Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-02-24
Parents Ask Investigation Of
High Scnos.l Secret Society
sr'fadcion; Three Girls Hurt

hroket ,oath snr severe body
bru' es 4 petty Miss Margaret
t,is~ce, -. laughter of A. N. Pierce
manage % the Marion hotel, and
injuries OF similar nature sus-
tanned by Mis-, Ch lotte Zieber and
Miss Plude.ce Patterson in an ini-
tiation staged Tuesday night by the
ar. A." society, a Salem high school
club, precipitated an attack this
morning by Mr.. Pierce and A. N.
Bush, o. the Ladd & Bush bank,
which threatens to drive the or
ga nization from the school.
Hug Promises Probe.
George w. Hug, superintendent
of schools, announced this morn
ing that he will, stage an exhaus-
we probe of the clubs activities
with a view to ascertaining the ex-
act nature of the outrages charged
r. Pierce. Until today, Mr..
Hug said, he was entirely unaware
of the society existence.
Her right knee severely bruised,
her body covered with scratches.
front tooth broken out, his daugh-
ter returned to the hotel in hign-
ly nervous state following the ini-
t'ation Tuesday night, and is stiil
confined to her bed as result OF
the ordeals to which she was SUD
jected, Mr.. Pierce said today. Miss
Zieber is reported to have sustained
a severe scratch on her forehead,
while the bruises incurred by Miss
Patterson were confined to her
back.
Parents Seek Action.
Mr.. pierce said this morning he
will take the matter up with school
O officials, and Mr.. Bush said he con
templates filing a protest with the
public school board.
According to Mr., Pierce, VINO
made PUBLIC those details WIN
which he had been acquainted, MS
daughter was first commanded 10
apDear at a local cemetery at
O'Clock at night, armed with an
egg and a bathing suit. Objections
from Mr.. Pierce were Responsible
for a change In the preliminarIes'
however, and il was eventually
agreed that Miss Pierce should ap-
near at the court house. Arriving
she was blindfolded and placed in
an automobile and taken to a point
about which she was later able TO
.eU nothing. Investigation this
morning showed that she and the
other two "neophytes" were de-
posted at the state hospital
grounds which proved to be the
scene of the preliminary initiation.
Hurt While BlindfOIded.
II was while wandering about
and unaccOmpanied |
hat Miss Pierce collided with
piece of iron trellis work and as a
-esult lost a tooth, Mr.. Pierce said, |
ind IL was then that she rebelled
md ierked the handkerchief from |
Ter eyes. Previously the girls had |
1een forced to assume an attitude
II extreme humiliation" ii was
aid, and had been padded" gem
srously.
A preliminary investigation made |
,y Mr. Hug and Principal ]. c. Mel
ion this morning indicated that the
hub, which is composed OF about |
20 young women from prominent |
salem families. Is of a semi-secret |
nature. Miss Berry, Holt, high |
ichool teacher, stated that she has
1een the clubs adviser for sonis |
ime and was present at the initia-
ion, herself a "neophyte." Miss
Holt was not aware Of the activities
n which the girls we're hurt. how
.ver. and added that the injuries
we're depIorably accidental.
Board 90 Investigate.
Miss Nellie Roland is the newly
.lected president OF the 1T. A" so
.iety. II was stated. while Miss
frances Schrode. was recently re-
ired from that capacity.
High schoof seenet soc1ez5es are