Red Pepper on the Stove, Stolen Gloves, and the School Board's Reckoning

The board of education had been receiving complaints from different principals, and Superintendent Barnard laid several cases before it yesterday. The board took up the cases of the children who had been repeatedly reported, and in several instances the accused were found at fault.

In one case a girl was charged with vulgarity and with playing pranks in school; in three of the cases the children accused were not found to be in the wrong, and the board dismissed the complaints.

The first case taken up was that of a girl who had been suspended from the school. She was suspended about a month ago for purloining a book from another room, and also for taking a pair of gloves from the coat pocket of Miss Thornton, a teacher in the school, the same afternoon. Prof. Babcock stated to the board that suspicion pointed to the girl, and that she was told to return the articles or an officer would be sent after her. It had no effect, and the officers were sent, whereupon she gave them back. He also wrote a note to the girl's parents, but they paid no attention to the matter, and he was forced to suspend her until an investigation could be had.

Miss Brown and Miss Thornton were called and their testimony was substantially the same as Prof. Babcock's. The Pratt girl was then questioned in regard to the articles, and said that she and her sister had taken the book from the room because Miss Brown had given it to them. She said she found the gloves on the stairway and took them home. The story was very flimsy. The girl's father was present, but would not say anything.

The board decided to suspend her for the balance of the spring term, and then allow her to re-enter on the assurance of her parents that she would do better.

The next case was that of George and Norman Patton, two bright little chaps, suspended for throwing red pepper on the stove during school hours. The superintendent was instructed to reprimand them and caution them against doing anything of the kind in the future.

In the case of Otis Bertrane, suspended for stealing some instruments from the Central school the night of the Washington's birthday entertainment, the mother of the boy stated that the boy had admitted taking the instruments, and said she did all in her power to make him behave himself. She also said the boy was in the habit of playing hookey. The boy was suspended for the present and the matter referred to the superintendent.

The last case was against Max Steinfeld, suspended from the Pacific school for vulgarity. Prof. Fagan stated that Steinfeld was a very bad boy and that some of his actions were unfit for mention. He was expelled for the balance of the school term.