The Portland daily press., 1897-12-24
CHARGES OF BLAcKMAiL.
Another Feature of the Syracuse Univer-
sity Quarrel.

Syracuse, December 23.-The most
sensational feature of the row in SYRIA
cuse University over the estate of Bishop
Peck's widow, developed today when the
Rev. W. D. Rockwell, who has charged
the university with cheating Mrs. Peck.
gave out an interview for publication
which ended with these words:
Il believe that the Chancellor cannot,
with the paltry sum of $4,000, buy the
good will of an indignant public.
On Sunday last Chancellor Day gave
out to the newspapers two interviews.
signed statement, in which he accused
Mr.. Rockwell, who for nine years prior
to Mrs. Peck's death, conducted her busi
ness affairs, of having persistently at
tempted to blackmail him, and also reit-
Grated the statement that Mrs. Peck,
whose entire estate was given to the uni
versity, died 81, 1876 in debt to that insti
tuition. The other interview was the
announcement of an anonymous gift of
$40, 600 to the Chancellor, as solace for
the troubles through which he was pass
ing, to be used in his discretion for the
benefit of the University. 1t is to this
anonymous gift Mr.. Rockwell refers.
Gas to the threats regarding blaokmail
which the Chancellor makes, l will not
| Rockwell.
OF Mrs. Peck's estate, which the Chan
cellor alleges was sufficient to support
her In luxury, MIR. Rockwell says: "It
has been repeatedly implied by the Chan
cellor that l was the only interested one
in Mrs. Peck's affairs. To q certain
extent l am willing to admit that / was
| interested. l did believe that Mrs. Peck
was entitled to good care and fair treat
! ment In her years of great weakness and
| lonliness. And now will give an exact
statement of Mrs. Peok's finances, and
| the public can judge as to whether have
been as mercenary as the chancellor
would make me to be.
"When Bishop Peck dfed-and the exc
cutors of the estate will bear me out in
| this statement--as / have before stated,
| he had about $50, 600 to his credit at the
| bank, and the executor of the estate ad-
vanced money to purchase a lot in the
cemetery, pay funeral expenses, doctors
bills etc. That small amount was ab-
| solutely all the possessions of Bishop
Peck. About six months before his death
| he left of his salary at the Book rooms
I'm New York, in Mrs. Peck's name,
! $1,000. This was oil Of his possessions.
After a little while, at her request, the
executors withdrew this from the Book
room and loaned 5000 Of it to the Centen-
ary church of this city. the other 500
amounts were returned to the executor,
who held them for time, and finally
Mrs. Peck requested him to invest this
money, together with its interest, just
as he would think best were it his own
money. AS he was about to invest some
of his own money In what he believed to
be a profitable investment he did invest
her money as trustee. but owing to busi
mesa depression it proved to be a poor in
vestment, and while it is still invested.
she has never had one dollar of returns
from it. And from the time OF the
Bishops death she has never had as
much as $1,000 to her credit at the banks.
During her last years she has had one
small source of income, aside from the
$500 she received as a Bishops widow
| from the Book concern. She permitted
| the university to sell vacant lot in
| Harrison street, and she received small
| interest on the money amounting to a
| little less than $50 year. Now, any
fair mind can see that she. who needed
nursing night and day, with doctors
bills, etc., could not hold out large in
ducements to meroenary persons.
The Northern Christian Advocate Of
| today, the official organ Of the Methodist
church, says of this newspaper quarrel,
which was begun by the Chancellor:
'It is greatly to be regretted that such
q controversy was possible. 1t is much
|
1t is due to Chancellor Day to say that
he disclaims responsibility for the publi-
| cation of the Interview which began it,
1t is due to the Rev. Mr Rockwell to say
that he is highly esteemed member of
the Central.New York conference, enjoy
ing the confidence of his brethren and of
the community. No charges made against
his character will be believed by those
who know him. But we can say nothing
which will put this controversy in an at
tractive light.
Chancellor Day tonight refused to be
interviewed. 1t is the opinion of many
friends of the university that he has said
too much, and 1t is said that these
friends have been influential In putting
stop to the controversy, as far as he is
concerned.
OFFICERS SHOT MURDERER.