Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1909 — Wolcott Hazing Story a Newspaper Pipe Dream. [ARTICLE]

Wolcott Hazing Story a Newspaper Pipe Dream.

A. story Was published in several papers to the effect that a boy had been killed as the result of hazing by pupils of a school near Wolcott. Some sensational newspaper correspondents polished the thing up to look Ijke a real tragedy and many of the large papers were duped into printing it. The Monticello Herald has the following to say after investigation: A rumor has been current that the death of Charlie Stinson in West Piont township was caused by a hazing at the hands of some of his boy companions. It was said that he had been hung up by the feet and left in that position for an hour or more, causing a rush of blood to bis head which resulted in brain fever. From what we have been able to learn there appears to be no foundation for this' rumor. County Supt. Reid made a visit to the locality Tuesday to see what foundation there was for the sensational articles in the newspapers. He says the teacher, the trustee, the doctors and practically all the neighbors agree that the boy’s death was not due tp any rough treatment, and that! he was not hung either by his head or his feet. ' The teacher, Mr. Finis Oilar, has had no trouble in the school, has not whipped a pupil, and has had no occasion to whip any. As to the cause of the boy’s death, the attending physicians make the following statement:

To whom it may concern. This is to certify that we treated Charles Stinson from March 3rd, 1908, until March 11th, 1909. He was suffering from inflammation of brain and spinal cord, due to natural causes, (not violence). He was not injured in any way or manner while attending schdol. He was a weak, frail and abnormal child and had spent 15 or* 18 months in a hospital, and we are informed that hospital physicians stated he would never become of age, but would die in childhood of some form of brain or spinal disease. Respectfully, DRS. SLUYTER ft MORRIS. ’ In the light of the evidence it appears that the metropolitan dailies in their anxiety to avoid being scooped have only been duped.