Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-27
ANOTHER METHODIST WAR.
Colonel Cropsey Denouuoes Chan.
cellor Creighton.
A LIVELY ROW IN PROSPECT
How the Doctors Lawyer Regards
the Chargcs-Au About a Real
Estate Deal-The Travel
ing Mems Outing.
LINCOLN BUREAU OF THE OMAN, SEE, !
lOoq u SrREET


LINCOLN. June 20.
For year or moro it has been apparent
that the usually tranquil waters of the
Methodist camp in this city were deeply
stirred. The trial and behcadng of Mine
hart is but G drop in the bucket compared
with the announcement of Chancellor Creigh.
ton by A. j. Cropsey, of Ogden, Utah.
formerly one of Lincoln's citizens and busi-
ness men. 1t seems that when the strife was
on for tho location of the Wesleyan uuiver-
sity, Cropsey, who was then engaged in the
real estate business here cast his net into
the waters and helped those favorable
to Lincoln catch the prize. But when the
show down came-the division of the spols-
the cruel war began. The BEE representa-
tive lit upon an open letter, addressed to DR.
Creighton, chancellor of tho university,
dated Ogden, Utah, and written by j. 9.
Cropsey under date of May 30. At great
length he airs his grievance and takes oc-
cason TO make a number of highly
sensational allegations. which SAVIOR too
much of attempted blacltmail to ADMIT of
their being repeated in the public prints
Contradcting Cropsey's announcement
comes the statement of Chancellor Creigh
ton, through his attorney, j. l.. Doty, whom
he authorizes to speak for him. THE BBE
representative having sought a personal in
terview with the chancellor.
The chancellor expressed q willingness to
that Mr. Doty could speak for him advisedly.
DR.. Creighton, however, pronounced Crop
sey's allegations n braZen attempt at black
mailing, and with snap of his fingers said,
~ do not care two cents for them" Doty
tells the story as follows:
1.-The trouble between Colonel Cropsey and
Rev. DIR. Creighton, Rev. DR.. Miller, c. A.
Atkinson, esq, and D. j. 1mhoff arose after
the location OF the Nebraska Wesleyan uni
versty. The real estate firm of which Colonel
n maj ,hnr hnl tiap lp,,s he,
Vail eighty. Messrs. Atkinson and Imhoff
desired to interest some friends in the prop
erty in that locality. Cropsey had more op.
tions on land in that vicinity than his firm
could carry. In conversation with him DR..
Creighton said that Atkinson would take the
Vail eighty off his hands. Cropsey's firm
conveyed the land to Atkinson Tor $500, or
81 900 per acre advance on the contract price,
and in addition gave Cropsey $3.50 for his
services. They bought all of Cropsey's in
terost in the land, and at no time did they or
either of them agree to let Cropsey have
any further interest in the deal,
neither did they deceive him in any
way in regard to the matter. Crop.
sey's firm had loaded up with more options
than IL could conveniently carry, and it had
to unload Atkinson q Co. thought it a
good Investment and became its purchasers,
thus helping Cropsey out of difficulty and
giving him a profit on his deal IN the
Vail eighty. These facts were ali brought
out in the case of the Nebraska Wesleyan
institute VS. w. @. Hawley, and an emphatic
denial of Cropsey's statements was made by
Rev. DR.. Miller, Rev. DR., Roberts, Rev. DIR.
Creighton ana Messrs. Atkinson and Imhoff.
Cropsey never thought of claiming that he
had any interest in the land until he found
that profit had been made on the purchase.
There was mover any of the eighty sold
until the location of the university was abso-
lutely fixed. Cropsey has endeavored to
backmail these men; but, being balked
IN this, and not beng financially
responsible for any damages for
defamation of character he has rushed into
print. He vents his spleen upon the attor-
ncy in the case of the University VS. Huwley
because he was able to show that this man
Cropsey had paid SOD to party to assist in
debauching jury in the case of Cropsey VS.
Gage county. The story of Leighton'S five
acres is fiction of his own vile BRAIN. The
statements of tnis unmitiguted falsitier in
regard to Rev. Dr. Miller have been denied
under oath. and the characters of any of the
gentlemen slandered Can not be affected in
the minds Of honest men who know them.
According to sworn statements Colonel
Cropsey was the only man who used, or
tried to use. any dishonest means TO inilu-
ence actions in regard to the location of the
Nebraska Wesleyan university at Lincoln"