Evening journal., 1896-06-09
TEACHERS EX0NERATED
Report of Committee Investi-
eating Judge Balls Charges.
DECIDES TIE CHARGES NOT TRUE

And Dismisues Them-And Now an Apoi.
ogyis Demanded-rhe Counsel for the
Teachers Allowed a Fee what Will
the Outcome BE.
The report OF the committee of school
Nc "a which has had In charge the
investigation of the charges made by
Judge j Frank Ball against Miss Sallie
A Miller principal, and Misses Annie
Speakman and Mary G. Steele, teachers
OF that school, OF maltreating his IL
years old daughter, Ethel. was handed In
at the meeting of the Board OF Public
Education last evening and 1t exonerates
the teachers and pays their counsel 800
each
Judge Ball was sbHent from the city
but sx-Mayor Austin Harrington and
Willard Hall Porter were there to
explain why he was not In attendance
SHOULD his absence be remarked. The
report.wRs as follows
Report Of the Committee.
Your committee on No. "a school, to
whom was referred the communication OF
Judge j. Frank and Mrs Ida M Ball.
brutality against Miss SallIe A Miller,
MI Annie spenkman and Miss Mary @.
Steele, teachers In said school, beg leave
to submit the following report:
I'VE have secured the testimony Of all
persons who were supposed to have wit
nessed the assault as charged, the most
of 1t being under oath, and after carefRl
examination and consideration we are
unanimously of the opinion that
the charges are unfounded; and that
the charge as made by Mrs. Ball,
viz That the only protection a child
has at No. "a school is that either
her father or uncle or some other relation
should be in the Board OF Education. ana
that this fact alone entities a child to
some show Of justles-your committee
has Investigated the charge, as yell as
the others, and have undoubtedly no
evidence Ia support OF the same. In
fact. the person making the charge
declined to offer any evidence in It's
support. Miss Miller, principal OF No
"a. however, swears that there 10 no
truth VIII ltever In the charge. We
respectfully ask that the board take such
action as may be necessary TO ascertain
the sruth or falssness OF this charge"
Chairman Morrow's Remarks.
l. B Morrow. chairman of the com
mittee, spoks st considerable length on
the charges and the investigation. He
said, among other things, that the evil
dence was 80 conflicting as to raise
doubt as to whether any violenos had
been committed. To his mind an outrage
has been committed against these three
teachers, their character has besn aesailed.
and falsely, too, and publicly proclaimed
all over the country
He added that these teachers have "a
perfect right to dsmsnd public apology
from the party making these charges,
and | shall insist that the apology be
given as much publicity as were the
charges, particularly so, Mr. President,
when We consider that one OF the parties
making these charges was herself once
scboolteAcher, in our public schools, and
well knew OF all the little petty trials
Rno anuoyaDces.to whicbls teacher is sub
jtc.ed, and should have been the first
person to have insisted on maintaining
the discipline OF tho school
MIR. Baynard says a Few words
Samuel 81. Bsynard doubted whether
the report Sufficiently vindicated the
teachers, said he: The serious nature OF
effect on the three teachers, but also the
teachers OF all the schools. The other
charge ss made By Mrs Ball casts re-
iection on the whole board. "Mr. Baynard
asked that the board take some action
that would appeal to the oitIzsns of
Wilmington aud show them exactly how
the case stands
FE-Mayor shortlidge thought an
apology or retraction was due the
board as well as the teaehers He
moved thst further consideration OF this
matter be deferred for two weeks 10
order to give Judge aud mrs Ball
chance to apologize or take other action
Counsel WIN Be Paid.
The report of the committee was
adopted by unanimous vote and On
motion Of Mr.. Bsynard 800 was drawn
in favor Of 5. Redmond Smith and Peter
l. Cooper. Jr., for defending the teach
ers during the investigation and also
to defend them in case Of further prose
cution.
hr Morrow said that as the methods
Of the board and teachers had bsen
zssailed by Mrs Ball, he would ask the
members OF the entire board TO look into
the management of No "a school
Miss Ball has been suspended from "a
school by Mr. Morrow pending the 6naI
action OF the board,
As Judge Ball is stte ding his class
exercises at Princeton college and will
mot be at home until tomorrow, his
course in the future cannot be stated
1t is rumored that be will lay the matter
before the Sotisty for the Prevention Of
Cruelty TO Children and the matter will
be further ventilsted, in court It is
also rumortd that in case Mrs Ball
refuses TO spologIzs she may be preceded
agRinst for criminal libel.