Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-11
IT'S A FAKE,
William Phillips Not Injured
by Hazing at Colby.
His Fraternity, Family and the CoI-
lege Deny Whole Story.
Young Man Is Suffering from Disease Re-
sa!!!ng from Natural Causes.
IT'S A FAKE.

deal of excitement was caused at Colby
college, today. when a report reached
there that William Phillips, a fresh
man, who is seriously i'll at his home in
Bangor, was suffering from the effects
of hazing at the hands of members of
the Delta Epsilon, one of the college
fraternities.
President Newenham of the society,
today, said that he was present when
Phillips was initiated into the society.
He denied the statement that Phillips
was given over to the sophomorcs be
fore being taken to the society hall,
and said that the initiation was in
charge of the society as a whole.
During the early part of the evening
the candidate was in charge of George
Thomas. a member Of the College y. M
{. A., and who is known to be strongly
opposed to all violent forms of hazing,
even having taken issue with his class
upon certain features of the subject.
MIR. Thomas denied that Phillips was
roughly handled on the night in qucs-
ton. He said the young man was I'M
DER his charge during the early part
OF. the evening, and at that time told
him he wished to be used as easily as
possible as he was suffering with u
lame knee and side. For this reason
Phillips was not subjected to some of
the ridiculous things others have been
forced to 90. He was not harmed in
any way. Mr.. Thomas said he desired
that an investigation be made.
TINA Draci1ant - ~ nj
Mr. Thomas made their statements a
majority OF the members of the chap
ter were present. and all claimed that
the facts on the case were accurately
stated. They denied particularly that
Phillips was given Owe. to the sopho-
mores for 'razooing." The secretary
Of the class exhibited letter. received
last evening from Phillips father, say
ing that the boy was very i'll with
acute Bright's disease and that he
would not be able to return to college
that winter. The letter contained no
mention of Phillips condition being
due to harsh treatment in college
Late this afternoon, President New
enham of the society, received tele-
phone message from Mr. c. II. Phillips
father of William Phillips, stating that
there was no truth in the statement
published, this morning, that his son s
condition was due to haZinG. He said
the first he knew of the matter was
when he read the story in the morning
paper. He added that he would have
the matter corrected in Bangor, and
wished the same be done in NatcrVille.
President Butler when shown the
published story by a reporter, said:
The account which appeared in the
Bangor News. Jan Il" Is the first intind-
ton ! have received that Mr. Phillips
illness has been attributed to any occur
renee at the college. some time ago
received word from his home that he
would not he able to return to his work
at once, but ! was led to suppose that h $
illness was not serious or expected to be
of long continuance.
"if the report referred to is correct in
stating that Mr.. Phillips is i'll in consc-
qucncc of injuries received At the hands
If his fellow students. ii is clearly not
case of college haZinG in The ordinary
sense and by no means 10 be CLASSIFIED
with such cases as recently occurred al
Annapolis and West Point 1t WAS not
case of a freshman haZed by sophomore.
lie was i'm the hands of his fraternity
associates. men who were entirely friend
" to him. f some of them We're Sopho-
mores they We're not acting for their own
class but for their fraternity ana tina
certainly could not be supposed to wish
to do him any injury. II the worst the
results proceeded from indis
erection on the part Of young fellows VINO
had no unfricndly intent OF course this
is bad enough and it is to be hoped that
in the general upward trcnd Of American
college life fraternity limitations viii rise
above these foolish practices which arc
always attended with more Or lcd5 danger
hat they will go too far.
II am sure that there is no one in thc
college who does not highly esteem young
Ibbi1lirG nj " will NIB
lishcd account referred to with surprise
and regret