SENSATIONAL REPORTS

Photo copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, May 6, 1896.

SENSATIONAL REPORTS.

Dr. Santee Charged With Whipping His Child Too Hard.

   Sensational reports have been all afloat for a couple of days which have developed unto a charge being preferred before the police justice against Dr. E. M. Santee of cruelty to his adopted daughter, Grace Santee, ten years old, in whipping her too hard. If the charge is true the doctor undoubtedly deserves punishment for the offense. If it is not true, it is not only unjust and unkind to report such things, but it will be very likely to prove a serious matter to those who have been concerned in spreading the news.

   A STANDARD man has taken the pains to investigate the matter and does not find sufficient grounds for the charge. He has interviewed those quoted as starting the report, and finds their words grossly exaggerated, and he has interviewed all members of the Santee family including the little girl herself. The older members of the family might be considered interested parties in hushing it up, if there was anything to hush, but the little girl who was seen alone and apart from the others told the same thing and the STANDARD man believes she told him the truth.

   It is charged that last Sunday morning Dr. Santee whipped the child unmercifully with a large whip and that she cried so hard that the neighbors thought she was being murdered and determined to prevent a repetition of the affair.

   It appears from what the family say that the little girl Grace is now ten years old. She was taken out of the streets of Elmira on Oct. 20, 1894, where she had run wild for nearly nine years. Her mother was dead, her father was a worthless party who signed a paper relinquishing all claims upon his child.

   The little girl had been subjected to all the bad influences of the street and was ignorant of all that was good. She is a very bright child and has many good points, but has one decided weakness. If ever she gets cornered in any story she may be telling, she has no hesitation about telling an untruth that will help her out and telling it in the most bold faced manner.

   The family have had more trouble with this failing than with all others and have tried every means to break her of the habit. She has been punished by being sent to bed, by being sent away to her room to stay for a time, by being directed to sit in the corner, by being deprived temporarily of various anticipated pleasures that might be in store or being obliged to forfeit them altogether and the thousand and one other ways so common to parents. None of them availed. She would do the same thing the next time. Stronger measures became necessary, and several times she has been whipped, but the family claim not unnecessarily or unduly.

   In the case in question she last Sunday morning told her mother a very bare faced lie, and stuck to it in the face of plain evidence to the contrary, though she finally owned up when it was no use to deny it longer. Then the doctor whipped [her]. It was in an upper room and the windows were open. One of the parties who makes the charges was close outside the window and of course heard the operation.

   This morning she was summoned before Police Justice Mellon for a preliminary examination to see whether sufficient ground existed for the issuing of a warrant. A few questions were asked and the further examination was deferred until this evening.

   The STANDARD representative called at Dr. Santee's this morning and requested a few words with Grace. Mrs. Santee readily granted it and the child came into the parlor, the others went out and closed the door and there was a full opportunity for questions and for answers on the part of Grace without any constraint from the presence of the others.

   The following was part of the conversation that followed:

   Did your father punish you last Sunday?

   Yes.

   How?

   He whipped me.

   What had you been doing?

   I had told mamma a wrong story.

   What was it about?

   Here Grace gave a full account of the story she told, making it clear that she had surely told an untruth and stuck to it, but finally had to give it up when the very evidence of her falsehood was presented to her.

   What did he whip you with?

   The little red riding whip.

   The whip was afterward produced and was about two feet long and very small, very far from being the horsewhip claimed.

   How did he whip you?

   He struck me about my ankles and the bottom of my skirts.

   What did you do, cry?

   Oh, yes, I hollered as loud as I could scream.

   Did he whip you very hard?

   Not very.

   What made you cry so loud then?

   Why, I thought he would stop if I did.

   And did he?

   Yes.

   Then you really cried harder than was necessary for such a whipping?

   I guess I did.

   Do you think you deserved the whipping if you told the wrong story?

   I suppose I did.

   How many times has he ever whipped you before?

   I don't know.

   About how many times, two or three or a dozen or more?

   (After thinking.) I think four times altogether.

   Your papa and mamma are kind to you?

   Oh, yes.

   Did you know that I was coming here to ask you these questions, or any one else?

   No.

