Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-02-28
Statement Of PpOf.
T. B. Yates.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Feb. Is, 1896.

10 GUG EulIOl VI UHC 1ClHPolSH'
AS indicated to your correspondent a few
days ago, l am very much surprised that the
old and false charge of misconduct, against
me at the Virginia Institution for the Deaf,
Dumb and Blind has been brought up again.
The matter was fully investigated once by
committee of honorable, heightened gentle
men, and was completely eXonerated by the
board having control of theinstitution at that
time. Their report, heretofore published, is
as follows:
'sThe report of the special committee. COM
posed of Messrs. Moffett and Turner, to fur
ther investigate the Ogden-Riggs-4a tes affair,
was presented and read, together with the
dispositions, exhibits, etc, and on motion it
was ordered to be received and filed, and on
motion of Capt. Mushbach it was resolved
bv the board, after reading the evidence, eX
bibjts and report of the subcommittee APP
pointed on the 9TH inst, to investigate the
charges against Mr.. F. b. Yates, teacher in
the institution, made by Miss Emma Ogden,
that there is no foundation for such charges,
aud that, in the opinion of the board, it is
unnecessary for it to give any further consd-
Grafton to said charges, and that MIR. Yates
should not in any respect be preiudiced there
by.
"And thereupon, on motion of Capt. Mush-
bach, MI. F. b. Yates was unanimously re-
elected teacher of the second deaf-mute class,
at the salary heretofore fixed by the board
THE CHARGES UTTERLY FALSE.
Every one there seemed satisfied with the
decision at the time. l learned OF the pres
ent investigation through the meagre reports
of the public prints. l did not think my
name would be brought in, but it has been in
most outrageous manner. so far as l am
concerned, the proceedings are entirely eX
parte and it seem that those who seek to
traduce me are emboldened by the fact that
am absent and unable to meet my accusers
face to face. do not believe that just and
discriminating people will render g verdict
against me on such unfair proceedings, es-
peciallv when the matter was fully investl-
gated while the events were fresh in the
minds of all who had knowledge of them,
and every one who desired to was allowed to
testify, and freely, on the subject. and this
result in my complete exoneration.
Now, as to the charges made by Annie
Riggs deny that ever at any time, in any
manner, acted improperly towards her OF any
other pupil in the institution. deny that
asked her to write, or that any One at my Inv
stance asked her to write, a letter to eXoner-
ate me.
/ have in my possession letters written by
her. These are long, rambling letters, such
as school girl would write to q teacher who
had been kind to her. She spoke OF her faith
er, her friends, her schoolmateS. and church
1, hiob nm in T.
day life In one OF more of these letters she
referred to certain ugly rumors concerning
her, in which my name was connected, and III
emphatic words denounced them and their
ipstigators as false These letters were writ
ten at her home, at Guildford, Va. She eX-
pressed her thanks for the many kindnesses
had shown her while pupil.
WHY PROF. HUMBERT WENT.
| Prof Humbert, who is certainly an honora-
BILE upright man, and who was a teacher in
the institution at that time, and is now, went
to see Annie Riggs father at my request, and
at the instance of Capt. Doyle, not for the
purpose of shielding any one, but to examine
| fully into the rumors for the purpose of main
tanning the reputation of the institution
After this visit he submitted the following
report to the board:
| 81, l. S. Humbert, do certify that on Octo-
| Der IS, 1891. l went Cat the request OF Capt.
| Doyle and Mr.. Y ates) to see Miss Riggs at
her home in Accomac county, Va, to ascer-
| tain the truth of the charge relating to the
said Miss Riggs and Mr.. F. B. Yates.
Il respectfully submit the following:
"Miss Riggs strongly denies that there is
| IL, INT aol,a hat
B. Yates came to her bedroom. l questioned
her closely through her father She was cleal
and answering in her statements.
Respectfully yours,
81. S. HUMBERT.
1t should be remembered that when Prof
Humbert visited Annie Riggs she was under
her fathers roof. There was no reason what
ever why she should have shielded ME, if
had been guilty. have not seen her since
she left the Virginia institution, and if had
attempted to influence her in any way it would
have been necessary for me to have writer
to her. She is at liberty to gveto the world
any letter or letters wrote her, and if she
has any such letters, l hope she will give
: them wide publicity.
In addition to the letters ! have, she gave
Prof. Humbert letter denying any intimacy
with me OF any misconduct on my part to
ward her. This letter is in the possession o.
Capt. Doyle, and is, l suppose, part of thu
record of the investiga ton.
PROF MICHAELs' INVESTIGATION.
Prof. John W. Michaels, who was at tina
time president of the Deaf-Mute Association
in Virginia, and great friend Of the deaf
a1 10 iptprvipNyp(
Emma Ogden, who was reported to have sait
that | entered the room occupied by Anni
Riggs at the time mentioned by her, and HI
received letter from her denying the trutl
of the report, which must now be on I'll
among the records Of the Board of Trustees
| and. in addition to this, Prof. Michaels ha
] written letter within the last few days, re
Affirming his assertion that he investigated
the charges, and found them groundless
Prof. Michaels now makes the following
statement:
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Feb. I, 1896.
, 10 the Gentlemen of the Board of Director
for the Arkansas Deaf Mute Institute:
Sirs-This is to testify that in 1891, while i
Virginia. was requested by Mr.. F. B. Yates
then teacher at the Virginia Institute TO
the Deaf, and now principal of the Arkansa
Deaf-Mute Institute, to investigate, as far
/ possibly could, into certain charges agans
him by certain deaf parties in Virginia.
made an impartial inquiry, and found tina
| said charges were founded on rumor or heal
say only. | was teacher with him at tn
Virginia Institution during the terms G
1928 and lss3-s4, and during that tim
found him an honest, upright Christian gen
tleman. So great was my confidence in him
that when, i'll the fall of 1899, a vacancy oe
s Cured here in the principalship, l gave hi
name as a proper person for the place, wit
The consequence of his election. Since he ha
| haa,l OH Of he ha n L