The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-01

the protection of the womanhood that is
represented in the schools OF this city.
For many another woman just as inno-
cent as i, under such an attack as this,
might have lacked the courage of defense
and. rather than endure the publicity so
repugnant to any woman of delicate feel
ings. might have resigned ana crept away
Ike a wounded bird TO die. Let every
woman teaching in this city ask herself
if her womanhood may not be assaied
tomorrow, for how can any teacher feel
herself safe when the superintendent lends
his aid to such a diabolical plot against
who assisted him in this, l have only this
to say; God made her. let her pass for
a woman"
QUESTION OF HONOR.
Whatever Mr.. Howelrs motive may
have been he has done me a most cruel
wrong, one for which he can make no
reparation. l will not say he is IA scoun-
drel, for ought l know that may be ac-
tionahle and l have no wish to be called
upon to defend myself in a civil case: but
| will say he Is one who has abused the
high privilege of his office and violated
the trust of the men who placed him in
the position he has failed to honor. ! Will
not say he is villain. but l Will say he
is man whom good women will do well
to avoid and with whom honorable men
VIII not care to associate.
Gentlemen. Il woman's reputation Is her
all. \ superintendent of schools should
entrusted To his keeping. He should pro-
tect his teachers reputation until he is
convinced 10y the most powerful and over
whelming evidence of unworthiness. Mr.
Howell aSSa!lS mine on the unsupported
evidence of a woman of whom he knows
absolutely nothing. Instead of being my
defender, Mr.. Howell stands as my ac-
cuser ana prosecutor. When | refused
TO resign ana he was forced to maintain
his position. he made a pretense at inves-
tieating. but failed to call before the COM
mittee any OF the people he had qucS-
toned because he learned they had noth-
ing TO say to my detriment. Notwith-
standing an almost frantic search on his
part hc was enable to find any one TO
suhstantiatc the charges. But, gentle
men, when was it he made even this pre-
tense of investigating? After he Is forced
to It: after the dastarily blow has been
dealt: after he has caused me days and
nights of agony which years of time can
never efface from my memory: after he
he fears he has gone too far. 1t is the
act of an assassin who stabs in the da. k
ard tlees when daylight comes.
Let the men of this city whose daugh-
well before seeking positions for them in
schools so long as this man Is supcrin-
tendent. Let the members of this board
think of n sister or a daughter in the posi-
tion In which | am placed and imagine
their feelings then in regard to the man
who, in secret session and behind locked
doors. made Il cowardly attcmpt to hurry
this matter to what he considered u con-
clnsion., Let Mr.. Howell himself look
forward into the years to come when,
pcrhaps deprived of his protecting arm.
his own wife may stand. alone. to fight
the battle of life for herself and those de-
pendent ON her. Let him think of the
bitter tears and agony of mind at such
shameful humiliation. Let him think in
the years to come of his own daughter
the little child who now plays about his
knee. and delights his heart with her child
ish prattle: let him think of her in such
position. and ! ask him. how would he
regard the man who refused her the poor
privilege of defending her name against
charges and accusations that are as false
as they are malicious.
AFTER THE SUPERINTENDENT
John Gibbons took the floor as soon
as she left the room and he said that
ii would be impossible for the board
to overlook what she had said about
superintendent Howell. He made a
motion that the committee take the
matter up and sift it thoroughly. Mr.
Jacobs moved that Messrs. Jennings
and Walsh be added to the committee.
Mr. Jennings view that it was Il mat
ter for the entire board to deal with
impressed the other members as be-
ing correct and his motion prevailed
that n special meeting be held on We'd
nesday evening, December ., and the
secretary will notify Mr.. Howell to be
present and offer his defense
Charles W. Sharar, of $50 East Mar
ket street. was chosen to succeed Geo.
Mitchell as controller from the First
ward until the next city election. All
the members voted for him, and he
appeared at the close of the meeting
and was sworn in. He is about "a years
n a IN in b.,