Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-25
CHARGES ARE FILED.
Statements in Criticism of Armstrong
PRINCIPAL.


calculated to throw more light on condi-
tons in the Armstrong Manual Training
School, are contained in letter from Thos
s. Leisenring 10 the board OF education
which letter was received, but not read at
the meeting OF the board yesterday after
noon. The letter severely criticises Prin-
cipal w. Bruce Evans of the Armstrong
school.
"On April II. 1907 the letter states, 1.-The
taxpayers committee sent letter to each
member Of the board OF education calling
his attention to the rotten cond. ions ex-
listing in the Armstrong Manual Training
School. asking for the immediate suspension
during an investigation On very serious
charges against the prime. pal. Mr. w. Bruce
Evans. and Mr.. David Monroe the en-
gineer of said Armstrong Manual Training
School.
I'VE heard nothing from the board
during the past ten days in relation to any
action being taken by the board as to the
charges made by our committee. further
than to learn from member OF the boari
of education that one of the members of
the board had stated In his presence that
he had torn up our letter and had thrown
it in the waste basket as he was tired of
receiving complaints from the committees
in relation to school affairs Believing the
statement made by the member referred
to as being an unwarranted reflection on
the truthfuness of the taxpayers commit
tee, have concluded to make more spe-
citic charges and send them to each mem
Der of the board. refusing to accept the in
suit offered us, knowing that We have the
right to respectfully petition the board OF
education as TO any wrongioing IN our pub
lie schools.
Charge Preferred.
We charge the principal. Mr.. W. Bruce
Evans. with being instrumental IN obtain
ing. through his influence the principal
of the Armstrong Manual Training School.
the appointment on February II. 1906. OF
his friend Mr.. David Monroe. AS the ensi-
neer chief of said Armstrong Manual
Training School, knowing at that time that
his friend, David Monroe. was an unfit and
unsa fe man to be appointed engineer OF
the school, owing to Evans knowledge of
Monroe that of man who INCREASINGLY
drinks liquor and is seldom sober, and that
Monroe when under the influence of liquor
while attending to the duties OF engineer
may cause a terrible catastrophe, such as
the blowing up of the Armstrong Manual
Training School building and possible in
jury to and great loss of life among the pu-
pills and teachers.
Mr.. w. Bruce Evans, the principal.
knows full well that on one occasion David
Monroe, the engineering of the Arm
strong Manual Training School. was ar
rested and locked up in the eighth police
district station house, l. street west of 9th.
We charge that the said Mr.. W. Bruce
Evans, as the friend of David Monroe, en-
Cirecr, has repeatedly covered up and pur-
posely withheld from the board of educa-
ton his (Evans) knowledge of the drinking
habit AMI non-attention TO his duties of the
said David Monroe.
Some Specifications.
Going into more details in regard 10 the
trouble which led up to the arrest and
filming of David Monroe, which arrest and
filming borne out by the police records
of the eighth precinct, the letter says that
Monroe visiting at THE home of Robert
w. Stewart. 1910 18th street northwest.
the night of December - last Sunday
morning, December y, about / a m, Mr..
Stewart reached home.
On account of the condition In which lie
found Monroe and other circumstances.
says the letter Stewart ordered Nj nroe
from his house and a fight ensued. during
which Stewart struck Monroe on the head
and hand with "a pitcher. Monroe was
thrown out of the house, and his clothes
after him, according to the account. Stew
art arrested by officer George Kelley.
and Monroe driven to a hospital, and
later was locked up in the station house
also. Monroe, 1t Is said in the letter. de-
posted and forfeited So collateral, and this
IS substantidted by the police report of the
affair.
The letter also cites a long list OF names
of persons who may be summoned before
and corroborate the statements made In the
letter. Many pupils in the Armstrong
School are named.
The letter concludes as follows:
IF the board knew last fall that the dis
cipline in the Armstrong Manual Training
School was atrocious why ii not
cleaned out, as done at the Mckinley
Manual Training School (white)? We ask
you to act justly to the Armstrong Manual
Training School (colored), and as quickly
ascertain the true conditions In said school,
as 1t should have equal protection.