The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-12
BOYS STARTED THE TALK,
BUT THEIR STORIES IN THE STAMFORD
SEMINARY SCANDAL DIFFHRED.

In an Examination Four Young Men Failed
to sastsin the Charges They HAD CIR
c"inted Against ProG Blakesley and n
Tsscher. md Were Expe,ied-Ten Cons
rnaes Pledged Themselves to Leave. and
Thirteen others W ent Out. but Came Back
Weak Points In Their Accu. ntions.
STANFORD. n. Y. March 11.-Th.re are two
storms ruging in this little town to-day. Ono
10 plain snow storm that can be seen and felt.
The other Is II storm of talk. and. although 1t
can neither no seen nor felt. it makes itself
henrd for miles around. This second storm
began in a breath OF scandal in the Stamford
Seminary. ono OF the oldest educational inst-
tutions in the state and Of which Prof. Oscar
]. Blakcslcy is principal. II Is an academy or
high school. but many OF the pupils are more
than 20 years old. II has always been
known rs a very conservative institution. and
the principal and tenchers have usually been
selected with unusual care because OF its
reputation.
Tho present principal assumed charge two
years ago. He had been principal Of the Ham
mondsr"rt Academy fer ninc years. and had
nm excellent reputation a. q teacher. MS a man.
aGer Of hoys. and as an honorable man. He is
about 40 years old. OF slight build. with a PALE
intelligent face. u small beard and thin hair
surrounding bald spot at the back OF his
head His wife came to stamford with him.
and they have been living in the seminary ever
since. At the beginning OF this term n new
teacher came to Stamford to take charge ofthe
primary department OF tho seminary She
had graduated from the Albany Normal Col
lcge only a short time before and it was her
first experience in a school. Her name Is not
used because it is believed that she has been
unjustly accused. She Is 90 years old. and is
a pretty brunette. Life ut tho seminary Is
very huindrum. There were about 275 pupils
of both sexes ut the beginning Of the winter
term. most OF whom cana from noishboring
towns and boarded in the seminary All the
teachers live in the building and go about as
freely as though thew were at home The rela
tions between teachers and students were Of
the ost Pleasant nature.
One of tho most popular young mon in the
school was Charles f. Reynolds. 20 years old.
whose father IL well'c-Go farmer in Hox-
bury. All the other students had great conf
dence in him. He was the leader Of their
sports. and he possessed considerable iniu-
ence over his comrades. One day about five
weeks ago no came down from hi, room with
an expression OF great importance and my ",
seat he whispered to William Parker. who sat
Say. Viii. I saw old Blakesley walking up
the stairs with the primary department teacher
las: night and he had his arm around her
Il don't believe, it." Parker answered.
He had an Grm around her waist
from that hour every studen, KEEP, strict wat.,h
on the principal and the teacher. Two weeks
Nothing new The excitement had " cr 1f ded
!a ,S sS ssnd ~ RSsGssb ysh The
AZ hs s et: 9u a"f nsfss s se
Gorge. approached a group Of students and
said: Il saw them to-day. They were in her
room. sitting on u lounge. and he had his arm
1t did not take more than two days for tho
last story To- srrcad tHr2uEh tn. town. People
,aen,I,,ers Of II" Board Of Education they
usually took little interest in the affairs Of the
Nw meat th ern t. xa ,@Irs rS e,
one day. overheard some boys speaking about
frankly villa. vas being said. The principn!
returned t, the acaiemy Immediately and
They seemed ashamed. and. although they re-
fused to 90 iato any exp anations. they main
tanned with rerslstency that all that they hna
About that time pr. $. F. Churchill. one of
tho icadlrs, men Of tho town and rrcsident,q9 Of
immcdi lately sent for Prof Blakesley aud do:
manded an rXylanation. III" principal could
syGi n2p a nata yG @ % 1y%r Of rn, n
Of then. have not the slightest idea whether
they we're caused caused :, by n mistnhEe or
s ef''i l"r tho teacher. hut ii" ' too aid
sho c"ald not understand The thing This. is
"fy s sha be n II, s"H
for last SATURDAY, night. before tho meeting
Rcvnnlds. in which h" told them what he .nid
was AL tina, he knew about tho matter, At the
"H "nd rI their nd M: S thsy o mai
thu, all the stori.,s diffrrc. and with each tell
iins the tory had necon" more serious. The
further examination.
q" Mndiny nEnt another meeting wS he'd
i peaae? 4 ." ' Wnda " Msrs a"" %"r1 to
appear. Deamnter had come out u few days
b""r. with the story hat he had seen tho
il,m iieYnolds did. lrof: R!akcsley. Tie pri.
nary t"nc'h;S,r and all tho faculty were present.
The gravity Of tia situation. and urged them
10 ten az that they knew; Tho boys then re;
leat"d their stories. hnt they not Only differed
cnch other. l;cynold. Said lint he bad ire.
Iuently seen thntwo walking hand in hand in
cral of ths tenchcrs were then called and they |
~ denied tEa With they had eyer seen ary'hnE Of
sc"n them walking up the tars tosSther and
Dclamutcr corrobOmie led his story two Of tho |
teachers and several mcmhers Of the Board
two persons to walk up the narrow stairs, sido |
by side. in tho attitude Reynolds indicated. |
Then. when faston had told his story. it WAS |
proved that iher" was no lounge in the room. |
The students were urged to tell ali they knew. |
several mcmhcTs Of the. Eoarl had looked
fnvoraLly uron the boys side in the beg inning.
hlt. ms tho testimony progressed they shook
their heads
Th, Board Withdrew and held n short secret
session. 4 motion was made to exrrl tho four
BOYS, and it was carried unanimously In tell
ing the story to g Sun ren9}rt"r, C. !. Andr,,s.
Of Judge Maynard. said: THEIRS was no nj
ternatlyc The boys insisted that they spoke
tho truth. and as long MS We could not believe
them wc could not with justice to the princi-
pal and teacher allow them 10 remain in tho
school Their expulsion was the only nossible
woman. 1t was uni fortunate. but Imperative"
The four students; although thty do not
somcthpG for th ,ia returned thc seminary
and asked for their support. One Of the other
students said; -. they cxpel you every on" Of
compact to stand by each other.
1t is customary wlcn there Is an EXPULSION
for the principal tn make tho ann"uncenIont. |
but under the circumstances PROT Elakosiry
requested Dr. Churchill to slcnk for him on