Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-03
ALL UNTRUE.
Mrs. King, Principal Industrial
School, Denies Charges.
Girl Runs Away, But Is Returned to
the Institution.
Case Heard in Bangor Court and Law
yer Condemns School.

.'i dlIlt- ilitbeti isii t'IiiopI LOT blllS AT
Hallowell was severely criticised by
Lawyer John f. Robinson of that city.
The circumstances of the case are as
follows:
Bessie f. Martin was committed to
by order Of Judge Thomas W. Vose OF
the Bangor court. Since that time her
father and mother have separated and
her mother has remarked. For some
time Bessie has been indentured TO r.
w. Goodwin of Newport. On Tuesday
afternoon of this week, she left Mi.
GOodwin's house and walked to Ban
COR. distance of y miles. arriving III
the home Of her mother, Mrs. Ellis, in
Willow street, Bangor, about o'clock
Wednesday morning.
Whatever story she told her mother
caused that lady to consult Mr.. Robin
-on. who had before acted for her i'll
seeking to obtain Bessies release from
the school. on Thursday afternoon.
Steward Wight Of the institution To-
Gated the girl and wanted her to return
with him to HallOwell The lawyer
was consulted by the girls mother and
he said she should not be taken back
until after the law had been invoked in
her behalf. Thereupon the officers took
the girl before Judge Bailey and dur
ing the hearing the criticism above re-
ferred to was made. After a full in
vestigation Judge Bailey decided that
she should return with the officer,
which she did, arriving at the school
on the night train.
While the hearing was in progress
Lawyer Robinson stated that, though
Bessie had made her own living while
there and had over 500 in the bank to
her credit. she had but a single suit OF
undertaking to wear and that the Off
cialS of the school would not allow her
to get more. He again stated that he
didn't think much of the Industrial
School, believing that it fell far short
Of accomplishing the purpose for which
it was designed. He then quoted a
prominent Maine man who had worked
hard for the establishment of the
school, as having said it would be a
good thing if it could be blown to king
dom come.
TO Mr.. Robinson: Il don't want to go
back there. They'll beat and abuse me
and cut off my hair. Don't let them
take me back,
Then the officer assured her that she
would not be punished and that her
hair would not be cut off.
According to the records of the insti-
tuition the girl will be 20 years old in
July, this being according to the date
Of her birth as given by her father
when she was committed. Her mother
claims that she will be q in July.
Mrs. Mary e. King, principal of the
school, was seen by a Journal represen-
ia tive, last evening, and made the fol-
lowing statement:
Bessie Martin has been living with
Mr.. and Mrs. r. W. Goodwin of New
port. AT different times her father and
her mother called upon her there. a
sister who is married, but is not living
with her husband, came to Mrs. Good
wins and was there nearly a week.
Mrs. Goodwin wrote me that she liked
Bessie very much, but she objected to
the company she had. So Tuesday.
went over to Newport and had some
talk with Bessie. She said she would
return with me to the school. / asked
her to pack her trunk while we were
taking dinner. She went out, and the
little boy asked her where she was GO
ing and she said to bid her sister good
by. The sister had a day or two be-
fore obtained employment at a near
neighbours. When the boy told me she
had gone to see her sister / followed,
because feared the sister might infu-
ence her not to return with me. / did
not find BESSIE there. I then asked the
assistance of the sheriff. He searched
the house where Bessies sister was and
he could not find her. l took the train
to Bangor. notified the city marshal Of
the matter and returned TO Hallowell.
"Wednesday morning, Mr. Goodwin
teierhoned me that he had located Bes-
sic at farmhouse between Newport
and Etna. The steward of the school,
Mr.. Wight. left for Bangor on Wednes-
day mornings train, and, Thursday
afternoon. located Bessie at her
mothers home in Bangor.
'.Ressie knew better than to say that
she was afraid to come back for fear
knew that that kind Of punishment had
been abolished. Bessie has always been
treated kindly and is one of the girls
whose name is on the roll of honor. She
now acknowledges that she did wrong
in attempting to escape. / am con-
WINGED that she was unduly Influenced
to run away by her relatives.
''She has trunk full of good clothing
IS good as any working girl of her age
She has not $3.50 in the bank. as has
been stated. but she has s31 to her
credit in the Hallowell Savings Insti-
tuition. Bessie says she is sorry for
what she has done ard feels that she
has disgraced herself and the school.
was simply doing my duty as princi-
pal of the school in bringing Bessie
back to Halloweli."
Mrs. King was somewhat reluctant
to make any statement for publication
concerning the matter, but finally con-
scented TO do so. i'm the interest Of the
school. believing that the stories Of the