The sun., 1898-01-19
CHANCELLOR DAY SPEAKS.
HE shYs rHB RO0KWEEL SUIT N
FOUNDED ON MALIOE

over the estate of the late Mrs. Persis Wing
Peck was the most important topic considered
in the semtannual meeting Of the Trustees OF
Syracuse University this afternoon. Tho
Chancellor's position was indorsed emphati'
oally, and his defence Of the $4,000 libel suit
brought by the Rev. w. ID. Rockwell was backed
financially by the trustees and faculty Of tho
university. This resolution was adopted by the
trustees without tho shadow of opposition.
Whersas II has been asserted that the university
has failed in it's duties In the matter Of the univer
siys obligations the late Mrs Persis Peck in that
in 1895 it discontinued the payments OF money to
her such been heretofore paid under certain
contract relating thereto; and
the good faith OF the Chancellor of the univer
city In dealing with said matter and with the estate
tor. the late bishop Peck; and 'Oo
Whsrcas, This board has heretofore at the proper
said matter and has given due thereto
matter taken in the duo conr.e Of his duties such
oncer were duly reported to this board and py np-
Resolved That thi. board hereby expresses its con.
hdence and bslief that the acts performed by the
duty as such oficer and that the sanction thereof
by this board, heretofore given, be- aud is hereby re-
newed
1t was also resolved unanimously that the Ex.
eeutive, Committee be empowered to give the
Chancellor full financial support in the libel suit
In his annual report to tho trustees Chancel-
lor Day made by far the most satisfactory state
b at he 70
reiterate many of his charges against Mr.. Rock
well. and to charge certain Syracuse politicians
ths S rspor
Since the death Of Mrs, Persis Peck. the
virnlent and relentless attack has been made
upon tho university and tho Chancellor: That
has been made Sy tho E9S William p
and bccn a sort of factotum in hor house.
and has been encouraged and inspired to
the baser sort well known In the city, and by
one or two persons unfriendly to the Chancellor
have @ centred e % conSeniai naiisnitieS. The first
npoa the part pa 'n Sf Roo~s Of the
toS"i to- MRS @ Peck eS ne'o from fund Which 0I had
been exhausted, and payment Of which
ments were not stopped, however, by the Chan
cellor until after consultation with and ap.
provS Of Of Dean n John r. French, Dean - q ,bs b.
university, and by the unanimous instruction OF
tho Executive Committee. At meeting OF your
honorable body Immediately after tho stopping
of these payments tho action taken was ap-
The fact that. these moneys were disoon,
Mrs Peck. She expressed no dissent, neither did
any one represent in any way or give an intima-
that she was not in need. The above mentioned
Rockwell came to the Chancellor a few weeks
temper demanded that the payments be re:
sumed. He was shown tho impossibility of
such onG and ssed 10 4 Mrs.
sisted that she should receive, tho money.
been exhausted but oyerd5aTn between 81, 100
and $l,2oo. md that Mrs Peck did not use the
t pay tie moneys non he would make it hot for me in
the papers, I considered this q blackmailing
threat and refused to talk with him further on
The matter was then dropped by him. For
Mrs. Peck expected these moneys or was in the
least discomforted because Of lack of them 1t
e base made Il Is
perfume time. for Dean French, who carried all
details carefully and who remembered RENE every
the record and the written agreements covering
all of these transactions and we have the testi-
complaint was ever oven whispered in secret to
them and that she had all OF the moneys she
needed and moro than she wished to use for her
=" Gentlemen. the case 10 one of the most Spite
fp ypdietiye and 5. m have ever
has nothing to support 1t but malice. Amy man
who says that Mrs. Peck was discomforted by
about without regard to the mischievous effect OF
that statement upon the university, or he states
what he knows is false and therefore defames
all that tho public requires to determine
was 80 relate to Mrs. PECK that he had a per-
sonal interest in the moneys. that came to her.
and generally understood that he Is her resdn-
ary lcgatce. You can understand his vehement
interest in the stopping of $1,000 during the last
lit should be kept in mind that no is the only
person who has complai ined, and that he
was alive and could contradict him.. II she was
in need why did he never say anything to your
SEs bnd Thy did hs no
left certain debts while scores of old students
has addressed Mr.. Rockwell
several times in return envelopes and has not
ignores Deys1 the iHsn Whole matter. Mr. ROC Rockwell
thought that he would try to SECURE the degree
Of Ph. D., matriculating in an old course which
istration began. He failed In his first oxamina.
ton and was obliged to abandon his ambition
Mace and the records. 1t is interesting.
How far these several facts have entered as |
ths uniyersty s leave W you to Judge Tks
enmity in the case and the desperate determi. |
nation Of this man. who seems to be crazed |
Of the object OF his malice has taken it's last |
sensational form In suit for libel against |
seems to assume that he may make assaults |
upon the university and Its ofilcers. but II any.
thnE Is said to the Public d to sho% fho true In
making his defence must face a iawsuit. Hay |
Ing rushed TO the newspapers. ho appeals TO tho |
court when the case goes against him in the |
popular judgment. |
"But probably the snit has accomplished oil |
that was intended whom It was instituted. II |
Tended. Encouraged by this attack upon the |
university. certain men notorious in our city |
Government with a political grievance against |
the Chancellor forced through the Common Coun. |
ell order to investigate the obligation OF the
in the matter of the 800. 900 given |
to the university by the city when IL was fOund-
ed here. That order was SO manifestly insin- |
rere and retaliatory that have given 1t no |
attention whatever. / report 1t to you as a |
curious and amusing specimen Of modern dema- |
gogic spite. This community estimates 1t at its |
true value. 1t requires no attention"
Ensign McChesney. d. d.. pastor OF Calvary M. |
q. Church. New York. dean of tho College OF |
Fine Arts, to succeed the Rev. Leroy NJ. Yer
non. deceased. John ID. Archbold of New York, |
presided over tho trustees meeting.