   Has any one told you what to say if you were asked questions about this matter?

   No.

   Have any of the family talked to you about this before or since you went down with Chief Linderman this morning?

   No.

   This ground was gone over by The STANDARD man several times in different ways and he is confident the child had not been coached on answers and that she was telling him the truth. If this is all so, she probably made use of the child's usual method on being punished to cry as loud as she could expecting that the end would come sooner. If the story is true, there seems to be no ground for any charge of cruelty. The child has been sent to school since she came to Dr. Santee's and has been in every way treated as their own.

   Dr. E. B. Nash heard of the report of the whipping and went up there at once to see if any marks or traces of the whip could be found, the report on the street being that huge welts were left on the flesh. He told the STANDARD man that there was not a word of truth in the report. He examined the child and found not a trace of a mark of whip or anything else.

   Some very strong statements, and what seem to have been ungrounded, were made in the Syracuse Standard this morning in regard to this affair and we are informed by Dr. Santee that he has already instructed his attorney to begin an action against that paper for libel.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Colt Kicked and Broke William Barry's Leg .

   William Barry, who lives in the edge of Lapeer, started Monday morning to take his milk to the station at Messengerville. He was driving a colt. Going down a steep hill on a private road which he had opened to shorten his distance the girth broke letting the shafts up over the colt's back. Mr. Barry stuck his right foot forward to brace and hold the colt, but that animal kicked by and struck Mr. Barry's foot breaking both bones of his leg.

   Mr. Barry controlled the animal till he could get him off the steep pitch and stopped. Then with his broken leg he got down and unhitched his colt from the wagon before he fainted dead away. After coming again to consciousness he began to call aloud. He was in a lonely place and it was long before he made any one hear. At last across the gulf and ravine he made Nathan J. Smith hear. That gentleman went to his assistance and got him home. The colt was still standing by his side when Mr. Smith arrived.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

List of Those in Attendance—Much Interest Shown.

   HOMER, May 5.—During the first period of the afternoon yesterday Conductor Hendrick occupied the time in a talk on "Preparation for School Government" instead of the topic previously announced. Professor Hendrick is very practical in his talks and gives many useful hints.

   After a very brief intermission, Prof. A. M. Wright, a state officer of compulsory education, gave a talk on phases of the enforcement of the compulsory education laws. Professor Wright was formerly principal of the Moravia academy and is well known to teachers of this section.

   Following Professor Wright, Miss Eggleston once more in her inimitable manner, claimed the close attention of her audience and held them interested until the close of the afternoon on the subject, "Some of the Masters."

   At a late hour last evening a telegram was received from state supervisor of institutes, A. S. Downing, A. M., who had been announced for a lecture, stating that it would be impossable for him to be in Homer this week. At this late hour Conductor Hendrick consented to deliver his lecture on the Netherlands entitled "The Beggars of the Sea." The large audience assembled listened with interest to the short but eloquent history of the foundation of the Dutch Republic, after which our own government was originally in great measure modeled.

   Hon. Chas E. Fitch of the board of regents of this state will deliver this evening at the Congregational church his well known lecture on Abraham Lincoln, to which the public is invited. On Thursday evening Conductor Sanford will give a lecture in the same place entitled "A Summer Trip to Mexico," illustrated by lantern views. Mr. Sanford, in this lecture relates his own experiences of last summer.

   Conductor Sanford opened the morning exercises to-day by the reading of a portion of scripture after the usual singing.

   Instead of dividing the sessions as announced previously, Miss Eggleston addressed the entire body on "How to Keep Alive." She dwelt upon the value of teachers' organizations and enforced the personal value of teachers' giving intellectual aid to each other. She also tried to impress the value of reading as a continual source of inspiration.

   At the second period, the institute was resolved into the usual morning divisions during which Principal Bierce discussed the "Time Required for Dull Pupils" before the advanced section. This took the form of a general discussion. Miss Gale of the Cortland Normal, late school commissioner in Tompkins Co., talked on "Some of Our Needs" before the intermediate and primary departments combined.

