The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-11-23
An Ugly Charge.


Ellsworth will be sentenced on Thurs
day, December 2.
An Ugly Charge.
Bordentown Is stirred up over story
that involves the good name of an official
and has caused considerable feeling both
for the accuser and accused. The latter
is Professor Walter G. Penhollow, city
superintendent of the Bordentown schools.
The accusation is that MIR. Penhollow
acted in very improper manner toward
Hattie Aaronson, pupil in the school.
She is the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Clinton A. Aaronson, and is Is years of
age. The matter was laid before Mayor
Gabel, on Wednesday, on complaint of
the girls mother, and the Professor was
taken before the official, where he waived
hearing and entered bail In the sum of
81 900 for his appearance at court.
According to the parents of the girl, the
principal made an attempt to display his
alleged admiration for the girl In most
Ill advised manner during the noon
recess on October Is. At that time he
summoned Hattie, her father declares,
into his private Office in the High School
building
The child was with the principal for
some time, it is said, and following the in
terview returned to her home, sobbing as
If in great distress. She refused to re-
veal the cause Of her grief.
According to Hattie she did confide in
neighbor, who subsequently made known
to the child's parents the nature of her
alleged confession. 1t is said that when
confronted by her father and mother, the
girl admitted that the story she had told
the neighbor was true. This, it is said,
occurred one week after the alleged at
tempted attack. Mrs. Aaronson claims
that the delay In making complaint was
caused by the fact that she had been wait
ing for the Board of Education to act,
she having reported the matter to that
body. Nothing being done she took the
matter into court.
The city is divided on the affair and
many arguments are put forth favorably
and otherwise. The delay In bringing a
charge, the fact that the Office of the
superintendent, where the offence is said
to have been committed, has a glass door
through which the occupants of the Office
are plainly visible, and other little details
strengthen the opinion of the friends of
Mr.. Penhollow that the charge must fall
when thoroughly investigated. On the
other hand the child's story and the good
character of herself and her parents, lead
her friends to insist that there is good
ground for the accusation. One thing is
certain it will be fight TO finish to sus-
tain or refute the story.
Mr. Penhollow went to Bordentown
about year ago. He was formerly at
Pen Yam, N. Y, and succeeded the late
Professor mcfarland. The recommend
ations presented by Mr.. Penhollow were
of high character. He was candidate
for the position caused by the death of
W. COLON Cook, at Mount Holly, and the
papers he presented to the Mount Holly
Board spoke highly in his favor. The
Bordentown Board elected him city super
intendent for one year and then reelected
him for two years more. Immediately
upon taking charge of the school he began
to see where he could improve the
standard and some of his methods were
not approved of by the people Of the city
ond uoro horohlxy oritio;oad
At recent election the Board of Edu-
cation failed to reappoint two teachers
who had been In the schools for a long
time. Many claimed that Mr.. Penhollow
was responsible for this move Members
of the Board Of Education, however, have
openly stated they acted entirely on their
own responsibility and with view of i'm
proving the corps of teachers by getting
younger and more advanced instructors
Whatever the true situation is In this par
ticular there is no doubt that there has
beer considerable criticism heaped upon
the head of the superintendent by the
friends of the deposed teachers, and In the
present case 1t has been suggested that
when this matter is threshed out posi-
BILE desire to get even with the superinten-
dent may be discovered.
That Professor Penhollow has done
much TO advance the Bordentown schools
is admitted by all who are cognizant with
the situation and he has been hard work
er, with nothing brought against him I'M
til the present unpleasant and ugly story
was given to the public. The Board of
Education has not, as body, taken any
notice of the affair. but the case has been
looked after by the members, and there
will be an official investigation within
fortnight. In the meantime the case will
until something new turns up.
A citizen of Bordentown, speaking of
the matter. stated that 1t was question of
Superintendent Penhollow's word against
that OF the daughter of the Aaronson
household.
The Aaronsons have resided in and
around Bordentown practically all their
lives At one time they lived on farm on
the outskirts of the city. Mr.. Aaronson
was formerly track walker on the rail
road, but is now employed In the city.
The Aaronsons bear good reputation and
Miss Hattie Is credited with being quite
pretty and a somewhat attractive girl.
She is said to be favorite among the
younger element Of the city. Her society
is much sought. and while some doubt
her story, her teacher, Miss Bloomsbury,
is credited with having said she is one of
the most truthful scholars she has ever
had.