The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-01
Hickey Wants $4,000
From Miss Robinson.
SHE WHIPPED PLAINTIFF.
Latter Claims That She Was Un-
necessarily Severe.
THE TEACHER TELLS HER STORY

Great interest WIS taken by number
OF persons in the trial today OF the suit
of Master Joseph Hickey against Miss
Fannie w. Robinson, teacher in the War
rem street school, To recover 5000 for al
legged unwarranted ana cruel punishment
with a rattan inflicted on him while he
was a pupil in the school named. The
plaintiff is II years OF age, and there was
considerable testimony TO show that on
or about Nov. IL, 1896, his legs were in
bad condition and that he suffered n
great deal of pain. for which he and his
parents blame the defendant The plain
tiff denies that the injuries were the
result of game of shinney. The de-
fendant denies any responsibility Tor the
boys injuries. claiming she only ad-
ministerd light punishment to her very
disaRreeable pupil. Judge Rogers presided
at the trial.
Young Hickey testified that Miss Rob
iuson, on the 1lth OF November, 1896. Just
after the dismissal OF school at noon,
took him into recitation room and pun
ished him very severely. inflicting 30
sIaps on his two hands with a rattan, and
about the same number on his right leg.
The reason the punishment was given
him, he said WAS for putting the wrong
foot first in q march. aud also for scuiiling
his feet.
On cross examination Hickey admitted
he had carried a note from his mother
authorizing Miss Robinson To punish him.
He denied having been dismissed from
the Tyler school and claimed be was
good boy and was certain the bruises on
his body were not the result of play ing
shinney for he never played such rough
game In his life.
Hickey testified that his body was black
and blue for a long time after he was
whipped and that he still suffers pain
from one Of his bruised knees which was
injured by Miss Robinson's use of the
rattan.
Dr. Wolf testified that the day follow
ing that on which Hickey was punished
he was called to attend him at his home,
256 Dexter street. The doctor found the
boy Is right leg black and blue from the
hip down, several black spots on the left
leg and one of his hands black and blue
and his right knee was somewhat swollen
which caused Hickey considerable pain
Several visits were made by the doctor
to the injured boy.
Mrs Hickey, mother of the boy, testi-
fled among other 3hings that her son suf-
fered greatly from the punishment adj
ministered 10 him, and that Miss Robin
son came TO her house and asked her par
don and stated she had lost her temper
Witness admitted giving the teacher per
mission 10 punish Ter son, but said she
understood the punishment TO be inflicted
was reasonable one. The boys father
testified his son was "A delicate lad and
had a short time before his being pun
ished by the defendant, recovered from an
attack of diphtaeria. Three pupils of the
school testified to seeing Miss Robinson
uf1I m fh.a xx,hn et..
ished him.
Miss Robinson testified she had been
a teacher In the public schools for the
past Is years and for long time i'm
charge Of the room In the Warren street
school that the plaintiff had attended.
Young Hickey she testified had been for
long time "a disturbing element In her
scho OIL lilo was in the habit of mutter-
ing constantly so as TO interfere with
recitations. Then he would make saucy
faces, shuttle his feet and throw his arms
up and down in manner that would
distract the pupils from their studies.
She said she haa tried many ways to sub
due Joseph and wanted to expel him but
thought IL she could get permission from
the mother TO punish him he might
reform. She obtained the permission
and on the llth OF Novembo she called
Joseph and told him II no would apologies
TO the school he might go free but othor-
wise he would have to stand punishment
Joseph would not apologize so the rat-
tan was used. Witness said she had made
up her mind as To just the number OF
slaps she was going TO give her pupil
before she raised the rattan but he In
sisted on keeping his hands in his pock.
cts so she hit him around the legs below
the knees From the position the boy
stood when she was furnishing him she
did not see how the blows could have
struck him on tho right leg.
Miss Robinson an cross-examination
said she dii not give Hickey ever eip 4
blows on tie hand. She der iei tclIIno
Mrs. Hickey she lost her teiuper. huf
dld "ondole with her on several matter :
of family troubles though when Mis-
Hickey came To the school in yetv fn.
olgnant frame Of mind, she threatened to
call n pol cernan.
Rev. DIR. Moses II. Bixbv testified ma
tad cnarge of the school and hal known
Joseph as disturbing el.n eAt in tto
nool and Miss Robins, N as "A co3i
tescher.
Thomas f. Cosgrove and John J. Dock
eiy are attorneys for Hickey and ALERT
"A. Bak r for Miss Robinson
superintendent of Schools Tarbell tcs
titled that he examined the marks IN
young Hickcy's body and then saw MISS
Robin on. Thought the blows siven a a
Toy mus have been given bya left
handed lersOn. Witness noticed that ono
blow had taken efi,c just below tie ripht
knee lie had advised Miss Robinson to
60 and see ths boys mother and
straighten tSings out.
Gilbert T.. Whittem ore. truant officer a,
tho city, said that after tho ilth OF No
vember. he looked up Joseph aud found
he had been pupil at Tyler school ana
ths teacher Ia ohhrgc SAID he could never
return ms a scholar there Afterward he
ordered the child to be sent TO school