The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-05-03


Bernelot Moens came to Washington.
He presented letters OF recommended
ton which were accepted at their face
value by the president of the board OF
education and by others in authority
These letters placed "Dr." Moens as a
gentleman and scientist of such stand
ing that he was permitted to go into
the schools of Washington. both white
and colored, to make scientific exami-
nation OF the pupils. He was admitted
not only into the schools without Ques-
ton but he was received in many Of the
most cultured homes, both white and
negro.
Last October this man was indicted
for having obscene pictures in his pos
session. The recent trial has proved
that the possession of obscene pictures
was the least of his offenses The hide
BUSINESS of his crime could scarcely be
credited except that Moens himself has
confirmed as true the testimony of
these abandoned women. He was tried,
found guilty, sentenced to one years
Imprisonment with a fine of $500.
And this might be the end of the story
so far as decent people are concerned
were it not that Moens did not restrict
his acquaintance to the women of the
streets. He posed as scientist and
philanthropist, a sincere lover of the
colored people, and in his low cunning,
as camouf1age for his foul deeds he
made the acquaintance. and through
scrupulously guarded conduct secured
the friendship. of one of the finest and
most cultured women of the colored
race. This woman | have known for
five years. / have known her intimate
ly as a friend for nearly four years.
During the past six months in which
her name has been so tragically linked
with his because of her assistance in
what she supposed purely scientific
work. | have known her inmost
thoughts Upon me fell the painful
duty last November of opening her eyes
to the character of this man. From
that day she severed all connection
with him.
1t is because of my intimate knowl-
edge of these facts. because of my
knowledge of the very soul of this
woman that | could never again in the
sight of God say that | love justice if
today l held my peace. With full
knowledge of the relationship of this
man Moens and Charlotte r. Hunter
from the beginning 10 the end of that
relationship | affirm. in this place. and
in all places where my words may be
read or heard, now and forever, under
oath If it were possible that there was
that, prior to my revelations to her,
Charlotte Hunter had not the slightest
suspicion of the hidden life or real
character of this man. And this even
he has had the deceucy to establish.
In the presence of a law yer, in my hear
ing, he declared that he considered that
his private life was no concern of hers.
One fact in this connection ought to
be given wide publicit. One member
of the board of education of this city
of Washington is also a member of the
Department of Justice. In his hands
the MoenS' case was placed some four
years ago. Moens was indicted on the
twenty fifth of last October. every fact
in the case being known at that time
to this member of the board of educa-
ton
And yet Charlotte Hunter held her
position as teacher of history in the
Dunbar high school for more than five
months after Moens' indictment. At
no time was she asked to resign. hut
finally on the eleventh of April. due to
the excited condition of the colored
people which she believed had impaired
her usefulness in the schools, she
handed in hoy resignation.
And here again my account might
end were it hot for the degrading and
heart -rel ding aftermath. II | were not
at the present time a citizen of Wash
ington who with my own eyes and with
my own ears have seen and heard what
is going on in this city today | would
not believe ii.
| was born, northerner.-no credit