LINTON SCHOOL CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1009, 20 February 1912, Page 3

LINTON SCHOOL CASE.

Palmerston, Feb. 17

The hearing of the appeal of Thomas Stagpoole, headmaster of Linton School, against his dismissal by the Wanganui Education Board was continued on Saturday belore Mr Kerr, S.M., and Messrs R. McNab and E. L. Broad. Mr R. D. Stewart appeared for appellant, and Mr F. Pirani for the board. The case was opened at Wanganui the previous week. The whole of Saturday was taken up with hearing evidence of appellant, who claimed that when he took over the school, discipline was very bad and many of the children were in ill-health owing to the school building being insanitary and in bad repair. He was given notice of dismissal after having been at the school six months. Witness made some remarkable allegations against Inspector Stewart, organising inspector for the board, stating that he had visited the school and assaulted, during the three days he was there, eighteen out of the twentytwo children in Stagpoole’s charge. He had, it was alleged, placed chalk in their mouths, picked them up from the seats by their hair, dragged them about, and made faces at them. Further, he had advised Stagpoole to flog them every day.

It was also alleged that he had grossly insulted Mrs Stagpoole at lunch in her house by throwing a fork at her.

In cross-examination by Mr Pirani, it was revealed that the charges against Stewart had been forwarded to the Minister of Education, and Mr Pirani endeavoured to show that tney were not formulated until after Stagpoole bad received information that complaints had been lodged against him as a teacher.

Mr Pirani maintained that Stagpoole had been under a delusion that Mr Stewart had visited the school with the object of injuring him, and that when he. found complaints had been lodged against him he had trumped up the charges to shield himself.

Palmerston, Feb, 19

At yesterday’s sitting Mr Stewart, in his opening, drew attention to the fact that a witness, Mr Swanger, secretary of the Education Board, had on two occasions left the court on Saturday and held two lengthy conversations with Miss Molloy, a witness, who had been ordered out of court.

His Worship stated that the action was highly improper, if Mr Swanger alluded to the evidence, otherwise it did not matter.

Mr F. Pirani, chairman of the Board, stated Mr Swanger had made absolutely no mention of the evidence. He protested against the insinuation, and said it was time these things were stopped. His Worship stated that these personal recriminations must cease.

Mr Pirani said that there had been a persistent attempt to drag Miss Molloy’s name into the case.

The whole day was devoted to the cross-examination of appellant by Mr F. Pirani. This was mainly devoted to showing Stagpoole’s inefficiency as a teacher, and specimens of the work of pupils in his charge were put in to the Court.

Portions of the school log were read with a view to showing that merely trivial matters were logged while more important matters were not mentioned. The Court has decided that unless the case is concluded by Wednesday it will be adjourned for a fortnight owing to one of the adjudicators being unable to sit this week after Wednesday.