Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-26

patrons or the SCHOOL ndi 1'she" l..
who refused to sign said they hao n'n.0
no complaints 20 the trustees. MT roou.
win said Or. Smith admitted 70 him ina.
he had four relatives i'm the Paramount
school. When ne first saw DR.. Smith ne
was told there was no complaint OF Hiss
Goodwin. The next time he saw Dr.
Smith. the latter said hundreds OF COM
plants had been made.
WHAT MISS GOODWIN SAID.
Miss Goodwin was next called, and she
gave her testimony Ia a caim' deliDeratc
manner some OF her remarks peing very
pointed. she said she had no kho"Ieube
of complaints having been made OF her
IA the hoard. She had no recollection or
ever having made ruling IN me schooi
which had not been sustained Dy the
trustees. Two relatives OF Or. Smith hau
hoen retained at FairmOnt High school,
on cross-examination by Rev Mr.. TUCK
err Miss Goodwin told of the difficulties
she had encountered In the restriction OF
discipline I'm the school. and her success
Concerning her removal and succession
by Miss Schcrmerhorn, witness said that
Miss Schermerhorn asked her to eN-
change schools. and after declining MISS
Schermerhorn said she would get her
Miss Goodwin9 school, anyway. Inc
matter was treated as a jest until Miss
Schermerhorn really got the school.
DIR. SMITH OK STAND.
Miss Goodwin was followed 10 the
stand by Dr. Smith, and tho first ques-
tion asked him was as to the number Oh
relatives he had in Fairfield school. ThiS
question was ruled out. DR.. Smith testi-
fled that many complaints had been made
as TO Miss GoOdwin's inability TO proper
Iy conduct the school but said he couid
not name the cOmplainants Oif-hand. He
old not regard IL Is unjust 20 send MISS
Goodwin 10 Highland Springs If she could
not keep order at F8irmont School, be-
cause a change vas frequently found
beneficial.
Pressed as 10 the names of complain
ants against the teacher, Or. Smith said
two Messrs. Gentry had complained, and
he had heard other complaints indirect
IT, He admitted having said hundreds
of complaints had been received, and ad-
mitted that the expression was somewhat
eXaggcTat ted.
Mr.. Pollard asked DR. Smith if Miss
Dlckerson, who succeeded Miss Goodwin
at Highland Springs School, was not
relative Of DR. Childrey, and if Mr. Chill
drey did not give him warm support in
recent contest for Office, 10 which DIR.
Smith replied in the affirmative Mr. Chill
drey had been a warm friend Of his for
many years, no eaid.
This concluded Or. Smiths testimony,
and Mr.. Thomas }. Carter. chairman or
the Fairfield School Board, was called.
He knew nothing, he testified. about the
contemplated change Of Miss Goodwin
until II came up TOR final consideration
by tho board RE then thought the trans
fer was being made at the request Of
Miss Goodwin and voted for it on that
account. He never heard any charges
against Miss Goodwin until told Of them
by Dr. Smith.
EVIDENCE FOR TIE DEFENCE.
Mr. Pollard. when Mr.. Carter con-
cluded said he had no further witnesses,
and Mr. Wondenburg called Mrs. Muir.
one Of the patrons Of the school She
testified that Miss Goodwin had suspend
ed her daughter, and declined 10 rein
state her unless the child publicly apollo
gized for her offence. The child returned
10 the school, but was not promoted. and
Mrs. Muir pro0ered q request for her ex-
animation papers, which request was
never complied with.
Mrs. Lawrence, who had a son in Miss
Goodwins class, asserted that tho teach
err had treated the pupil in such a man
ner, suspending him for the slightest
cause, that he lost 50 much time as 10
necessitate his withdrawal from the
school. Witness charged that Miss Good
win treated her mother with the utmost
disrespect when she called on her
Mr.. w. A Crenshaw, principal Of the
Fairfield school, was next called. but he
was not present and the board took a
short recess to wait for him. After awhile,
Mr.. Crenshaw not coming the board re-
convened. and both MI. Wendenburg and
Mr.. Pollard expressed regret that the
principal was not present.
Miss Goodwin was then recalled TO the
stand to rebut the testimony OF Mrs.
Muir and Mrs. Lawrence. She explained
that the children OF these two ladies were
insubordinate. and that Mrs. Lawrenco's
mother, whom she was charged with
treating with disrespect had treated her
in the most disrespectful manner in the
presence Of her school.
DIR. SMITH AND THE RING.
This closed the testimony and the ar
gument was begun. Alr. Tucker first adj
dressed the court. He said he had been
hooted at by the School Board. who told
him he had nothing TO 90 with the case
The reverend gentleman expressed great
regret that the law made Mr. Russell a
member of the board asserting that he
was too strong q friend of Dr. Smith.
Plunging directly into the charge Of
nepOtism against DR.. Smith, the speaker
SAID he would fight that gentleman to the
end and would continue TO follow him.
He made an imprisoned appeal for JUS
tice. lie said he had heard a great deal
Of the court house ring" and it seemed
TO him that he had found part Of that
ring i'm Dr. Smith. The alleged action Of
that gentleman. the minister said. was a
disgrace TO the county and TO the old
Commonwealth Of Virginia.
ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL.
When Mr.. Tucker concluded Mr.. Wen
denburg took the floor He said IN the
outset that he had been given 20 under
stand that none but a licensed lawyer
could appear before a legalized body. Ho
now learned that a licensed preacher was
entitled to DO likewise. The lawyer Sc
verely criticised Mr.. fuckers attitude in
the case and coming down directly 10 the
case. asserted that Miss Goodwin had no
legal standing: that she could not ask
anything at the boards hands now. mas
much a. she had resigned her position
and il had been filed To GUST her sue
cessor would be an injustice to that young
lady.
Mr. Pollard concluded the argument,
and taking exceptions TO Mr.. Wenden-
burgs denial OF Miss Goodwins legal
right, asserted that the board Of reference
was provided for by the Legislature. and
hence as an appellate court had the au-
thority to correct all error wherever 1t
was found. Mr. Pollard spoke with
earnestness. Concerning Or. Smiths ac-
ton. he said he was the boss OF the Fair
field board, and, continuing, said: IF
could boss my wife like Or. Smith does
the board I'd be a happier man."
'You haven't had time yet" interiected