The DeLand weekly news. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1887-190?, 1903-03-20
10000 ooooooooooo
) As Seen BY
An Outsider
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
{ DELAND, FLA,
! March 10, 1908.

DELAND, FLA,
March 19, 1908
EDITOR NEwS:-I left DeLand on
the 18th of last January for Jackson
Vile. When left, the Stetson-Forbes
scandal had assumed an acute stage
However, | was glad to see, that up
to the date of my leaving, though
glimpses had been obtained of the
dirty clothes washing Tin which after
trial by the properly constituted
authorities Dr.. Forbes had been &C.
quilted by large majority, to say
the least the scandal had not been
given up to the doubtful mercies of
the public press, and up to that period
the citizens of DeLand had main.
tanned an attitude of calm reserve,
awaiting patiently further develop
ments, and as far as oould' clean,
trusting that the scandal was at an
end. During my absence the public
press of Florida began a campaign of
vituperation, and to my knowledge a
perversion of facts not hesitating to
accuse DR.. Forbes of immoral con-
duct, and attacking the integrity of
the Board of Trustees of the Univer-
sity, accusing them of having white
washed DIR. Forbes without giving
him chance of fair trial. Worse
still, the attacks became more mali
cious, as soon as DR.. Forbes and
Mrs. Mathes for the second time
forced a trial first, by the Board of
Trustees which acquitted them, which
decision Mr.. Stetson repudiates sec
ond, by damage suits against MIR. and
Mrs. Stetson. In England the law
would interfere and some of the pa.
pers would have to answer for con-
tempt of court for trying to prejudice
a case pending trial.
But, Mr.. Edi tor, it never rains but
it pours, and this case but emphasizes
the adage, for on returning to De-
Land, on the 9th inst, | find not only
the citizens bitter partisans, but that
even five ministers of Him whose life
teaching is accepted by all creeds
and countries to be the poetry of all
good, rush into print (under the shad.
Ow and name of a clerical body COM
posed of ten members) asking DR..
Forbes to resign for the good of the
University, arrogating to themselves
that they are better judges of what
is for the University's good than the
Board of Trustees, which contains in
Itself a greater number of ministers
than those signing the article in
question published in the Metropolis
and Times.Union. Ignoring the fact
that in so doing Dr. Forbes would give
color to the charge against him and
lamn the character of an innocent
woman, thus branding himself as a
guilty, cowardly poltroon before all
honorable men, I cannot help think
ng that the five reverend gentlemen
'ushed in where angels fear to tread.
l will say, Mr.. Editor that I have
many friends in DeLand, and that |
neither you nor the citizens will con-
ider it an impertinence if l offer the |
ldvice, to.wit Seeing that the case
las been tried by one tribunal, with
'tetson as president, and that this
ecision is repudiated by Stetson him.
elf, he, Stetson, having failed to seek
ny other tribunal, and that DR.. |
'orbes and Mrs. Mathes have now |
rought the case up second time
'efore the United States Court, the
ighest tribunal in the land, in the
orm OF a damage suit, let US like i'm.
artial, honorable men, await the de.
ision of that tribunal. In the mean.
ime, let us ask the citizens of De.
land to bury the Ratchet and let the
awyers and judges have-the right of
7ay. Spare the young men and girls
f DeLand and the University the
nsavory odor that must arise from
tirring the uncanny mess. Let all
harges be proven or dropped. The
aw says all men are innocent till
roven guilty. The Redeemer preach.
d the gospel of peace to all, "Judge
OF that ye be not Judged"
Shall the honorable Southern gen.
lemen and other honorable citizens,
neither American or alien, cast mud
t man Of DR., Forbes position, or at
deft useless woman without trial?
lie who filings mud must sully his own
ands, but be sure that mud will not
lick long to the adamantlne armour
nuda veritas
When Moses went up into the noun.
ain, Aaron gave unto the children of
'rael golden calf. How long did it
.st? O. T. DE G. BERTOLA.