WAUPACA COUNTY POST

April 7, 1921

TEACHER WINS ASSAULT AND BATTERY CASE

Clara Miller Arrested on Complaint of Parent For Whipping Boy

- Jury Out Five Minutes

            Miss Clara Miller of Baldwins Mills took a school in Fremont town last autumn, this being her first year since graduation at Ripon high school and after a year at Oshkosh Normal School.

            It appears that on February 28^th Miss Miller applied corporal punishment on a nine-year-old boy, Arthur Wohlt, which so irritated the father, Louis Wohlt, that he began suit in behalf of the state and brought the teacher as defendant in an assault and battery case before Justice M.B. Scott of this city, the case being held in the court room Saturday, April 2.

            A jury trial was demanded and the following were selected to weigh the evidence:  E.W. Smith, George E. Thomas, Arthur White, Ted Lea, J.C. Ashdown, and Ezra Townsend.

            Arthur Wohlt, Louis Wohlt, Helena Wohlt and Dr. Rehling of Fremont testified in behalf of the state.  County Supt. R.C. Bigford, E.E. Russell and Clara Miller testified in behalf of the defendant.

            Atty. Earl P. Finch of Oshkosh represented the state’s side of the case and Atty. J.C. Hart of Waupaca represented the defendant’s side.

            The attorneys began their arguments before noon and concluded them at four o’clock p.m.  Considerable sparring between the attorneys was indulged in to the amusement of the spectators and in this Attorney Hart scored several knockout blows.

            The jury was escorted by Sheriff Toepke to a jury room where in a brief space of time they registered a verdict exonerating the teacher.

            The court room was packed beyond seating capacity during the entire case and when the verdict was announced pandemonium reigned so it was impossible for Justice Scott to be heard and he formally and silently entered the verdict in the justice docket and repaired to the quiet of his own office.

            The following taken from an address by Dr. Winfield Scott Hall of Northwestern University of Evanston, Ill., before an audience of University of Wisconsin faculty and students at Madison last Sunday evening seems to sustain the action of a teacher maintaining order in school and to so justify the jury in its decision that we cannot refrain from quoting this eminent educator:

            “The 12-year-old boy is a barbarian.

            “He should be spanked on the place nature has provided.

            “A good strong arm is necessary for hs proper development.

            “The child is a gross egotist.  At the age of 12 he bosses his little sister.  He lords it over his mother.  When he comes into the house, he yells for ma.  He doesn’t want anything, except to now she is on the job.

            “From 13 to 20 the boy passes through the age of chivalry.  He doesn’t ignore Jane any more.  He is knight at the court.  He is a protector, looks for the opportunity to risk his life.

            “The man plans up to the standard set by woman.  He is no better and no worse than the standards she sets.”