The bee., 1906-03-22
DEMANDS FULL
INVESTIGATION.
Supt. Chapman Declares He Will
Resign Unless INDICATED.
HELD TO GRAND JURY AS RESULT
OF WHIPPING TUCKER BOY.

intendent of the Madisonville
Graded Public School, who was
tried Saturday before City Judge
Hopewell, of jacksonville, on
charge of "WILFULLy AND UNMER
cIFULLY BEATING EVERETT TUCKER,
BOY UNDER THE AGE OF SIXTEEN
YEARS, has demanded an imme1i
ate and thorough investigation of
all "ugly rumors" that have
been afloat concerning himself.
The Board of School Trustees
have adopted resolutions uphold
ing Supt. Chapman in maintain.
ing discipline in the school and
fixing a time for a full investiga
tion of all matters touching Prof.
Chapman's fitness to fill the
place he now occupies. The hear.
ing will be held next Thursday
evening and citizens are asked TO
submit in writing all they know
upon these points, to be consid-
cred at that meeting.
The board of trustees of the
Madisonville public school held
call meeting Monday in the
Office of the secretary, all the
members being present. The
chairman of the board stated
that the object Of the call meet
ing was to discuss discipline in
the school and the various
rumors being circulated in re-
gard to Prof. Chapman. The
following communication from
him was read:
"To the Board of Trustees of the
Madisonville Graded School:
II am informed that there
have been ugly rumors regarding
me which would render me an
unfit person to remain in charge
Of your school as superintendent.
! deny any and all such charges,
and urgently request you to
make an immediate and thorough
investigation. If the truth does
not fully vindicate me / shall
feel in duty bound to resign at
once. Respectfully,
"GEoRGE w. CHAPMAN" +"
L h e following resolutions
were adopted by the board:
"Whereas, the idea is enter
tained by some that the super
intendent of the Madisonville
Graded School has no power of
correction of pupils. Now with
out passing on the propriety of
past corrections, be it resolved
that it is the sense of the Board
of Trustees of SAID school that
proper discipline IN said school
be maintained and that the pub
lished rules of this board be
faithfully and impartially en-
forced.
"a copy of this resolution
shall be given TO the superin-
tendent and he will read the
same to the school; and where
as there are rumors afloat re-
garding the improper conduct of
the superintendent, and he has
demanded an immediate inyesti-
cation thereof. Now, be it
"Resolved, That the Board of
Trustees do hereby set Thursday,
March Goth, 1905, at Z O'Clock p.
M, at the Hopkins County
Bank, for full and thorough in
vestigation of any and all mat
ters touching the fitness of Su-
perintendent Chapman to re-
main in charge of said school,
and we request all persons who
have knowledge or information
on or before that date to send
the board written charges with
names of witnesses.
Friends of Prof. Chapman ex-
press great surprise at the deci-
sion of Judge Hopewell in chang
ing the charge against him to
assault and battery" and hold
ing him over to the grand jury.
The bond was fixed at $3.50. The
trial lasted nearly all day Satur-
day aud was closed with speech
es by Everett Jennings for the
defense and Ruby Laffoon for the
prosecution. The speech OF Mr..
Jennings is spoken of on all sides
as a masterful effort and the gem
eral belief in the court room was
that Prof. Chapman would be
cleared.
The BEE has sketch Of the
now historic paddle, by some
called "bludgeon," with which
Superintendent Chapman admin
istered the punishment to young
Tucker. Here is the exact des-
criptiop Of this paddle; It is