The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-18
CHANCELLOR DAY ACCUSED.
Unseemiy Quarrel That Involves Syracuse
University. N
(New sYork sun.)

f
Syracuse, Dec, IA quarrel has arisen
over the grave of Mrs. Persis Wing Peck,
widow of Bishop Jesse Il. Peck of the
Methodist church, both of whom were
among the founders of Syracuse Univer.
sity, and gave their entire estate to that
institution. Mrs. Peck, who survived
her venerable husband fourteen years,
died on Dee. z at the advanced age of &C
years, tand, by the terms of contract
made by her late husband, her residence
in University avenue, the sole remnant
of q large estate, will pass into the hands
of the university. While Mrs. Peck was
on her death bed she made the unusual
request that the Chancellor of the univer-
sity, the Rev. James Roscoe Day, s. T.,
LII. D., should be debarred from any par
ticipation in the funeral services and not
allowed to say any words of eulogy or
otherwise over her grave.
Perhaps on this account Chancellor
Day, before tho funeral, gave out to the
press an interview regarding the manner
in which the Peck estate came into the
hands of the university, and announced
that the university had overpaid Mrs.
Peck more than 81 600, according to the
terms of her husbands contract. This
brought out asprompt reply from the Rev.
w. D. Rockwell, graduate Of the uni
versity and friend Of Mrs. Peck, to the
effect.that the university had contracted
to pay Mrs. Peck an annuity of $500 per
year for the term Of her natural life, and
that ever three years ago, ut the instance
of Chancellor Day, this annuity had been
cut off. The curt announcement was
sent, so Mr.. Rockwell says. on the sole
authority of the Chancellor, and not by
authority of the Board of Trustees, as no
claims, to the effect that she had received
all she was entitled to from the univer-
SHY and need look for no more. 1t was a
very severe blow to Mrs. Peck, for it
meant the stoppage of her sole income.
When her husband died her entire estate
consisted of $50 and the contract for the
annuity.
Chancellor Day in reply reiterated his
statement that Mrs. Peck had been over
paid, intimated that Mr.. Rockwell was a
man not capable.of discussing the CUES
ton, and said that statement was false
charged Mr.. Rockwell with being an in
terested party, and intinated that he had
designssupon the remainder of the estate.
which, however, had passed to the uni.
yersity. He said that the university had
provided generously for Mrs. Peck.
keeping her home in repair, providing q
horse, carriage, and servants for her and
closed his statement with again callinn
Mr.. Rockwell slanderer influenced bv
mercenary motives.
Far from putting a quietus on Mr..
Rockwell. tho Chancellor IS statement
wrought him up to high pitch Of indig-
nation, righteous if his statements canshe
substantiated, and he replied in Kind
saying that Mrs. Peck had been UTTERLY
neglected, that her home had fallen into
decay. the ohimneys had tumbled, and
the roof rotted over her head. He con,
tinued:
II could possibly endure in silen ce
being termed 'slanderer, pretended
friend. an incompetent person to renre.
sent the matter fairly and such like hnt
when ACCUSED of over the graves of The
sainted dead making slanderous attack
upon the university, silence would nor
be justified. The Chancellor bimseIt
began this discussion. not over tbe
graves as the Chancellor saw fit ia MAKE
a statement on the very day Of the death