The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-06
WAS EPPS PARDoNED?
Chairman of Plymouth Board Writes
superintendent Mebane


superintendent Mebane said yesterday
he had searched the records of the exc
cntiye office, but found> nothing 10
show that q. Nj. Epps, the teacher In
the plymouth Colored Normal Schooi,
who was sent to he penitentiary for
forgery, was ever pardoned. There was
no application and no record OF the
pardon among the papers. Epps was
sent up in 1877 and was released i'll
1879 and Mr.. Mebane things he may
have served out his term.
He received yesterday from Chair
man Latham of the Board of Trustees,
official notice that the. board had re-
ceived the letter OF the State Board
of Examiners asking for an investiga-
ton and stating that a hearing would
be had on the 10Th instant As to the
failure TO reply to Mr. Mebane's former
letter, Mr.. Latham writes:
Your communication Of July 7th was
not answered for the reason that the
board was under the impression that its
appointment was subject to your appro-
val ana that your position TO know
the facts being more favorable than
ours, we might safely depend on
formal disapproval. Nothing tending to
impair his fitness for the position was
known to the board to the contrary he
was supported by the most remarkable
testimonials touching character and pro-
ficieney. Besides his department here has
been far from calculated 10 create sus-
picion.'
Replying to this Mr.. Meblne yester-
day said in part:
II have your communication of Octo-
Der End, for the local board of manage
ment and in reply will say that your
communication upon the whole is very
satisfactory to me, but there is one point
/ think upon which j have not received
proper consideration by your board.
1t is this even if / had approved the
election of Epps (which / did not, |
think that after | wrote a respectful let
ter to DR.. Ward informing him of GER
tain charges in regard TO said Epps it
seems to me that my letter shout
have been answered and II Epus was
all right, why then this was all wanted
to know. | did not know whether he
was all right or all wrong. Never
heard Of him that | know Of until the
charge was made that he was an ex-
convict and that his connection WITH
the school would be injurious TO the
same
Il wish to say for the information Of
your board that | nave no authority
whatever in the selection Of teachers for
the normals | simply stand as o guard,
so to speak, to warn AMI advise tie
local board as TO the conduct of teach
ers and their qualifications for work
in schools as | see it and as it is brought
to my attention.
81 do not see what stronger disappro-
val you would want than this (the for
mer letter., il the fact is as charged
ut may not be formal enough but
surely it is plain enough.
-'tIn conclusion viii say | am always
inclined TO help man when he is down
or has done wrong and is trying to do
right again, but we can not afford to put
such persons in public scho)! If by
so doing the cause or education ard
the purpose for which the school was
created is to be injured. / have tried
10 have merit win in the schools for the
l5eolored people as well as the whites.
EJAXe must come to this, If we ever sue
I0ceed in the education of the masses Of
t5people OF both races"
i