has borne good reputation.
c has been guilty OF misconduct II
le statements OF the witness are 10
relied upon, in connection with an
'e connected facts OF the case. No
'rm has been done the persons OF
y OF the students. The offense is
ie against good morals and himself
ore than against the deafmutes
'ellberg was appointed on petition
many ReDuhlicans inclnain.. -