The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-20
A STOLEN
GRAFTON
WON PRIZE
Student Who Delivered II Con-
fassss and is Expelled From
Princeton University.

Princeton. Feb. 2o.-Plsgiarism OF the
most nagrant description has been un-
earthed by the faculty OF Princeton Uni
vcrsity and George Washington Kehr. OF
Harrisburg. Pa, member OF the senior
class IN the academic department has
been expelled
lie was recently found guilty Of deliver
Ing an grafton as his own which was in
reality the work of another.
During the commencement exercises in
Princeton, \. j., last June. Kehr deliver
ed an oratloit, on An Ideal OF American
History" which won the Mclean junior
oratorical prize OF 500. As Is the custom.
kehr's speech was published IN the Mas
sau Literary Magazine. the monthly lit
ersry paper of the university.
The editors Of the Lafayette Touchstone
OF Lafayette College. Easton Pa, re-
ceIved a copy OF the Nassau Lit and
were struck by the similarity Of the ora
tion to another published In the Gettys-
burg Mercury. the literary paper Of
Gettysburg College Gettysburg. Pa. They
subsequently published the two orations
with comments on the evident plagiarism
LED TO AN INVESTIGATION.
This led to an investigation by the edi-
tors OF the Nassau lit" and later by the
Princeton faculty. II was then discovered
that the oration I'm the Gettysburg Mer-
curry had been written and delivered by
Frank j. Heilman. OF Gettysburg, for
mer classmate OF George W. Kehr, tho
Princeton senior.
Heilman was communicated with and
explained that he had sent the manu-
script OF his Grafton To kehr, who had
written that he wished to obtain some
idea on the writing of an address OF the
kind Kehr then changed the subject,
Abraham Lincoln" TO AN Ideal OF
American History and delivered IL as
his own production.
Kehr was finally summoned before the
faculty and confronted with the evidence
against him. He at once made a ful con-
fession and EXPRESSED deep regret The
faculty dismissed him quietly. thinking to
spare him from public disgrace, but the
story at once became known and HAS
been the chief topic OF interest ON the
campus.
Kehr was popular. stood well in his
class and was known hard student.
He would have been graduated IN june
lie is now understood 10 have gone to
New York city and 10 have taken a po-
sition in the employment OF some friend
who has stood by him I'm his disgrace.
LETTER TO THE LIT"
Before leaving Princeton Kehr wrote
this letter 10 the managing editor OF the
Nassau Lit" an extract from which ap-
pears in the last number of that maga-
zine:
"a great injustice has been done by me
to MIR Heilman OF Gettysburg. 10 the Unit
versity 10 my class. especially Tn those
who took part in the oratorical contest
last June and To all who are proud OF be-
longing TO an institution where the prin-
ciples OF true Christian manhood are
taught | want To frankly confess the
gross plagiarism Of which i am guilty
and remove any censure that may be
brought upon your magazine, for upon me
alone devolves the blame"
Kehr's offence is looked upon with es-
pccial regret n Princeton, where the
Honor System" in examinations was
first introduced and where honor IS
also supposed 10 be applied to matters
outside eNamina tions.