The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-25
WHEN LOGE MEETS lOGE
THEN COMES THE TUG AND
TWIST OF WAR.
Mr.. j. c. l., Harris Denounces and At
tacks Principal Logan 4owtII
About Whipping His Boy.

noon. Mr.. j. c. l.. Harris. went up 10
Principal Logan ID. Howell and after
dcnouncing him. also struck him, ans!
the matter practically ended there.
1t all came about from misundpr-
standing as to Gordon, Mr.. Harris lii
tie son who was pupil at the school.
In view of the fact that as princi-
pal of the School Mr.. Howell has charge
of many of the children bf the city, such
incidents in HIS administration as the
one of yesterday arouse public curi-
osity which Mr.. Howell was quite will
ing to meet by means of a statement to
the public. This statement is given be-
low. For" said he, 'as the matter is
public talk, | had as wen tell the story
as it was, so that there may be no misun-
derstanding as far as my conduct was
concerned, otherwise | should much
prefer to keep out of print"
Mr.. Harris was seen by reporter, but
sand that for the present, he preferred
making no statement for publication.
Little Gordon Harris stated his side
of the case. He said that he had been
directed to stay in after school by two
of the young women teachers; that he had
stayed in for one, but in the other case he
had forgotten and gone home; that on the
following day CTuesday). Mr.. Howell had
whipped him, striking him on the back
with Il switch or switches; that on We'd
nesday, Mr.. Howell had seen his father
who asked Mr.. Howell to wait until he
could come down to the school and see
ahont the matter; that instead of
waiting for his father, Mr. Howell had.
in the meantime, taken him up and tried
TO whip him, but that he had escaped
through the window.
1t is pertinent to say that there were
about the boy no visible marks whatever
Of any violence or of rough treatment
The lad was reminded of the fact that the
breaking of the school rules might in cer-
tain cases result in the dismissal OF the
scholar. but he said he was not afraid OF
that. as his father was president of the
Board. tHe was no doubt MISLEADING
his fathers position on the A.. and VI.
College Board as he is not president IF
the Graded School Board)
MR.. HOWELL'S STATEMENT.
Mr. Howelfs statement is as follows;
Mr.. Harris has a boy at the Centennial
School who is stubborn aud wilful, and
has given much trouble He has repeat
edly disobeyed the instructions of teach
-ers, As Is orr custom we have tried
persuasion and all sorts OF mild means
of punishment, and have reported him to
his parents, who, think, have also pun
ished him for disobeying teachers In
our effort we have had the support of his
father, as | thought, and Mr. Harris ha $
sent us word if his boy did not obey
us to whip him.
Last Monday matters came to Il head
when the boy went home at the close of
school after having been told by Il teacher
to remain. Next day it was reported to
me, and | gave the boy whipping. Then
| gave him kindly but firm talk. and
told him he might go and wash his face.
but not to leave the yard, and to return
Immediately to his room. | watched him
from the window, and at a safe distance
in the yard the boy turned and insulted
and dehed me. | started towards him.
and he ran from the school IN the direc-
ton of his home.
| Immediately sent the ianftor with Il
note to his home, telling of the occur
renee, and saying that thought the bow
ought to be sent back Immediately. and
given sound thrashing, as | evidently
had not given him enough. The ianitor
returned saying that the boy had moi
yet come home e
This morning he came to school with a
note from his father TO the PRINCIPAL as
follows:
Il send Gordon back this a. m. Tell
Mr.. Howell that / am enga ged for the
day SO that j cannot come down. and
that | will do so in the presence of Cor
don, and Oblige.
Yours truly.
u. c. L. HARRIS"
The latter part of this note is ambi-
guous, and l suppose was written in a
hurry; but we inferred from it that Mr..
Harris was supporting us in our dealings
with his child. However we could not
let him go to his classes without punish
ment from us or a better understanding
than this note gives.
l was engaged all the morning. but
about a quarter past two l found Mr..
Harris on the street, and had what was
TO me satisfactory talk about his boy.
lie seemed to agree with me that his
boys conduct was outrageous and that
he ought to be properly punished Mr..
Harris was going to dinner and in n