Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-02
GEORGE ACQUITTED
OF GIRLS CHARGES
Judges Exonerate Junior Re-
public officiaI-Disapprove
of Methods.

ITHACA, N. Y. March "A report
reached here last night that the iudges
appointed by committee of the Ma
uoIal Association of Junior Republics
10 investigate charges that William r..
george was guilty of improper con-
nuct toward several girl citizens of the
George Junior Republic at Freeville,
N. y, had rendered a decision ac-
quitting him, but disappearing the
parental attitude he assumed as head
of the institution.
The finding of the Judges. Joseph H.
thoate, Supreme Court Justice Samuel
eeaoury, of New York, and Miss Lii
nan Valid, social worker, is now in
the hands of the committee, it is said,
and will be turned over to the di: c.
tors OF the National Association.
V. EVerit Macy, a member of the
committee of the National Associa-
ton, confirmed the report that the
three judges appointed to pass upon
the charges against Mr.. George had
rendered decision. 1t was in the
e bands of the committee, Mr.. Macy
said, but could not be discussed until
a meeting was held, and the decision
formally received. Such a meeting, it
was afterward learned, would be held
on tuesday, probably at the rooms of
the Bar Association. There is some
, question whether any definite state
ment will be given out then, because
1t may be considered necessary first to
submit the decision to the boards of
directors of the National Association
and the New York Association.
Another to whom the dispatch was
read seemed IN take pXnantl0n tn
some statement in it, saying that it
was "unwarranted." He would not
directly deny, however, that the re-
port in general way had some basis
of fact. 1t had been generally pre-
dicted since the testimony of Mr.
Georges accusers was made public
on December | last that the former
head of the republic at Freeville
would not be found guilty of the di-
rect charges which were made.
Mr.. George is now director of the
National Association of George Junior
Republics and lives at Freeville. He
has severed his connection with the
New York association. He made a
denial of the charges through his
counsel, Emory r. Buckner, and took
the witness stand during the investi-
cation.
The charges made by three girls
against Mr.. George while he was
head of the Freeville Republic gained
wide publicity on December /, and
much of the evidence was published
III the newspapers.
One charge of Wilful misconduct
was brought against Mr.. George by
Elsie Whitmore, who went to the Re-
public at Freeville in 1904 and re-
manned there for three years She
testified that George was the father
OF her child, born after he sent her
away from the institution in 1907.
She asserted that he had sent her to
Chicago, with directions to go to the
Salvation Army.
Leah klemm, another former citi-
zen of the Republic, charged that Mr.
George had proposed to her that she
become the secretary of a trustee of
the Freeville institution. The pro-
posal in detail, she said, was an i'm
proper one and she refused
The third girl was Iva Temple. She
alleged that Mr.. George subjected her
TO indignities.
Mr.. George gave up his post as SUI
perintendent of the F'reeville institu-
Jtion in 1910. Mr.. Buckner, his coun-
sci, in replying to the charges against
George, had this to say:
He was very fond of his boys and
girls, and treated them just as if they
were his children Why, whenever he
returned from a trip he would be
greeted by crowds of them, who
called him daddy. | suppose that I'M
consciously he may have laid himself
open to criticism, but after going
through this whole investigation I
am satisfied that he is guiltless of
, any actual Wrongdoing"