The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-02-24
MUCH OF A FARCE.
The Allegations Against the
BrOOkings College Officials
Fall to the Ground.
Not One Word Of Proof Adduced
to Support the Charges---
Synopsis OfProceedings.
PIERRE, Feb. 20, 1898.

OF interest here since my last writing
The investigation commenced last
Wednesday night before the special
committee consisting of Senators
Dollard, Horner, Burtt, Adams, Chill
cott, Andrews and Major, and con-
tinued almost without cessation until
midnight Saturday. The prosecu-
tion was conducted by ex-Professor
Frost and ex-Trustee Hitchcock. The
defense was in the hands of Judge
C. S. Palmer Of Sioux Falls.
There were twenty-one charges in
the indictment, sixteen of which
referred to political manipulations
on the part of the board of regents
and OF DR.. McLouth. These persons
We're charged with wire pulling, IA
voritism and political skulldugery
in the interest of personal friends
who were given soft snaps in the
college, regardless of competency. l
listened to every word of the testi-
mony from beginning to end, and
only voice the universal verdict when
j say that not one word of proof was
adduced to support these charges
On the contrary, it was conclusively
shown that the regents and DR.. Nc
Iouth have studiously avoided per-
sonal interests, and have labored un-
.ceasingly for the welfare of the col
lege.
1t had been charged that Treasurer
Frudenfeldt was using the college
fund in his personal business, or at
least was obtaining credit by reason
OF the fact that he had these funds
in custody. He made the most COM
plete exhibit of his conduct in rela-
tion to these funds, and showed by
vouchers, bank accounts and other
testimony that he had never IN any
manner, directly or indirectly, bene-
fitted himself by the use of cent of
this public money.
Professor Sheppard was charged
having falsified vouchers to the
amount Of $4,000 and appropriating
L
charge was made by Professor Frost,
eX-secretary Of the faculty. The
!. proof showed that certain chemical
apparatus had been purchased with
the state fund, when it should have
been purchased with the governmen
fund, and that to rectify the error
there vouchers were properly made
with the knowledge and advice OF
Frost himself for the simple purI ose
OF getting the money out of the gov
ernment fund back into the state
fund. This Frost was compelled tt
admit.
Frost was college accountant at the
time Frudenfeldt was hung in etfigy
10y the students. The September pay
roll was made up early in the month
the students signed it, and in a few
days came for their money. Eros
gave them to understand that tn,
pay roll had been transmitted t,
Frudenfeldt for payment, and tina
he had neglected to return the money
the students became very much ex
cited, and when then the end cf tn,
month came and the money had no
yet been received they hung Frudcn
feldt IN effigy on the college campu
on Halloween night and committet
other indignities. For some reason
or other Frost had all of this tim
retained the pay roll in his custody
and actually, as proved by his lette
of transmittal placed in evidence
transmitted the pay roll to Fruden
feldt on the ethirty-firstday of October
though the letter in which it wa
sent to as post marked at Brookings
November Sd.
Professor Wheaton was charge,
with having traded butter and chees
belonging to the Agricultural Colleg
to the amount of $50 in payment O
his private grocery bill. Wheaton
receipts in evidence proved that h
settled monthly with his grocers an
in his monthly statements of tn
business Of his department had az
counted to the college for ever
pound of butter and cheese.
The competency of Professors Wat
ers and Wheaton was attacked j.
the charges. BY overwhelming test
mony it was shown that they wer
peculiarly well qualified for tn
technical work required of them, an
that in fact, it would be very difficul
to supply their places.
While the findings of the committe
ale not yet made public, the opinio
is universal, that the investigatio
has resulted in the triumphant e,
honoration and vindication of tn
board Of regents and Mr.. McLout
and Of the members Of the facult
who were attacked and especially tina
the regents were perfectly justified i
refusing to confirm certain member