Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-18
The Death of Mortimer Leggett.



Editor Erentng Star:-Youf editorial remarks
in The STAR OF last evening, in relation to the
sad death of my dear son, Mortimer, make it
nv duty TO say few words, even while my be-
Teaved heart asks for silence. Duty to the liv-
ing and the memory of the dead requires a brief
correction CT the false impressions and state
mcuts going the round of the press.
From the time my son entered Cornell Uni
versity, on the 18th of September, he was
cordially received by and became intimate with
the member rs of the older classes. He wrote his
parents nearly every day, and very often spoke
OF the kind treatment he received at the hands
OF all connected with the university with whom
he came in contact. He frequently alluded to
the entire absence OF "haZing" among the stu
dents.
About the first of this month he informed us
that he had been invited to become member
OF the Kappa Alpha Society, an old orgauiza-
ton, having its chapters in nearly all the
colleges of the country He spoke in the highest
terms of the character of the Young men at
rules prohibited its members from using strong
drink in any form, and from the use of profane
and obscene language, and had in view only
social and literary culture. We gave him our
full consent to become member. 1t was
while joining this society that he lost his life. 1t
seems that the ceremonies of initiation include
the foolish mummery of being blind folded and
led around between two members of the society
through some grove or forest IN the night
season. While making this ramble, and in
ignorance of the immediate proximity of danger.
the three were precipitated from an abrupt
cliff my son was kiled-and the other two
who were sophomores, and members of the
society, very seriously injured
Mortimer was there of his own free will, and
was with his own chosen friends, and by very
careful inquiry, L am satisfied those friends
were young men of unexceptonally good char
acter, among the very best in Cornell Uniyer-
sity, and no Institution in the country embraces
more promising class of young men. In the
ceremonies of that awful night, those students
I in view Mortimer's pleasure and profit, and
bad no more expectation of danger or accident
than he had. He was there from his own
choice, and when he submitted to be blind
folded, he did only what he was informed every
me mber had efore dOne-and probably what
every person does who joins secret society
Such mummeres are foolish and heathensa
and belong to a darker age, but they are com
mon in nearly all the colleges of the world, and
are part, probably, OF every secret society, |
canno', therefore, find it in my heart to special
ly blame these young men, nor Cornell Cniyer-
sity have no doubt the sad catastrophe will
serve TO some extent as a warning against the
continuance of such needless exposure and NAV
save other hearts from the crushing bereaye-
ent that has fallen upon ours.
There was no haZing," and the Young men
WHO were with and near my son at the tina OF
the fatal fall were his friends, and actuated
only by feelings of kindness and friendship.
have not been TO Ithaca since the accident
for the Re asOn that could not leave nv stricken
family-but shall do so very soon-thOugh do
not expect to find the facts differing from this
statement. Ithaca is my native place. and
many of my friends and relatives reside there
and they have very carefully investigated the
matter Very respectfully, NJ. ID. LEGGETr.