Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-15
WILL HEAR CHARGES
College Trustees, After Long Discussion,
Grant Mr.. BoatYriShtS Request.
FACULTY INVITED TO Be PRESENT.
The Prcsence Of Any Others Having Any
thing 10 Say Against the Presidents
Character Also Desired.

The trustees Of Richmond College. as
sembled In the conference-roQm or the
Second Baptist church yesterday AFTER
noon at 4 O'Clock. and after n continuous
session OF five hours decided TO grant
the request Of Professor Boatwright. the
presldent-elect of the college. that he be
given the opportunity OF having those
persons who have made insinuations
against his personal character TO appear
before the bar Of the board, and make
them good.
The meeting for this purpose VIII be
held to-day at noon. and the members
OF the faculty and others who may have
information concerning Professor Boat
wright which they deem 1t proper for
the board to know are invited to appear
at that time and state them.
Last evenings session OF the board was
n comparatively harmonious one, but at
times the discussion was very animated.
All OF the controversies, however, were OF
q friendly character.
The first matter gone into was the
nature of the meeting to be held. 1t had
been anticipated by a number of the
board that certain gentlemen who are
avOwedly opposed to Professor Boat
wright as president Of the college would
appear of their own %volition. and make
certain charges against him.. but, as none
OF them made their appearance. II be-
came necessary to take steps either 10
force or invite them TO come. Some con-
tended that the meeting then In session
was in the nature Of n court Of inquiry.
and that il was clearly the duty OF the
trustees to summon those persons whom
they believed to know anything against
the president-elect to come before the
board and state ii. Others. however, held
that It was more advisable to issue a
general invitation 10 those who knew
aught against the character of the Pro-
f@cssor. and let them decide for themselves
whether or not they should disclose 1t.
OPEN FOR CHARGES.
This point was argued for an hour or
more, and the opinions OF almost every
member present were ventilated freely.
1t was finally decided 10 simply issue an
invitation, and the following resolution
was adopted:
Whereas. we have learned through the
president of the Board of Trustees from
Professor +. ". Boatwright. PRESIDENT
elect of Richmond College, that he has
been assailej by serious Institutions
hltCtlilk ms Dtl.pllti diII A4abl
he respectfully asks Of this body the
privilege Of challenging his assailants 10
meet him at the bar Of this board and
repeat these charges. in order that h. may
have the opportunity Of refuting them:
therefore. be 1t
Resolved, That we 90 most cordially
grant Professor Boatwright's request.
and that we fix II O'Clock. January 18th,
as the day and the Second Baptist church
as the place for allowing such persons
as may so desire to appear before the
board and formulate their charges against
his private life and character.
.. Resolved, That our secretary be
instructed to announce through the city
papers the time. place. and object Of this
meeting. and that Il is the opinion OF
this board that If any member Of this
body or any member Of the faculty know
aught against the personal character Of
Professor Boatwright. it Is the duty OF
such member of the board or OF the
faculty to fully inform this board. and
that each member Of the faculty is invited
to attend Mt that time. and any other
person who may have On
the subject.
CONTEST EVERY POINT.
Each portion Of the resolution, the
adoption Of which was really the only
business transacted. was fought. and heat
ed arguments were the result. As origi-
nally drawn up, tn resolution provided
for those persons. II there be any. who
desire 10 attack the private character or
Professor Boatwright. TO come forward
and do so. The words ATTACK the char
acter Of were construed by the Boat
wright adherents to be In themselves a
reflection on the Professors character.
and they fought them until they were
finally stricken out. When this was ac-
complishel. they took exceptions to the
word %'private.' in so far as H. related
TO the investigation Of the character of the
president-elcct. and many speeches were
made In opposition 10 this word being al
lowed to remain As a substitute the word
personal was interpolat@d, and although
this met with some opposition, it was on
the whole satisfactory.
The resolution. as amended. was adopted
by n vote of 10 to S.
THE SECRETARY SUSTAINED.
The question raised by Mr.. Sands, one
Of the trustees. as to the accuracy Of
DR.. Charles H.. Ryland's minutes. so far
"a the recorded vote Of the ballot on
which Mr.. Boatwright was elected to the
presidency at the last meeting was con-
cerned, was then brought 10 the attention
Of the board by DR.. Ryland, and he stated
that he desired to be set right in the
matter. There We're many opinions as
to the correctness OF the statement that
the vote on which he was elected stood
q to 4, and some few claimed that there
was never a recorded vote taken. DR..
Curry contended that such was taken.
and he was sustained by a number OF
trustees. After much discussion. during
which several of the board took their
departure, the minutes OF DR.. Ryland were
decided to be correct, and the meeting