New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-31

TNDTSCREET. NOT IMMORAL.
DECISION IN MISS DECKER's FAVOR BY
COMMISSIONER HOWELL.
THU GOOD GROUND SCHOOL, TEACHER NOT FUN
IsHED FOR HER PART IN THE soUIREs
AFFAIR-GENEPAL sAT1sFAc-
TION IN THE VILLAGE

AFFAIR-GENEHA1s SATlSFAC-
TON IN THE VILLAGE.
Riverhead Long Island March 3o.-School Com
missioner Charles II. Howell. of this village. who
presided at the trial of Miss Leah Maud Decker
the teacher IN the Good Ground public school
charged with making love to young Joseph Squires
and then rejecting him. which caused Squres to try
10 kill himself returned his decision to-day on the
charges brought against the young woman. The
Commissioner decided in her favor saying:
The complainant charges that the defendant IS
guilty OF immoral conduct as shown by the specih-
cation OF charges not shown here. and therefore
petitions the School Commissioner to annul her GER
tncate. The defendant holds temporary license
to teach in the public school Of School District
No s. town of Southampton Said license bears
date Of November Is, 1898. and s issued for term
OF six months from fits date
The license was issued by the State Superintend-
ent OF Public Instruction upon the written request
OF the president of the Board OF Trustees OF the
aforesaid district by and with the approval OF the
School Commissioner. The evidence shows that the
defendant has been very indscreet, but in carefully
reading the evidence fail to find that which war
rants me in annung the defendants certificate
license. and thereby, under the charges. brand her
an immoral person. therefore refuse TO annul the
certificate Of Leah VI. Decker the charges pre-
feTrcd against her"
after School Commissioner Howell had announced
his decision he asked II he had any further
statement to make regarding the case. He replied
Thai he thought his decision covered everything
and he could say put little more He stated. how
ever. that before Mr. SQu'rcs made tho complaint
against Miss Decker nothing had been brought TO
public attention against her, and majority OF the
citizens OF the Good Ground School district seemed
10 make light Of tho charges. as they had upheld
the pupils Of tho school in signing petition asking
that Miss Decker be retained.
Timothy NJ. Grifhng Of Riverhead. who defended
that Commissioner Howell would decide in her
favor. and he did not see how ne could Teach any
other conclusion.
when Miss Decker was Informed Of School Com
missioner HOwells decision she smiled ana sala
she had looked for no other result or the tral.
While she may have made a mistake in not putting
a stop to young Squircs oVemakinR, she sald. she
had not been guilty of any improperly. ana she
felt GTatiied that her character had been vindi-
Gated -, g,
Miss Decker bushcd somewhat when asked II
she still had any affection for young Squ'res Her
only reply was she had given her testimony be-
fore Commissioner Howell and she ha, nothing
further to add To IT, She said she had thought OF
10 future plans except that she expected 10 nhisn
her school term in Good Ground. and could not say
whether or she would be retained TO teach here
another year. ~ ,,,
The three trustees Of the Good Ground School,
George H. Squres Timothy Downs and seymour
Soulres had no comment TO make on commissioner
H0well's decision. except 20 say that they thought
tho conclusion arrived at by the Commissioners was
for the hest interests OF all concerned, Trustees
Downs and George u. Squres clearly indicated tnat
thcv were in sympathy with Miss Decker, and were
pleased the outcome OF the trlal: Trustee o'SS
mour Squiros father of young Squres. who made
the COMPLAINT 10 the School Commissioner. was
non-cominittal as 10 what he thought OF the de..
clson. and would only say that he was satisfied II
the other trustees were. -,...,
The school Commissioners decision is received
with general satisfaction in the village ana there
are few people who do not sympathize with Miss
Decker.