The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-27
PRINCIPAL ELLIS is
DISMISSED FOR DRINKING
Inspector McMichaels Prize
Grafton Fails to Save Teacher
Vote Is 10 to 7.

What to do with Principal William
A. Ellis, OF the Duffield school. who
got into difficulties with a policeman
while intoxicated on the street about
three weeks ago and was arrested,
again occupied the att ention OF the
board OF education. Thursday night
and, In the end. Ellis was dismissed
by vote OF 10 10 Z. After the vote
had been announced by President
Robertson, Inspector Wiedeman tried
TO change his vote from nay" to
yea for the purpose of reconsidera-
ton. but the chair, backed by an
opinion from Assistant Corporation
Council Atkinson, ruled that he was
too late. Accordingly. the Ellis mat
ter became a closed incident.
IL was the fight of two weeks ago
all over again. Attorney Samuel w.
Burroughs, uncle OF Principal Ellis.
again appeared TO plead that the
offender be given another chance, and
some OF the inspectors. notably In
spector Jeffries, of the Seventh ward.
waxed eloquent in his behalf, but all
TO no avail.
The committee on teachers and
schools submitted a divided report on
the Ellis case. The majority report,
signed by Inspectors Cary, Kennedy
and Ellis, recommended the princi-
pals summary dismissal and the
termination of his contract The
minority report. signed by inspectors
Mumford and Jeffries. recommended
that he be suspended for the balance
of the semester and then reinstated,
provided his conduct warranted such
action. Inspector Burton moved the
adoption of the majority report be APP
proved. The ensuing discussion occu-
pied more than a half hour.
Inspector McMichael, OF the Fourth
ward, made the prize speech OF the
evening in defense OF the erring prin-
cipal.
MIR. Ellis wife and son have been
to see me in his behalf and no doubt
the other members of this board have
been visited" said he. II don't think
-we ought to be 100 severe with Mr..
Ellis. He has been taught a lesson
and think he should be given an
other chance None of us is perfect.
Even the best of us has been indis-
Greet at some time or another. why,
I've left home in the morning as
bright and fresh as a daisy and have
sene home at night looking like
burnt Offering"
Inspector Mumford said he had con-
suited number of citizens In his
ward. the First, and they were In
favor of giving Ellis another chance.
Attorney Burroughs was accorded
the privilege OF the floor at the re-
quest of Inspector Burton, and read
a letter signed by six east-side wo-
men. who expressed the hope that
Mr. Ellis would be retained. The sign
ers were Mrs. C. H. Merrill, No. 349
Chene-st.; Mrs. Emma Duncan, NO.
$50 Chene-st.; Mrs. J, f. Rocho. No.
$40 Chene-st; Mrs. Carrie Drews, NO.
yT7 Chene-st; Mrs. n. McColl, NO.
2S1 Jos. Campau-ave., and Mrs. w. II.
Martin, No. 282 Jos. Campau-ave.
II shall treasure this letter and
place it with others have In my pos
session. which ! prize very ms
for they are signed by such men as
the late Gen. William 7. Sherman and
President Taft" said Burroughs.
Inspector Burton was the only
member who had anything to say on
the other side.
II have nothing against Mr.. Ellis,
he began. but have great respect
for our schools, and II the minority
report is adopted 1t will have a very
bad effect. We cannot afford to en-
pIoy in onr schools man who drinks.
II is well known to members OF this
board that there were serious objec-
tions to Mr. Ellis reappointment last
June. He knew that, and he must
have known that unless he changed
his habits, he would lose his position,
| have been informed that there has
been scarcely day since he has been
employed in our schools, that he has
not taken a drink of something intoxi-
eating. and IL is not surprising that
he sometimes took too much. | want
to ask Mr. Mumford, who is con.
nected with the Ediso illuminating
Co, il he would trust a man who
drinks, around the delicate macnin-
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