   At the third period Conductor Hendrick led a very valuable discussion on "History" in the advanced, while Professor Bardwell of the Cortland Normal addressed the intermediate on "Intermediate Scholars." The primary was in charge of Conductor Sanford on reading and proved very interesting.

   Considerable disappointment was felt by the teachers over the failure of Supervisor Downing to be present this week.
   [The list of those in attendance was published the next day--CC editor.]

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Dangerous Skyscrapers.

   A suggestive article on the dangers of extremely high buildings appears in The Cosmopolitan from the pen of Mr. Ernest Flagg.

   The worst objection to the vast structures that rise from 15 to 23 stories high is that they shut out altogether the light and air from buildings around them and indeed from their own lower stories. The streets of our cities were laid out originally for houses no more than three or four stories high. They are narrow and in many cases crooked. To pile upon these streets, therefore, buildings that should only be put upon streets ten times as wide is a crime against both health and common sense.

   Another charge Mr. Flagg brings against the skyscraper is that it is very particularly dangerous. The high, slim structures are practically great chimneys; the walls are merely steel frames covered with a thin skin of brick or stone. With flames darting up the elevator shaft of a house 23 stories high what would become of persons on the upper floors?

   An objection almost as serious as that of danger is that these buildings do not pay. Twenty per cent of ground must always be left for the admission of light and air. Counting this and the expense of strengthening foundations and walls, the limit to which a building may be profitably carried is 15 stories. Mr. Flagg is of opinion that laws should be passed in each state limiting the height to which buildings may be carried to 1 1/2 times the width of the street on which they stand.

   ◘ A Dr. Dunlop of Dublin invented the pneumatic tire, and it shows the unfathomable wisdom of public opinion to find that everybody laughed at him. At last he got a few venturesome souls to invest money in his invention, however, and since 1889 they have got their original capital back 12 times over.

   ◘ It is strange, it is indeed, that there should be a moment's discussion in congress over the question of refusing to appropriate public money for the support of sectarian Indian schools. What the Indian wants is to learn a trade and to practice the golden rule without any of the complications of sectarian theology thrown in. He can choose his sect for himself when he has intelligence enough.

BREVITIES.

   —Regular meeting of Grover Post tonight.

   —Thirteen applications were favorably acted upon by the Y. M. C. A. membership committee last night.

   —On account of the illness of H. H. Pomeroy, Mr. Chas. Saunders will be at Pomeroy's store evenings until May 10 to collect the A. O. U. W. assessments.

   —New advertisements to-day are—C. F. Brown, just double, page 5; Kellogg & Curtis, special sale, page 6; Wesson-Nivison Mfg. Co., the editor's saddle, page 7.

   —In police court this morning Elmer Card, who is charged with abduction, waived examination, was admitted to bail in the sum of $750 to await the action of the grand jury,

   —Hon. Charles E. Fitch of Rochester will this evening lecture at the Congregational church in Homer before the teachers' institute on "Abraham Lincoln." The public is invited.

   —Arrangements are all perfected for the May party to be given by Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., in their rooms tomorrow night and a fine time is anticipated. Music by Daniels' full orchestra.

   —The Cortland & Homer Electric Co. announce that after this date they will make lamp renewals without charge to incandescent light consumers on meter when the old lamps are returned to them intact.

   —Master Harry Hitchcock of Cortland, aged 7, the youngest bicycle adept in the world, will be seen between the acts of the "Two Orphans" at the Stone opera house tonight.—Binghamton Republican, to-day.

   —The eighth annual meeting of the New York State Music Teachers' association will be held at Burtis' opera house in Auburn on July 7, 8 and 9. The headquarters of the association will be at the Osborne House.

   —The regular monthly business meeting of the Christian Endeavor society of the Congregational church will be held in the church parlor this evening at

7:30 o'clock, followed immediately by a social, to which all friends as well as members of the society are invited. Light refreshments will be furnished without charge.

   —Mr. Rozelle Berry died at 7 o'clock last night at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. K. B. Stone, 7 Harrington-ave., aged 53 years. He died from a shock of epilepsy which he had over a week ago and as a result of which he never fully regained consciousness. There will be a short funeral service at the house at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning and the remains will be taken at 10 o'clock to Holmesville, his old home, for interment.