The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-24

trustees in their stead, and that the court retain jurisdiction of the cause until all of said orders are compiled with
 The case is on the docket as John M. Murdock, state attorney, and others against George E. Eliot and others.
 Judge Lynde Harrison of this city is counsel for the trustees, and as such he made the following statement yes- terday afternoon:
 The charges of miSmanagement and improper use of funds are untrue and libellous. By advice of counsel, the trustees have for twenty years refused to render an accounting to the town of Clinton or individuals who are mali cious busybodies. A full account of in Vestments, income and expenditures has been in the knowledge of the heirs Of Charles Morgan and leading, respon- sible citizens of Clinton for long pe- riod, and to their entire satisfaction. There has been a depreciation of some securities, and an appreciation of oth- CTS. The trustees will take care of their case in court in due time. They have been advised by counsel that the citi- zens of Clinton have no more right to demand an accounting from the trus- tees than have the citizens of New Ha- ven from Yale college"
 The circumstances in the case are these:
 The bill in equity was brought in the name of John M Murdoch, states at torney for Middlesex county, against the trustees of the Morgan School of Clinton. The plaintiffs are Leon H. Hurtt, Horatio Kelsey, Elias w. We'll man and John r. Bacon, all of Clin- ton. The parties summoned are George F. Elliot, Andrew J. Hurd, Elisha K Redfield, Charles A. Elliot and James M. Wellman, all of Clinton. and Mary Elliot (Wife of Charles A. Elliott, whc is the eXecutriX of the will of John D. Letfingwell, late of Clinton. The writ was served by Sheriff Spiegel of this county, acting as a deputy sheriff of MiddleseX county. The writ is returna- ble to the superior court in MiddleseS county to be held at MiddletoWn on the first Tuesday in January.
 According to the statements in the bill Charles Morgan, the millionaire owner of steamships and railroads ir Louisiana and Texas, in 1896 placed 1T | the hands of John D. LeffingWeu, Al fred Hull, Andrew J. Hurd and George E. Eliot large amount of money fol the erection of buildings on land he l bought for the purpose of the Morgan | school. At different times Mir. Morgan conveyed to the trustees of the schoo about $500 GOO. Mir, Morgan died ir New York, May 8, 1878. Alfred Hu died in 1877 and Elisha K. Rsdfield was appointed a trustee in his place. MT LeffingweI died in 1886 and Charles A ! Eliot was appointed in his stead.
 The bill alleges that on or prior tC February 10, 1874. George E. Eliot took from the trust funds S7,000 and con Verted that amount to his own use l Other allegations are: He used abou | one-half of it in the payment of a pr vate debt which he owed to John D | Leffingwell, who was another trustee o1 | the fund, and who was, as the plain l tiffs believe, chairman of tfe board O trustees. Elliot used the other half o' | the sum of S7000 in payment of his pri- vate debt to the Clinton National bank | and LeffingWell was at that time bOti chairman of the board of trustees an( president of the bank. LefflngWel knew of the appropriation of the funds and consented. The other trustees knew Of it. No steps have ever beer taken, as the plaintiffs believe, by any member of the board of trustees to col lect from George F. Elliot the sum O $7,0O0 and the sum is still due iron him. The mortgage made by Elliot tt the trustees in 1884 was and has beer adequate security and large part O the money is lost.