Mexico Missouri message., 1905-01-19
Teacher May Whip.

ing" and the pupil refuses to do
the said certain thing, then it is
not only the teachers privilege,
but also duty to administer the
licking according to threat until
the pupil obeys, even if it takes
half an hour. It's necessary to
the maintenance of discipline"
This is the law rs Macon
county jury has declared it, and
pretty aud stylish Miss Hazel
Fletcher, aged 10, is completely
vindicated of the charge of whip
ping Oscar Garrett, an ll.year-
old pupil of the Fox district school.
The sombre old courtroom here
looked like a kindergarten during
the trial. All day long little tots
from four to nine years old frol-
licked around the lawyers tables,
jury boxes, prisoners dock aud
even climbed upon the rostrum
and made friends with the Judge.
These little chaps were witnesses
in this unique case.
Some of the little witnesses
when called by the lawyers would
climb down from their mother S
lap and toddle up to the witness
hair, bravely as men. Others
had to he steered by bailiff in
the right direction. After listen
ing TO the children's testimony the
judge remarked the truth had been
treated with such consideration
| that day it would feel more al
home there hereafter.
She states attorney defined the
charge against the pretty young
teacher MS willfully. unlawfully
and viLdictively fogging little Os
car Garrett; against the peace anG
dignity of the State"
In a nutshell this was the con,
trOversy: On November >, 1904
the boys of Fox school were play
ing "hOss." You use II rope ol
lariat to capture the "hOsses," ant
when a "hoss" is so caught h,
must Obediently walk into the pen
II he "lays down" he is II violato
of the rules of the game. Osca
was caught, and "laid down" TIL,
boys then began dragging him Il
the pen and he got mad. He wa
released and went into the school
room to get his books, intending
to go home. The teacher toll
him he must promise her he wOult
not go. He wouldn't give tn
promise until at the conclusion o
Il licking that lasted % minutes
some Of the children said, bu
which the teacher says didn't ex
coed ten minutes, though she ad
mits she whipped him till he sal
mo"
A bailiff helped Oscar to elm
into the witness chair and he spOk
his little piece at the rate of %
words a minute.
t "She showed me up against tn
blackboard" he said, "and shoe
, me. You are a cry. baby The
she commenced whipping me wit
IL little switch. She asked me if
was going to go home without pei
| mission. | said, i don't know
Then she commenced whipping N
again. She took me by the cola
e and led me to the front of ii
room. She said, If YOU don
say No, ma'am, III whip yo
= every five minutes all this evening
= She whipped me Il little long,
and could not get me to say i
Then she commenced with the bi
stick. After she whipped me vii
that awhile she sat down to res
. and while she was resting 81
told me little story. / forg
what it was about; think she g
it out ofa Sunday school pape
O After she got thru with the stOl
j. l said No, ma'am,' aud she
IS me 60"
y z. by states Attorney d
/. it hurt you! A. Yes, sir;
# hurt me all day. l could hard
). sit on my seat at all.
n Cross. exRmined. You wantr
= to go home because she called "
l. a babyl A. Yes, sir.
n q. Without asking permission
}, A. Yes, sir.
j. D. How many licks did 4