The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-17
MURDAUGH GOT FULL
SENSATIONAL CHARGES THAT HAVE
SET OKLAHOMA TO TALKING
They are Made by MIR. Kelsey, President OF
the Board of Regents of the Agricui-
tural College at saltwater and in Them
He Declares that Murdaugh was
Bounced from the College Because He
Insisted on Getting Maudiin Drunk-Mr'
Murdauyh has a Job, Nevertheless, and
Will Laugh at the Accusations.

Guthrie, o. T., July 16.-(Special)-
Right now the fight of all fights in
Oklahoma centers about President Muir
daugh of the normal school at Edmond,
who is also ex-president of the aSri-
cultural college at saltwater.
In short, the reasons given for the
sudden ousting Of Murdaugh from the
agricultural college is that he got rip
roaring drunk. This charge is made
over the signature of p. 5. II. Kelsey,
president Of the board Of regents.
The bouncing of Murdaugh from the
presidency Of the Saltwater college vas
a surprise to the whole territory. The
Democratic friends Of Governor Rem
frow claimed that the regents, both
Democrats and Republicans combined,
and, taking advantage of the sickness
and absence Of Governor RenfrOw,
turned down Murdaugh without cause.
This was true. SO incensed was Cow
ernor Renfrow at the action Of the reg
ents that not one week elapsed before
before he had Nurdaugh appointed
president of the normal school at Ed
mond
But the board Of regents were not
content TO rest under the charge that
Murdaugh was bounced without cause.
They charge him right out with immor-
atty and drunkenness. The unfortun-
ate part Of the fight is that Murdaugh
is a present with his family in Mary
land and cannot make answer.
JUST WHOOPING IT Up.
The charges against him are given
in a communication To the Guthrie Cap
ital by s. II. Kelsey. The epistle is
very lengthy. The meat Of the whole
thing is the wind up Of the communica-
ton. In answer to the assertion that
Murdaugh had conducted himself with
dignity during his occupancy of the
position he says:
ITO answer that is the sadest part
Of all. I would not do so even now if
I did not think a duty devolved upon
me to correct wrong impressions and
vindicate the honor Of the members of
the board Of regents. We are but hui
man and we have a pride in maintain
ing our name. and when unjUstly as
sailed it is right and proper that we re-
sent it. even though a guilty party is
sacrificed.
Reports came To the members Of the
board from sources which we had to
accept as true. that Professor Muir
daugh had on several occasions since
being president Of the college been I'M
der the influence Of liquor. and espec-
tally on one occasion he was 50 much so
that he attracted the attention of the
people of the neighborng city in such
way as to bring comments on his ac-
tions from a Sunday school superin-
tendant before his school as an illus
tratiOn Of the d0isgrace and effects Of
intemperance: that he had appeared
at his hotel on several occasions under
the influence of liquor; that he was in
the habit Of sending out and buying
liquor and keeping it in his room.
These accepted reports seem To have
beeen reported among the faculty and
students, and in the judgment of the
board were doing great injury to the
reputation of the college We Were
of the firm opinion that his usefulness
and influence among the faculty and
students had ceased, and a change
must he made. The prophecies and
good conduct of a college president
must he such as to enlist the entire
confidence of his assistants. pupils and
the public. or his work viii he n failure.
The action of the board of regents in
deposing President Murdaugh. if the
evidence was thought TO be insufficient
before the election, was vindicated the
next day after the election, when all
the members Of the board except myself
had left Saltwater. when ex-President
Edmond d. Murdaugh so far forgot
the dignity and propriety of n gentle
man as to make a public exhibition Of
himself on the streets of Saltwater, in
the public saloons and al the Hotel
YousI in a maudlin condition from the
effects of liquor. Scores Of the best
citizens of Saltwater will testify to the
truthfulness of this statement; and
more, am sorry to state that I. myself, !
was an eyewitness to this depravity
and fall of greatness"