The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-19

PROFESSOR
IS ON TRIAL
Tucker Sensational Case In
wolves Seven Lawyers.
BOARD SUPPORTS HIM
Division of Opinion as to De-
PENDANTS Guilt.

Guthrie, o. T., July 1s.-The trial OF st.
Cyr Tucker. the Langston university pro-
fessor. who recently resigned his position
has been in progress in the district court
room since the morning Of July 1e The
presiding official was John A. Overbay,
justice OF the peace. a change Of venue
having been taken TO him from Justice
James S. Gladdish, before whom the war
rants were issued. Tucker was charged
| with immoral conduct toward Lulu Phil
| lips and Mary jefferson, two I6-year-old
/ girl pupils OF the school. They were the
| complaining witnesses.
The charges have created more than the
usual interest in such cases. The matter
! originated more than a month ago. when
| charges OF unlawful and felonious assault
( were made against Tucker by the same
complainants Tucker was at that time
employed as an instructor in the colored
teachers institute of Oklahoma county
and the hearing was postponed for ten
days. When it was called before the
probate judge on July 6, the case was
dismissed by J. C. Strang, attorney for
the prosecution.
Almost Immediately the new charges
were fled in Gaddishs court with Edgar
". Jones, John Deveraux and Joe Wisby
IS attorneys for the prosecution, and
Brown and Stewart. Lawrence and Hous
ton, and Ayers of Cole. for the defendant
over fifty witnesses were subpoenaed, the
majority of them being residents Of
LangstOn.
At the trial both the Phillips and JEFF
ing the defendant with attempted assault
in his recitation room. He vehemently
denied all the statements. Members OF
the faculty and many of the students
were also placed on the stand.
Tucker gave his testimony yesterday
morning and denied all the statements
claiming that he is a victim of a plot to
ruin him.
President Page. OF the university, de-
clined TO discuss the matter under trial
and said that he desired 10 have it un-
derstood that he is a friend OF Prof
Tucker.
Tucker stated that II is all untrue as
charged in the complaints. He says jeal-
ousy, and the fact that he Is an Indian
refusing to associate in many ways and
places with the negroes. are leading feat
ures in this prosecution. When he was
connected with the Lincoln Sohools OF
this city he states that he was harrassed
by several leading colored people OF this
city The school board was continually
receiving anonymous letters and charges :
against him. The negroes have always
fought him.
The board of regents for the Langston
school on Monday received fuckers res
ignation from the faculty and accepted
it. The board made no charges against
him. Tucker IS a three-quarter blood
Iowa Indian and graduate Of the Car
Isle Indian school He was IN the Unit
ed States navy and stood high with the
officers Of the ship on which he held q
first leutenancy.
Recently he was married III Guthrie TO e
prominent teacher in the lincoln schools
said TO be one Of the most beautiful col
ored women IN the territory.
AS teacher both in Guthrie and in
Langston, Tucker has always had the
good win Of the educators on account
of his unusual ability and intellectually.
There is a decided division among both
the white and colored people as to his /
guilt or innocence.
At o'clock last evening the hearing
was postponed until this morning
New York. July 1s-The largest single /
order for watches on record. was cabled I
from London yesterday to Robt II. In
gsrsoll & Brother. Of this city. manu-
facturers OF the famous Ingsrson Dollar /
Watch The cable was as follows:
London, July 8. 1901.