Preece Family Tree

MR. TOM JOHN SUMMONED

FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT ON A SCHOOLBOY

But Magistrates Approve the Punishment.

Mr. Tom John, schoolmaster, Llwynypia, member of the executive of the Teachers' Union and editor of a Pontypridd weekly paper, was summoned at the Ystrad Police-court on Monday for assaulting a schoolboy named Charles Williams, Tonypandy, on the 15th inst. - It appeared from the evidence that the boy left the school at about three p.m. on the evening of the 14th inst., and on the following morning he was reported to the headmaster (Mr. John), who gave the boy a cut across the hands and buttocks. The boy complained of the punishment to his parents, who took him to Dr. Williams, Tonypandy, to be examined. - Police-sergeant Hayle said the marks he saw were only marks he would have expected to see after a lad had been slightly punished. - Dr. Williams spoke to examining the prosecutor, and to finding several bruises upon him. - Mr. Gale, assistant manager at the schools, was called, and said that the prosecutor had become unmanageable. Out of 53 possible attendances he had only put in his appearance 33 times. Witness had previously reported the boy on two occasions to Mr. John, wno reprimanded him. The ordinary cane was used by Mr. John. The punishment the boy received was not excessive. - The Bench upheld Mr. John's action and dismissed the case.