The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-30
The MATTER BROUGHT UP
FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF
STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS
PLYMOUTH cOL0RED NORMAL S1HOOl
The Institution that is Said to be Thus Equip
ped. The Charge Preferred by the
Presidento of the School, Backed
up by Prison Records.

The charge has been made to Sliperin
tendent Mebane that c. NJ Epps, color
ed, first assistant in the Plymouth Col
'ored Normal school is an ex-conyict, hay
ing been sent to the penitentialw for
forgery. The charge was made by j.
w. Mcdonald, superintendent of the
school.
The authorities state the records at
the penitentiary here show that negro
by the name of G. NJ. Epps was sent up
from New Hanover county for forgery
in 1877. Unless it lis a remarkable case
OF coincidence in name the charge would
appear to be pretty well founded.
AT any rate the matter is creating a
stir among the colored patrons of the
school and is practically destroying its
usefulness according to the silperintelfd
ent whose letter is given below. The
State Board of Examiners is now in SEES
sion here and the matter will be called
to its attention as it has supervision OF
these colored normal schools.
The charge was made to Mr.. Mebane
about two months ago and he immediate
~ sent the following letter to the presi-
dent of the board Of trustees:
Raleigh. July Tth, 1890
DR.. Fl. w. Ward, Plymouth, n. c.:
Dear Sir: The report comes to mo
that Mr. G. NJ. Epps, the first assistant,
is an cN-conyict | am quite sure yon
and your board were not aware of this
il it be true
i request You and yolm hoard to inves-
a. "a ffr, n 4 80
course. you viii dismiss him. If not true
you will set the matter right before the
public.
C. II. MEBLANE,
Superintendent Public Instruction.
Mr.. Mechanic stated yesterday than he
had not received any reply to this coHa-
munication, but was advised no action
had been taken in regars1 to EGps.
hence he would call the matter mp before
the Board of Examiners
After complaint was made to him he
wrote to Superintendent j. NJ Mcdonald
asking for the facts in the csse. In reply
he enclosed letter from Rev. &C.. G. Som
erville, coloa-ed, missionary for Eastern
district of North Carolina and for the
Baptist Educational and Missionary Com
vention who writes: .sThe person in
question was convicted of forgery and
sent to the States penitentiary, and
whether he served the full term of SEN
tence of the court or was pardoned am
not advised, Though / think the latter
was the case.
prof. Jones. principal of the Talfboro
City Schools is my authority fer the fol-
lowing facts. The person in question
was brought II trial before the public
school board of Eslgeeomhe county in
1897 or 1898 to answer a charge of int
morality with another teacher in the
same county. Many witnesses were ex-
amined from Battleboro and other places
i'm the county and an array Of counsel
was employed ON both Sides after the
case had proceeded a certain length de-
PENDANT in the case offered to Withdraw
but was not permitted to do so. After
all the evidence was in, ard the judges
had deliberated both of the accused were
found guilty, and it was ordered that
their certificates be revoked. This,
am informed is "a matter of record aal9