The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-13
(FOR OTHER "LOCAL" SEE POrRTH PAGE.l
VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL AND)
MECHANICAL COLLEGE, ;
March 81. 1890.
10 the Editors Of the Dispatch:

10 the Editors Of the Dispatch:
AS charges made against me during the
late legislative investigation Of the affairs Of
this college were published In your paper,
| have to ask OF you the Justice to publish
the following statement: On the 81 OF Feb
ruary, Dy advice Of ex-senator Archer a.
Phlegar, refused TO obey an order TO turn
over the money OF this college to Professor
V. L. Sbcpher who had been appointed
10 succeed me az treasurer. | refused be-
cause the persons from whom the order
came General James III. Lane, Rev. David
Sulin-, and Captain William Eggleston)
did not constitute what they claimed to be-
the Executive Committee OF the Board OF
Vi,iiors-apd for The further reason that
knew the security offered by Mr.. Shepherd
"a bond for 100000, signed by DR.. NJ. q.
Ellzey, General James II. enc, Colonel
Norborne Bel kelley, and Kew. T.. N. CON-
rad) to be insufficient. though it was pro-
nounced by the parties above named in
their order to me TO be "sutiicient and sat
isiactory." After my refusal, Mr.. Shepherd
procured two more signers-General Viii.
liam H. Boggs and DR.. II. L. Elert-all Of
The six signers but the last being officers OF
the college. That the signers OF the bond
were as above given was testified in the le-
sl,Ialive investigation, and not contested.
On the 10th Of February | appeared on
summons as a witness before the House
Committee on Schools and Colleges. who
were investigating the college affairs.
was examined and discharged. After hod
left Richmond, the Rev. Thomas n. Conrad,
who had been present at my examination,
and DR.. NJ. q. Ellzey. accused me before the
committee Of defacatiOn, and alleged that my
reason for refusing 10 turn over the money
was my inability TO do so, and a publication
to the same effect was made by Mr.. Conrad
in the Dispatch. AS soon as news OF this
reached me. telegraphcd to Mr. ID. F..
Bailey, for the committee, that it was false.
al d that | WIS ready to turn over the
money.
On tie 20ih OF February the Board OF
Visitors met in Richmond, and ordered
81 that the Executive Committee be au-
! thoriZed TO receive the bond OF he treasurer,
Professor Shepherd, IL the same in their
| judgment lie good and sHfiicient," thus
! ignoring and treating as unlawful the
action OF the persons whose order
! | had refused TO obey. Then came the &C.
! ti0n OF the Legislature removing the Board
of Visitors. 1t was TO be presumed that
after this the members OF that Board would
make no further attempts to carry out the
changes which had been so condemned /;
but three members OF the Executive Com
mittee-Dr. John l.. Buchanan, Rev. David
Sullins, and Captain William E2gleston-
met in Bncksburg on the 26th Of March,
and under lis orders, after settlement and
acceptance OF my accounts as correct, j
turned over the college money 10 Mr.. Sbep-
herd, This Executive Committee, Ike the
Board. ignored ard treated a. unlawful the
order which had refused TO obey, and paid
me my salary as treasurer up to the 9th oil
March, the day turned over The money.
The fourth member OF the Executive Com
ml,tee. Mr. Charles W. Button, refu'ed TO
act further for The college, or TO attend this
meeting. :,
In December the Board OF Visitors bad,
on a repre>entatlOn oi Mr.. Shepherd that
he could not give a bond for 80 large an
amount as The 100000 Iequred BY the char
fer. adopted resolution asking the Legs
Iaure TO grant 10 the Board discretion as %
1.-The amount OF the bond t. be required "l
The treasurer, and bill 10 that effect passed
the Senate. As the investigations OF thC
House Committee on Schools and COLLEGES
rad discovered before the Dill reached iha'
committee the following facts: Tbat tht
Hoard's record ordered. in case Of getting
the LEGISLATION asked, that the bond be re-
drced from $4,000 10 100000; that the
then treasurer had received from Dls prede'
eessor the sum OF s29,800, and had oaC
since in bis possession at one time Si)'000
that while the Board was thus irving to re-
duce The amount Of the bond the part o
the Board known a. the Executive Com
mittee were certify ing that Sufficient ant
satisfactory bond for $4,000 bad been tur
nished by Mr.. Shepherd--in view OF thts
fact, the bill was returned 10 the House b.
the committee with unanimous recon
mppdation, on a recorded vote, "that 10 d
not pass"; and IL has been no more heaf'
from.
The publc will Judge whether, atter Ia
heavy vote of censure and Of expulsion
lately passed by the highest court et appeal
the Legislature, upon the Board oe VISITORS
the Executive Committee OF that Boar
have done well to persist in putting, Tor tll
hri I remainder VI their legal rxlsten0
the college moUty under the control OF .h
new appoin.ees --slessrs. Conrad, u,
chanan, and hepherd-proteeied by bon
NJ which only 40 mseh is known ~ appeaI
, aboye. Howeser that may De- 'oe aDos
fac.s explain why the attempt was made
, attach discredit to my name, aud tpey sho
, that paid over tho money In my hands 0
: tbe earliest day when could legally do 81
and that did the college AID the sta
, ~ood service Ia refusing 20 surrender u
money s,.lier. GILgg u. THOMAS.
!.
IFor the Dispasch,l