The Portland daily press., 1897-03-23
A.ToWN EXCITED.
How Principal Bailey Whipped Laforest
Humphrey.

The people.of PittstieId are in a very
high state of excitement over the alleged
brutal whipping of Lnforest G. Humph-
rey In the Lancey Street school in the
early part ofa.this month.
Saturday AFTERNOON, Union hall was
: thronged with people anxious to listen
to the investigation conducted by the
school. committee, upon petitions signed
by townsmen. The committee consists
Of Prof. o. H. Drake >; chairman, D. s..
Matthews, Thomas Knowles, j. b. M.
Foster, g. W. Patten and Guy Small.
George d.. Morse appeared for the
Humphreys, and Hon. f. ". Hovey for
the teacher, F. P. Bailey. Laforest
Humphreys is>ill in bed at shis home,
therefore deposition was taken from
him, Saturday morning, which In rela-
tion to his punishment is as follows:
'The teacher told me to stay after
school to get spelling lesson. Six other
boys also had to stay. They wrote
lessons on the blackboard and departed
was then called out, and / asked the
teacher what he WAS Furnishing me for.
He replied, partly for passing a note and
partly for kissing girl last term. but |
did not kiss her.
''Hs made mekbend over seat and in
ficted very sever punishment with a
ruler, SO that when L got up l could not
stand, and reeled against the door, and
then he said he would punish me more.
He further stated that he did not want
me in school, and that would be pun
ished for everything that did. At pres
emit cannot stand or lie in any position
save with my face down.
ix,a % H.,
the position, became dizzy and fell
out Of red to the fioor.''
Frost p. Bailey, principal Of the Ian
cey street school. made the following
statement in substance.
''Laforest G. Humphrey is boy II
years old. He lives on Park street and
has been IN my school for 90 weeks. 10
and has caused me an endless amount of
trouble. Tho cause of this last unpleas-
antness is love at first sight.
During one of the last days of last
term, Prof. Drake called at the school
house door and went out to him. When
in the room, Laforest being the only
one about his business Theda Leakin
looked considerably agitated, aud asked
her what Laforest had done, but she re-
q quested that she should not answer until
recess, at which time she informed me
that Lsforest had tried to kiss her.
II told the scholars 1t was most dis
graceful thing, and should have to
punish Laforest. l ordered him to stay
after school, but he ran away. The next
morning his mother came to school with
him and told me- that If punished La
forest there would be trouble. For two
days requested his staying after school,
but he skiIpe as he claimed, at his
mothers orders, and as the term WAS
practically ended, let it 60 until the
next. !"
The principal then described how
young Humphrey had given him trouble
during the present term as the result of
which he punished him on March 70.
Mr.. Bailey said: ~
IT had him bsnt over ssat, and took
foot rule used for book marking, with
which l spanked him. was careful Tot
to strike high enough to hurt the spinal
column.
81 saw him walk up Main street to
Park street without trouble. Since the
claim Of the boys extremely ill condition
haveshad two doctors and four members
Of the board visit him at my expense"
DR.. f. j. Talvor, the attending physi-
ciau, described finding Humphrey suffer
ing with black and blue spots and indi-
cations of back trouble which might
have been caused by the rule or bending
over the seat.
About 30 scholars presented petition,
signed by them, requesting the reten ton
Of Mr.. Bailey for the remainder of the
year. j. G. Humphrey has brought suit
against Prof. Bailey for $1,000 DAMAGES.
The committed did not announce Its
decision.