The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
Jury in District Court Sustains
Shorthand Teacher.
Miss Canaan Wins Damage Suit
Brought by Pupil
WAS TOLD TO LEAVE.
Miss MOllie Norman Told She
Was Disturber.
Then Brought an Action For
$500 Damages.


Anna Canan's school of short hand last
February. Mollie Norman brought suit
for $1,000 damages. The jury in the DIS
trict court began the hearing or the
case Saturday and this morning delio-
Grated. for several hours and then de-
cided that Miss Norman was not emit
fled to any damages against Miss Can
an, and that Miss Canaan had a right
to expe1 her.
Miss Norman was a pupil of Miss
Canaan. Her attorney in announcing
the case to the jury said that Miss NOR
man paid $46 for an unlimited course
at the school and that she was dismiss
ed from the school before she compile
ted her course and that she -dld not get
her tuition or any part of 1t back MISS
Norman claims that she was not receiV-
ing proper instruction and that she
complained to Miss Canaan that she was
not receiving what she paid for MISS
Norman objected to the noise ana con-
fusion at the school She SAID there
were nine typewriters for 60 pupils ana
that she did not have enough Tune at
practice on the machines.
Miss Canan's story was different tier
attorney told it to the jury. She clalfn-
err that Miss Norman tried to run the
school and tried to get scholars to leave
and that she was the cause or the gen
eral disorder. She thought that Miss
Norman would have made proflclent
stenographer in time If she had dill
gently worked at her tasks.
Miss Norman was placed on the
stand. She testified that Miss Canaan
told her that she could be taught short
hand and told her that pupils older
than she had mastered it, sShe said
man 60 years old learned short hand
and then got a position In Chlcago'
said Miss Norman. Il was certain that
if a man 60 years old could do that
could. She told me it would take me
six months and 1 said it would take me
longer and she told me to pay my $40
for an unlimited scholarship and that l
could stay as long as I wanted to- 1
entered the school and told her that If
I couldn't master short hand to tell me
so and I would stop. L was to nave Two
hours a day practice on the typewriter
but as there were but nine machines
and 60 pupils did not get enough Prac-
tice-'
did you try to 1earn?'' asked Attor-
ney Ensminger for the plaintiff.
It did 1 thought I was as good
scholar as she had" replied Miss Nor
Did Miss Canaan tell you how you
were progressing?,
Eyes, 1 asked her how I was doing
and she said fine
s.What kind of order was kept at the
SCHOOL,"
There was whispering and paper
balls were thrown across the room
There was general confusion"
.sWas it the cause of general COM
plaint?"
Yes
"Did it annoy your
s'YeS"
Did you report it to Miss canana"
Were the typewriters in good re-
pair?"
NO.
when did you leave?"
ION February Is. She called me into
her office one day and said You are
talking against me- The next Monday
she told me to leave the school. l told
her I wouldn't leave unless she gave
back my tuition. A lawyer told me 70
demand that I be taken back or my
money refunded. She would not take
me back. and / told her I was coming
back the next day, and she told one OF
the scholars that if I did she would call
the police and the patron wagon anu
have me arrested
s.Did you advise anyone to leave the
SCHOOL,"
NO"
"Did YOU violate any of the rules?"
| mo"
| on cross-examination Attorney Balm,
| for the defendant, asked: How long
| ago did you leave the public scnoo n5. 8
| s.At least 20 years ago. replied Miss
aDid Miss Canaan make any rules
Yes but she never inflicted any pun
ishment when they were broken
Miss Canaan was. placed on the stand
| for the defense
s.Did Miss Norman ask you if she had
| the ability to become a stenographer!
| asked Attorney Balm
| Yes I told her she would nave 10
/ have a good memory"
what else did you tell herr"
| "At the end of the first month she
| asked me how she was getting on, ana
| I told her that she had doue we'll but
| that learning the principles was ar
/ different from becoming expert She
/ said she was determined to master
| shorthand
ssWI1en Miss Norman entered the
school was good order kept?''
| Yes" -,
How soon did disorder commence? y
| ssSorne weeks after she entered the
school. She caused the disorder !
| got we'll she told me that it was almost
| impossible to raise the money among
| the scholars that was used 10 puS
| flowers that were sent to me. felI Sc
| bad about it that did not want to
| thank the scholars all at once, and
| thanked those that knew We're nstru-
| mental in sending the Howers Ihen
| she came to me and told me that the
| scholars thought I was heartless be-
cause I did not thank them ] foune
| the school in such a demoralized cond1-
| tiou that l had to expeu Miss Norman
| I called her into my office and told nel
| so and she said she would not go un-
less / expelled Miss Cornell, who made
certain statements about me also. MISS
Cornell said she did not make them
and Miss Norman called her mar
Chain Makers Strike Ends
york Pa, Oct THE strike of tn
chain-nalxers IN the local factories of tn
STandard Chain company has been set
s1ed the dffferenees having been adjusted
| The strike was settled on a wage advanc
of 10 per cent on traces frta II men are at