Smyrna times., 1921-11-23
MISS HILL MAKES ATTEMPT
TO SEE TOTTEN IN DOVER JAIL
BUT is PEREMTORILY REFUSED
BY SHERIFF CHAS. w. GRAHAM
Is Also Given Cold Shoulder by Board
of Education Officials When She
Asks for Her School Back

ASKS Tor Her School Back
Miss Margaret Hill, the snineteen-
year-Old Seaford teacher, who eloped
two weeks ago with Roger L. Totten,
then statistician of the Delaware
board of Education, went to Dover
Thursday, to see Totten in his cell in
the Kent county Jail and to ask if she
might have her school position back.
Sheriff Graham would not let her see
Totten. Major Richard r. Kenney
has been retained as counsel for Tot
ten and it is his belief that his client
will be released under bond within the
near future basing his judgment on
the fact that a number of persons in
cluding some prominent officials have
volunteered to furnish bond for the
young man. With the sympathy of
the town attending her, Mrs. TOtten Is
preparing to depart with her father,
Robert Meacham, for their home in
Rochester, n. Y. Mr.. Meacham arriv-
ed there last Saturday to assist his
daughter. Perhaps the greatest or
deal Mrs. Totten had to endure came
on Wednesday evening when, accom-
panied by her father and several
friends she visited Totten in the Jail.
The flying visit of Miss Hill to Dover
Thursday morning created consider
able excitement. She came from Sea-
ford and arrived shortly after $50
o'clock. She hired taxi to drive her
to the jail. While passing the State
Board of Education office, a local news
paper man noticed her and summoned
the Sheriff who was close by and hur-
ried to the Jail. At the Jail the Sheriff
met her and courteously invited her
into the house, but when she asked
permission to see Totten, the Sheriff
"balked" and advised her to see Dep
uty Attorney-General Wiley.
Refused Admittance to Dover Jail
She lost no time in seeing Mr.. Will
ley at his offices in the Court House
there and in the presence of two other
parties, she asked permission of him
to be allowed to go to the Jail and see
Mr.. Totten. Mr.. Wiley informed her
that he thought such visit would be
most imprudent and out of order. To
this, Miss Hill apparently expressed
surprise and stated that she had heard
that other girls had been allowed 20
see Totten, which was denied by Mr.,
Wiley.
Miss Hill then asked Deputy At
torney-General for the letters he has
in his possession which were secured
from the school house where Miss Hill
taught, which Mr.. Totten had written
her, she making the claim that they
belonged to her and she thought she
had a right to them. Mr.. Wiley dif-
fered with her in this respect and in
formed Miss Hill that she could not
have the letters until the case against
Totten had been disposed of.
Miss Hill endeavored to take Mr..
Wiley to task over what she thought
he had done, that of giving the letters
out for publication, which he proved
he had not done and further question
ed her statement that he had been
quoted in the papers as saying certain
things about the letters, Mr.. Wiley
further proving to her that his name
had never been mentioned in connec-
ton with the letters other than being
in his possession. Miss Hill later
modified her statement in this respect
Miss Hill, apparently without any
embarrassment whatever, made nc
secret of the fact that while the letters
in possession of the State were impOr-
tant, that they were no more import
ant than ten or twelve other letters
which Totten had written her, which
those who had searched the school haC
evidently overlooked, confirming, II
true. the apparent Irritation and init
macv which is alleged to have existed
between she and Totten.
Disappointed, She Returns to SeafOrC
Disappointed at her efforts to gain
4 entrance to the Kent county jai
through the sheriff and Deputy AttOr
ney-General, Miss Hill had a conver
sation with r. r. Kenney, attorney 70
Totten, supposedly to secure from hin
! if possible, some means of communi
i cation with Totten. If this were he
purpose she was again disappointed.
Miss Hill, after leaving the office o
: R. r. Kenney, went to the Office of tn
:, State Board of Education where sh
had an interview with assistant Super
| intendent of Public instruction, JumI
| Her first approach in the office was
| deliver to Mr.. Jump a catalogue, o
| the Spaulding Athletic Goods. 1t
i supposed this book had fallen in tn
| possession of Miss Hill through tn
| fact that Totten had charge of tn
school athletics of the State.
| During her conversation she state
| to Prof. Jump that she had been re
| quested by the Commissioners of tn
| School District to return to her schoo
| To this Prof. Jump replied that in tn