The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-16

Mr.. Jones was the first to speak. He
thought the evidence showed it to be
simply personal matter between Har-
ris and Howell. He reviewed the testi-
mony and claimed that the circumstances
were such as to infuriate a father
greatly, to lead him to believe that his
child had been abused and injured, and
that in his punishment the teacher had
gone beyond the powers given a school
teacher. He said it was on the impuls>
of the moment that Harris made the as
sault. Mr.. Jones contended that the
circumstances of the case were such as
to put it on the same footing as any other
ordinary assault and battery case. He
argued that Mr.. Harris did only what
any father would do under the same
circumstances.
In the beginning of the argument, Mr..
Douglass explained that he had no feel
PARTIES in this case, but he said he had
a duty to perform, and he was going to
try to do it decently and in order.
There was, he said, sort of dignity
thrown around the public schools by the
lava special protection-and such ac
ton as Mr.. Harris was guilty of in in
vading such an institution and attacking
the head of it, on so slight provoca ton,
was nothing short of a public outrage,
He argued that an assault by such man
the high and honOred positions he held
makes it a still graver offence. 1t
does more to demoralize the school and
bring into contempt its management than
anything else that could have happened.
"A lick at Mr.. Howell" he continued,
was Il lick at the public schools Here
at the capital of the State, the leading
school of the city, it is a sorry spectacle
An assault upon the very foundation of
the public school system. The natural
effect of this action was to demOraliZe
the school, and there is but one balm in
Gilead-the penalty provided by the law,
Was Mr.. Harris boy badly treated?
Then his remedy was the courts. Shall
every man who doesn't like to have his
boy whipped go into the school building
while the scholars are there and whale
the teacher in return? When it comes to
that every teacher will have to teach his
school with his shotgun by his side. a
nice lesson in morals, it is--to go TO a
public school, fostered by the State, at
tack the teacher and curse and kick him
in the presence Of as good ladies as there
are in the State Submit to the charge?
That was all that Harris could do. He
may we'll thank his stars if this case isn't
sent up to the Superior Court. l know
this court will weigh the evidence in this
case, and not allow II farce to be made
of it. The Legislature has passed laws
throwing special protection around
schools. 1t makes the offence of which
Mr.. Harris has been guilty u misde
meanor, and provides that it shall be pun
ished by fine of not more than $50,
or Imprisonment for not more than thir-
ty days"
Mr.. Douglass begged THAT no man be
shown mercy an such a case on account Of
his position; that the dignity Of the
schools be maintained, and that the de-
PENDANT in this case be made an example
of to such persons as want to whip the
school teacher. He said the offence was
a double ointed one-an assault on How
ell and a disturbance of the school-both
of which were grave offences. Mr.. Doug
lass therefore asked that Mr.. Harris be
fined $50 and costs, and asked the court
TO remember that in so doing he would
simply be making the defendant contrib
ute $50 to the publs cshool fund.
If you are going to put such IA fine on
Harris as to make this a joke, I'm in IA
vor Of doing one of two things: Going
back to the old-field school where the
teacher sits with Il hickory on enc side to
whale the children, and shotgun OH
the other side to protect his body from
infuriated parents; or I'm in favor of
changing the Centennial Graded School
into the Centennial School of Pugilism,
teach the boys how to fight according To
law, and whenever a fellow wants to get
hold OF another fellow, let him go down
and wade in. Already the boys are imitat-
ing Harris knocking out Howell. The city
of Raleigh would have been the gamer
to have paid Loge Harris 81 900 not to
have gone down to that school and attack
Howell. And for his attorneys to come
here and ask for suspension of Judgment
shows more brass than / ever before saw.
1t shows more cheek than ever govern
ment mule possessed. l have been pretty
cheeky in my time, but / never had it
on tnat thick
Mr.. Peele explained the title OF the
case, saying that the newspapers were
WRONG in emitting the matter Howell VS.
Harris; that it ought to be State VS..
Harris. He also explained why Mr.. How
ell allowed Mr.. Harris TO strike and
kick him. The law touching the power
and rights of a teacher in whipping chill
dren was likewise discussed. MIR. Peele
said the defendant had neither evidence
nor law on his side; that he was relying
On brass and gas-the imagination and
ingenuity of counsel. Mr.. Peele thought
Col. Argo pretty ingenious but he didn't
think him equal to the task in this case
He begged the magistrate to build up
the public schools and not John Sullivan
ism. The best sentiment of the commu-
nifty, he was sure, w0uld be behind the
magistrate in unfolding the dignity ana
peace and good name OF the public schools
by heavily filming the defendant
Col. Argo said the prctence that pub
lie school had been disorganized was
made to cover up a public outrage and
shield II man who had imposed upon
small, helpless boy, and been guilty of
conduct for which he ought to be dis |
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