Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-11-30
WITNESS TELL
OF BEATINGS AT
FERRIS SCHOOL
continued From FIRST Page,

Continued From First Page.
Handy Informed the COMMITTEES that he
had one more witness but he was now an
inmate Of the school He was formerly
an inmate. Of this school and was seized
by Mr. Stewart as he left my office at
the Ford Building said Mr. Handy, land
s. now right here In this institution. He Is
Harry Hamilton and ! think II would be
well for the committee 10 question him
He has an Interesting story TO tell" Mr.
Stewart replied that Hamilton was there
" Mr. Handy was disposed to question
him
Woman Tells Of Fence Rail Beating.
The first witness was Mrs. Margaret
O. Ford She testified that she lived
on the Stewart farm on the old Bran
DIVINE road about mile from the
school. This farm IS occupied by her
father and brother named Porter for
whom she is housekeener.
She said in answer 70 question
asked by Mr. Handy that she remem-
bered the beating Of 3 boy named
Pfeffer on about August 81 She saw
man and crowd of small boys near
her home and could see the man beating
some object on the ground with q fence
rail and al first thought that he was
killing a snake.
When got there she said, Il
saw II was a boy on the ground. The
name of the man was Mayne a school
guard thought I saw him strike the
boy with a fence rail fifteen or twenty
times as he lay on the ground. The
boys who we're standing around we're
Ferris School boys When saw It
was a boy I sent my little girl after
Mr.. Rothwell a neighbor. When l went
back I saw two other men who had
come to our place to visit one of the
men ] got some water and Mr.. Mayne
bathed the boys head and later they
took the boy away in a wagon He
complained OF his wrist being broken"
Mr.. Handy asked the witness II in
her judgment the treatment OF the
boy was brutal
Mr.. Lyman objected on the ground
that that was a matter OF judgment.
He said he had no objection TO the
woman stating facts.
Mr. Pritchett also objected. He
thought that Mr.. Handy should re-
frain from the use OF adjectives in
questioning the witness and allow the
witness TO testify TO facts as she saw
them.
Mr. Handy said It was up to the
committee to decide whether they
wanted 10 hear Mrs. Ford's views.
The members OF the committee de-
cided TO hear only the facts.
Mr.. Handy refrained from further
| questioning and Mr.. Lyman then took
the witness
The witness said that she had told
Mr.. Mayne that he ought TO be ashamed
OF himself to hit boy that way The
man replied that he had 10 defend
himself and he showed a lock from a
shaclzle which he said the boy threw
at him.
She said the boy had to be picked
up and placed in the wagon and was
crying and complaining of his wrist
being broken.
Boy Was a Runaway.
Richard Rothwell. was the next Wit
ness He testined that he lived at
Prices Corner adjoining the Ferris
School property. He said he rennem-
hered the circumstances of the box
who tried to escape from the schoo
and Mr.. Mayne an oficer OF the schoo
and i've or six boys, who were pur-
suing him. He said the FIRST he saw
was the fugitive stop on the Porter
farm and throw something at his pur-
suers and strike one small boy. The
pursuing boys also threw stones al
Prefer
The witness said he saw Mayne and
i the boys surround Pfener and saw
Mayne strike the boy on the head with
a piece Of fence rail and knock him
down. Witness said the man then
struck the boy a dozen times. He said
lie counted the strokes, as the boy
,sy on the ground
Il thought the boy was being killed
and jumped over the fence and Mayny
then stopped"
Tho witness said that while he wa,
IN Ills way to the scene Mrs. Eord'.
daughter came to him and said a mar
AZ killing boy on their farm
Mr.. Rothwell said he saw some marks
on the boy, but the lad did not appear t.
be seriously injured He did not thinl
that Mayne used all his strength IN de
liverinE the blows
Mr.. Lyman In cross-examination brough
. out by the witness that the boy did no
\ show marks Of a brutal beating. havln
: only few slight marks. The boy he said
. told Mayne that II the latter would dro
> his stick he would get up and XIII him.
Mr.. Handy again took the witness, an
= questioned him about the size OF the site
Mayne used on the boy.
Mr.. Pritchett addressing Mr.. Hand
= said. this is your witness and he ha
already answered that question"
: Mr.. Handy took exception to this stat,
ment and said he was present not as
prosecutor but 70 assist the committee
i. lay before them the facts as were relate
TO him
Says Attendant Admitted Attack
william Cariin Of No. ITO Head stree
i said he was with John Carney. also
= Wilmington taking a walk IN the countr
3 and we're on the Porter farm when Mr.
Is Ford called to them that man wa
ie beating a boy.
l. On making an Investigation witness ga
= he saw the man Mayne. and some 9th,
t boys Ground a boy who was on n
is ground. The witness said he saw a pie,
OF fence rail in Mayne's hands and n
J. latter admitted that he had struck n
3 boy with a. When Carlin and Carns
'r asked him why he had beaten the boy
" that manner Mayne replied that he hs
thrown a lock at him.
. The witness said Carney told Mayr
that Il was good thing they had not a