The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-25
cam FROM cHAxoEIIon DAr.
Statement Conecrniug Syracuse University sna
. the widow or Rtnhop rech. . ~

WlJnlnh low uUnbnb uuNo DCeH mo JhIRotS VI
severe criticism, and yet they remain, and their
work goes on. They all have observed profound
Another, the Chancellor OF Syracuse Univer-
departs from this most excellent rule only
because the University Is attacked, and its fair
name may suffer among mon whose good opin.
ions are essential to IL.
TIL Sun has treated Syracuse University
with distinguished consideration during the
past two years In appreciative editorials. It
now would not do us the injustice 1t is doing did
1t understand. as we do. the animus Of the per.
son furnishing 1t with the defamatory material
which It has printed In two OF its recent issues.
wish, as Chancellor Of Syracuse University. |
to brand as maliciously false overy essential
rejecting upon the university's treat
ment of the widow OF Bishop Peck. The books,
deeds, leases, agreements and acts OF the Chan.
cellor in these matters are accessible. A repre- |
sentative OF THE Sun could have possessed him. |
self Of the facts any day, and can do so now. but
he has chosen instead TO give the public the
Of our enemies.
The point of contention 10 the sale and disposi.
ton of q piece of unproductive property in Cali.
fornia. An agreement provided that this land
should BIO sold and the proceeds Of such sale paid
in annual installments to tho Bishop and his
wife If they needed It. They were to determine
the question OF need. Soon after the death Of
Bishop Peck q representative csmo to Chancel.
lor Sims from Mrs. Peck requesting that the
land be sold, the proceeds being needed by her.
Tho land in question was sold for %, 600 and
payments werc made to Mrs. Peck until the en-
tire sum was exhausted and the account over.
drawn to the amount Of 81, 1875. .
When tho present Chancellor cumo to his OF.
flee his attention was called by Dean ]. r.
French to the fact that this fund was exhausted.
and moneys were being paid, In his opinion. in
violation OF law. I submitted che matter to the
university's attorney, J. Brooks. Esq, who
advised me that l could not legally pay any
more money on this account. Ithen submitted
the matter to the Executive Committee of the
Board Of Trustees. composed OF six well.known
citizens OF Syracuse and vicinity. These gentle.
men. who are my superiors in Office and my ad.
visers In all important matters. informed mo
that could not pay any moro money to Mrs.
Peck without becoming personally liable for the
samo. / then directed Dean French. who at
that time attended to such correspondence,
to inform Mrs. Peck. that there was
no moro money in tho fund from which
she had been drawing, and that nothing
moro could DO paid unless the trustees ordered
it. He did so in his own language. / did not
dictate "a curt note" as charged. never saw
the letter. but am quite sure that 1t was entirely
proper and courteous. The whole matter was
submitted to the trustees at their regular meet.
Ing, and the action of tho Executive Committee
was unanimously approved. All OF this is mat.
ter Of record. and does not depend upon my
memory. At the meeting Of the trustees above
| referred TO 1t was earnestly, remarked that
university the trustees would personally sub
cribe an equal amount, IL Mrs. Peck was in
need. but IL was known that she did not need
The university fulfilled its contract, ard, it
will be remembered. even paid Mrs. Peck
n Hnf $500 tka- 4 . HAitn for fhA IN In
Question. That the public may understand the
case, it is painfully necessary to say that there
name Of Rockwell. who, as a student. the Bishop
and Mrs. Peck had befriended., Soon after Mrs.
Peek xb bnSaT nisI 2 %i Sim a M sa,a m0S of abon lel sa q mi ans
took upon himself the care Of Mrs. Peck's home
and grounds for an income of nearly twice that
amount, occupying the home as Its head with
his family. having the use of q horse. carriage,
&c. He came after a time to have full charge OF
terested in all of the moneys that camo into her
hone. ,,, NJ,
Rockwell came to my office and threatened that
II ] did not continue the payments above re.
1sTpsn !" II He Slso Vent mtt 70 Xtt or cyl B ies and
made a similar threat 10 him. and received some
E so%s, ,% but 1 vigorous vs.. GTa ncssei 1G ;s no as e lsTyih5s
out thnt threat with which he tried to intimi
All that the public needs to know. in addition
to the statements made above, In order TO judge
correctly concerning this whole affair. Is the
fected by the stopping of these moneys. and the
only person who has ever complained. Mrs.
thS money Mss n and T h a.ssom reesiSsa " %o nSI f fse@ ons
Of her nephews. the Rev. J: X. Peck o. Kings
his aunt. Mrs. Peck, or any Of the relatives
concerning the matter: Several OF the Bishops
OF our church have, from time to time. called
intimated to the university authorities that
Mrs. Peck was in any way dissatisfied with
Dental friends mot servants who were with her
almost every day tell me that she always said
peatedly spoke kindly Of, the university and its
Chancellor. Immediately after the stopping OF
ths @ Uf the agents. po sfYm the Book ee eoeeer rne in a! New
m mGEh 70 Be f made ea for t hrs. P Peci, iinf nseas pFo Sy tSe
Bishops widows from the Episcopal fund. Five
times since the payments by the university were
fund. from which they previously had been
made, the Book Committee has reviewed Mrs
Peck's case, inquired into her needs, and con
before.
in need. r. Rockwell did not ask to have hci
allowance increased by tho Book Comniitt,N
money Mny Si' M SG Roc Rocck X sH' s %ES That n he she VI Si ief'
with only $50. He has since admitted in one o
his abusive articles that she had 81 $50. hay'
ample proof that she believed in July OF tbii
year that sho had in bank and loaned in syrn
cuse So, 500. She gave n schedule Of these mon
To no ono could such a discussion involvin,
the names Of our sanity bepcfactors DO NOR,
references to me | have contempt: The public
which has boon patient Will tho absolutel,
false accusation made against the universit,
and its administration doubtless will pardoi
this earnest resistance Of vindictive Islander.
With such men for its trustees as the Hon. j
J. Belden, Senator Francis Hendricks. T.. II
Holden. and Lyman @. Smith OF Syracuse, an
John d. Arch hold, J. 8. Huyler. s. w. Bovine
Clarence w. Seamans. the Rev. DIR. Home
Eaton and the well.known lawyer: w. s. Cal
ter OF New York city, Syracuse University mn
be trusted by the public to conduct its bushes
In a businesslike manner. and 70. generously re
gard the rights and claims OF all its benefactori
NEW YORK, Dec. "a. AMRs II. DAY.