Evening journal., 1897-12-20
JAMES DAY SPEAKS.
The Affairs Of Mrs. Peck and
Syracuse University.
CHANCELLOR'S STATEMENT OF CASE.
Denies Allegations That the Trustees
Treated the Bishops Widow HarshIy,
and Says She Had Received More
Than Was Really Due.

and Says She Had Received More
Than Was Really Due.
SYRACUSE. Dec. 2o.-A great many
sensational reports have been ciroulat-
ed recently charging gross neglect of
the widow of the late Bishop Peck by
Syracuse university. the beneficiary Of
his property. Chancellor James r..
Day, on account Of these reports, has
prepared an official statement of the
facts concerning the matter.
Some time prior to his death Bishop
Peck decided his property valued at
about S50000 to the university, provi-
sion being made for the sale of certain
real estate for the support of Mrs.
Peck should she need IL. After Mrs.
Peck's death, which occurred about ten
days ago Rev. w. ID. Rockwell who
lived at her house and took care Of her
in her later years, in published ccm-
munication said that a contract was
entered into between Mrs. Peck and
the university that she should receive
$500 yearly from the university, which
should come from the rental of land in
California.
Mr.. Rockwell said that this land was
afterward sold by university authori-
ties, and not at the instigaton Of Mrs
Peck. and that about three years ago
she received communication from
university authorities stating that the
$500 annuity would no longer be paid
and that thereafter the university did
not contribute to her support, intimat-
ing that in consequence she was in
straitened circumstances.
Chancellor Day, in a published COM
municatlon made soon after denied Mr..
Rockwells statement regarding the
Mrs. Peck and said that she had an in
come more than ample TO supply her
wants. He said that the agreement
with Bishop Peck was that in case OF
need the property in California should
be sold and the proceeds of 1t given to
Bishop or Mrs. Peck as they might re-
quest payment to be made, In sums not
to exceed $500 per year,
The chancellor stated that soon after
the death of Bishop Peck this property
was sold at a request supposed 10 have
come from Mrs. Peck and the money
therefrom paid to her from time to time
until the proceeds were entirely ex-
hausted and s1,125 more than the con-
tract required was paid over to her.
With the approval Of the university
trustees, he said, payments to Mrs.
Peck were then stopped.
other communications have been pub
llshed, the result being the following
official statement by the chancellor:
1.-THE facts concerning the estate OF
Bishop Peck and the university are
these; Bishop and Mrs. Peck gave their
estate to the university and received
certain leases. agreements. etc. from
the university expressing and defining
the university's obligations to them.
Neither the bishop nor Mrs. Peck at
any time communicated TO the chancel.
Tor or trustees the slightest grievance
with the university or made any re-
quest 20 have any extension or more
generous Interpretation whatever made
of the terms settled upon by them and
the trustees.
Mrs. Peck repeatedly had said TO a
prominent lady of the community who
was her confidential friend that she had
no cause for complaint against the uni
versity and that all Of her wants were
provided for in the moneys she received
from different sources and that she was
never without money in the bank which
had been placed there by the bishop to
meet any emergency She had consid-
cradle sums Of money loaned in this
city, the interest Of which she had not
used
Everything dcne in Mrs. Pecl5's case
has been done upon advice of the at
torney Of the university and by the
unanimous approval Of the trustees AZ
their regular meeting.
"The man Rockwell who makes the
attack upon the university. it must be
remembered was an inmate of Mrs
Pecks home Gad was personally inter-
csted In these moneys In dispute as an
know who are intimate with the case.
"The property IN California was sold
after q representation which came Ia
the university that II was Mrs. PeclS's
wish. The university is accused 10y
Rockwell Of selling this land for its
own use What use did II make OF IT,
No one ever has denied that the money
was paid her and that she received 81 %.
125 more than the agreement gave hei
or she expected"
In conclusion the chancellor make,
this proposal:
"The trustees meet on Jan. IS. I pro
pose that Mr.. Rockwell and any othe
party. a complainant in this case Of tn
Peck estate. come before the trustees
and state their grievance. They shal
have a fair and courteous hearing an,
every facility 90 substantiate the charg
that there has been any violation OF II
obligation upon the part of the univer
sity or its chancellor. They shall TAX
the consequences OF a failure to sup
port their calumnies. We challenge an
demand from those who assume TO crit
icise the university the most searchin
examination Of our present busines
methods and our treatment of our ben
efactors from none Of whom has ther
ever come q complaint"
A Premier Suing For Libel.
VICTORIA. b. c.. Dec. 2O-The Hol