Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-04-25
POLK COUNTY TEACHER SUES
SCHOOL BOARD FOR CIRCU-
LATION OF ALLEGED SLAM
DEROUS STATEMENTS.
INCOMPETENCE is CHARGED
Miss Letitia Shewey Begins Action in
Polk County Circuit Court Against
Directors and Patrons in Concord
School District No. so; Old Deed
Is Filed.

Alleging InaI ner reputation dS
teacher has been damaged to the eX-
tent of $4,000, Miss Letitia Shewey, a
Polk county teacher, has begun an
action in department No. l, of the
Polk county circuit court against the
directors of school district No. so,
according to papers filed Tuesday by
her attorneys, L. D. Brown, H. H.
Belt and Oscar Hayter. Her specific
charge against the directors and 9th
ers in the district, is based upon a
peremptory demand for her resigna-
tion as teacher, dated early in Febru-
ary, in which general incompetency
is alleged.
In the complaint, j. Bowles, Alice
NJ. Bowles. Jacob Van Well, H. Van
Well, Godfrey Beck, "A. Buhler, H.
Schulson and J. Schulson are made
the defendants.
Allegations of Complaint.
According to the complaint, Miss
Shewey entered into a contract to
teach the school in the Concord dist
rict, Polk county, and was to receive
therefor the sum of $50 per month.
1t is stated, further, "that said de-
PENDANTS, on or about the 10th day of
February, 1913, for the purpose of
iniuring the reputation of said plain
tiff in her profession as teacher and
for the purpose of bringing said
plaintiff into contempt and ridicule
before the public, did falsely, malic-
iously and wrongfully compose and
publish these false, scandalous and
defamatory words of and concerning
said plaintiff, as follows. tO-wit:
Concord School District No. so,
February 10, 1913: Miss Letitia
Shewey: We, the undersigned, board
of directors and patrons of school
district No. so, request your resigna-
ton as teacher of our school on the
grounds of general incompetency as
teacher, said resignation to take eff
feet Immediately" Signed by the
school board and a number of patrons
of the district.
Reputation Harmed.
"That said statements and accusa-
tions were known to be false, by the
defendants, relates the complaint,
"and that by reason of the said
false, scandalous and defamatory pub
lication, said plaintiff has suffered
and does now suffer in mental anguish
and humiliation, and has been injured
in her reputation as a teacher to her
damage in the sum of $50OO."
Wherefore plaintiff asks judgment
from the court in the sum of $4,000,
and for the costs and disbursements
of the action.
Old Deed Filed.
Made and executed in 1860, and
since reposing safely in somebody's
strong box. a deed yellow with age,
was presented for recording to Coun-
ty Clerk Asa B. Robinson, Jr., this
week. The instrument conveys GER
tain lands from John d. Bounds to
James o. Davidson. and the consider
alton thereof is 800. 1t was ac-
before Stephen Stats,
Justice of the peace in and for Polk
county, Oregon. Feb. 20, 1860, and
the land which it transferred is de-
scr;bed as follows: "Situated in riv-
err lot No. ;. being the fractional
we one-half of the southwest quar-
ter of section seven. township nine
nor n. range three west" All of the
to the transaction have
IOr since passed away.
j. is related that, in the old days.
farmers frequently purchased small
tracts near the river in order to sup
ply themselves with wood for fuel.
and it is supposed that this deed was
executed for a tract of this kind.