The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-15
PROSECUTED.
Pitiable Fate of a Connecticut
School Teacher.
Miss Hough Found Unconscious
in a SnOWbank.
WAS DRIVEN INSANE.
School Board Harassed Her by
Secret Inquiry
And the Strain Unbalanced the
Girls Mind.
WAS DRIVEN INSANE.

emotional insanity, brought on by the
strain she had been subjected to for
days, Maude Hough, a young school
teacher of Mount Carmel, fed from her
home last night and was found several
hours later unconscious in SnoWbank-
In her wild flight the thin night cover
ings she wore had been torn from her.
Had her discovery been delayed 10 min
utes, physicians say, her resuscltatlon
would have been impossible
For more than "a hours preceding her
flight the girl had been irresponsible,
and lay in darkened room, crying out
that they" were prosecuting her. She
told the watchers at her bedside that
members of the board of school visitors
were pursuing her, and she pleaded that
they be kept away.
She fought to get up and flee from
her imaginary pursuers and constant
vigilance had to be exercised. During
the brief period while the watch was
being changed she escaped from the
room and disappeared in the night.
A searching party of 80 men ana
boys, accompanied by dogs, followed IN
her tracks and, within a short distance
of a pond, for which she evidently had
been making, she was found, crouched
against stone fence, which she had
attempted to climb before sinking into
unconsciousness. Her condition is now
precariouS.
Miss Hough's condition, her friends
assert, is due to charges brought against
her by an unknown person and their
subsequent investigation by the rev
Mr.. Clark, representing the board or
school visitors. This investigation was
held on Thursday and lasted all day.
When Miss Hough went to her board
ing place that night she was hysterlcal,
and the next morning physician for
bade her leaving the house From that
hour until last night her condition grew
steadily worse.
The origin of the charges which led to
all the trouble is not known positively,
but the townsfolk voice their suspicious
and side almost unanimously with the
young teacher.
teacher in Hamden school district No.
1, at Mount Carmel,which is seven miles
miles from here. She went to board at
the home of Serene Cook, one of the Sc
lectmen of the district. She made many
friends and it was supposed that her
life in the village was unclouded, when
suddenly she left Cooks house and
went to board with the family or former
Selectman John Andrews. She was 81
lent, though evidently distressed, when
asked the cause of her sudden change.
Cook is said to have declared that 1t
was because Miss Hough was in ar
rears in her board. This her friends de-
MED.
From a source not yet plain, stories
calculated to injure the reputation of
the girl began to circulate, and these,
reaching her ears, told on her health.
They eliminated in the charges pre-
ferred against her before the school
secret of the board, and only enough
was divu1ged to show that Miss Hough's
character had been attacked.
AS a result, however, Messrs. Foote,
who assisted Clarke in the investiga-
ton, wended their way to the school
last Thursday, delegated to make an
investigation. Miss Hough was already
in a state of terror, her friends declare.
because of the secrecy of the attack
upon her The investiga ton, they say,
completed the breakdown. 1t is assert
ed that two visitors spent the entire
day at the school The teacher was piled
with questions, and then, it is said, the
pupils were sent from the room, to be
recalled one by one to be questioned
categor'icalIy. At the end of the long
day neither Mr.. Foote nor the Rev. Mr..
Clarke would discuss the matter.
When Miss HOugh reached the An
drews home that evening she was com
PEELED to take to her bed. Her condi-
ton on Monday was so alarming that
the girls mother was telegraphed for,
and later in the day she became delir-
ious and raved.
Hough's side constantly and watch
was formed. 1t was after dusk last
night when it seemed that she must be
too exhausted to move, that the vigil
lance of the watch was relaxed. The
sickroom was deserted for few mo-
ments, and in that time Miss Hough
arose and with no other covering than
the gown she wore, slipped into the
yard.
She took a devious route and there
by evaded her immediate pursuers. 1t
was not until a concerted effort was
made that the girl was found. Bits Of
the white gown elinging to underbrush
and fences marked her path. She had
stumbled against the stone fence on her
way to the pond and had not strength
enough to rise.
There is no lack of opinion among
those who are familiar with Miss
, Hough's case and it is all in her favor
However, members of the school board
refuse to talk, the two members of the
board of visitors are silent and Mr..
Cook also declines to discuss the affair
Miss Hough's most ardent champion is
the Rev. Mr.. Nude, the village pastor,
who declares that spite melted the
charges.
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