Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
THE OHIO TRAGEDY
Candidate for a College Fra
ternity Dead,
PECULIAR CONDITIONS
AN INVESTIGATION BY A LOCAL
CORONER
Uncertainty If He Was Killed by the
Committee-His Father
Member.
PECULIAR CONDITIONS

lCOWH III NIpN county, ODlu Il II ina July
Is to meet next week to determine whether
the finding of the coroner of that county to
the effect that stuart l.. Pie:son, a can
didate for initiation into the Delta Kappa
Epsilon fraternity at kenyon College, at
Gambler. Ohio. was either tied fast to the
railroad track or was tied by the wrists
and ankles in such a manner that he could
not eXtricate himself from his pcrilous po-
sition, and while tied bound i'll that
manner, was run over by an engine and
tender, while lying between the tracks, and
which struck him while lying fiat between
the rails on railroad bridge, and in that
manner met his death"
The determination of the justice of tbs
finding by an accredited official of the law
brings home an important question not only
TO the members of Lambda chapter of the
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Kenyon
College, nor to the 1J00) alumni members
of the fraternity in the United States, to
every alumni of Kenyon College. but to
every father and mother Of the thousands
or young men who are entering American
colleges this fall
The Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity is
ore OF the Oldest and, numerically, the larg-
est Greek letter fraternity in the world. No
less than 1.OO) young men were or will be
Hlltiated INTO It's mysteries this autumn
alone. 1t differs little in it's essentialitfes-
lis life and aims and objects-from the
score of equally honorable and in some
ways, perhaps more exclusive sisters the
Psi Epsilon. the Alpha Delta Phi. the Phi
Gamma Delta, Theta Delta Chi, Delta Tau
Delta and all the Others including the most
exclusive of all the class fraternities at
Yale.
Effect of the Investigation.
While the little coterie of "Dekes' in
lambda chapter at the ancient Protestant
Episcopal college named for Lord Kenyon
ask no one to share the results of their ca
lamity though it may be said that the flow
ers of appreciative sympathy which over
grow the walls of rivalry are by none the
sweetest they have tasted in their sorrow,
the question does TO an extent involve the
amour propre of the entire Greek letter
brotherhood. What, the country is asking
are the hidden mysteries of the skull and
bones, the scroll and key of Yale?
What secrets lie beyond the veil of these
mystic orders which cloak themselves in
Egyptian silence, and signify themselves to
the outer world only in cabalistic signs and
the letters of a language long since dead?
what mummeries are performed what
eDhorred rites observed. behind those wind
less walls or ivy-closed panes. those fast
rocked doors, candle-doubled darkness
stalks alone and daylight may never be?
what fearful vows are taken, what penal
ties imposed, what alluring promises made
that forever seal the lips and deafen the
ears of the Greek letter initiate, whereby
tHo SyItH voice OF invitation once accepted,
one may thereafter not so much as mention
his fraternity with immunity in his pres
ence more? These are some of the ones.
tons that the Kenyon tragedy have sug-
in the land.
1t would be pretty metaphor perhaps
70 say that the headlight of that locomo-
1--we had shed some light into the hitherto
impenetrable darkness of Greek letter fra
ternity affairs. 1t has shed some ray upon
1t. but alas, only enough to make the dark
ness more apparent, for it has been shaded
hrst, am sure, by an absolutely innocent
and benevolent desire to alleviate the
agonies of bereaved parents, and then by
the prickngs OF an oversenstive official
"coronial dignity.
Light on the Tragedy.
Let us see how much light we may get,
however, through all the mist. nay, all the
Iurid light that a fantastic and imagina-
tive press has cast upon the Kenyon
tragedy. and then try and determine the
verdict not only as TO the Delta Kappa
Epsilon Chapter at Kenyon, but the whole
Greek letter fraternity question afterward
L have spent a number of days at Kenyon
sndeavorlng to learn the real truth of the
matter and L went under exceptionally
good auspices, OF a widely different and,
N the true sense. catholic character
On the night of the 2Sth of October the
entire countryside of Gambler, the seat of
Kenyon College, was outpOsted by candi-
oates LOT ADMISSION 10 various fratern1tleS
of the college. Examination shows that
the preparatory proceedings were about the
same in every case.
The method in the Plerson case was not
much different from those of others. Hav-
ing been invited to become a member of
the ID. X. Il. fraternity in Persons case, as
81 was the case in those of other candi-
dates, he became the recipient of a note
tnstructing him TO secure basket or other
receptacle, to provide himself with piece
of rope, small phial of chloroform, some
absorbent cotton and some slight refresh
ment.
He was at o'clock of the night to pro-
eeed alone TO the east end of the railroad
bridge which skirts the kokosing river at
the foot of the college hill. There he was
TO await the committee from the chapter
which was to receive him and begin a
series OF mummeries and rights which
would eventually land him at the door OF
the chapter house. This procedure was
actly the same that five other candidates
for Initiation into the same fraternity, sta
toned at other points In the woods. were
TO be subjected 10, and to which young
Barber. candidate for initiation into the
Zeta Alpha fraternity, who was stationed
at the opposite end of the same bridge, tes-
titled that he was subjected to.
Last Person Who Saw Pierson Alive.
Persons father. an alumnus OF the same
chapter. who had gone to Gambler to par
take in the festivities of the occasion, and
who was afterward sent forth from the
chapter house. where all the members OF
( the fraternity had gathered to prepare for
the reception OF the candidates was the
/ last person who ever saw his son alive
/ His son left the college building at o clock
with his basket on his arm, while his father
and the rest started for the chapter house
At the chapter house committees were Sc
lected, three each, to proceed to the various
fendezvous, meet the candidates and bring
them individually back 10 the lodge where
tfe inittatory ceremonies were to be held
a. E. York. great friend OF the two
Persons, junior in the college and the
person recommended by President Pierce TO
snanage the newly organized college CO.
operative store in the village: Herbert
browne, former member of the fraternity
now married man of GAINESVILLE, Ohio, and
y. L. Tsehan. the organist of Kenyon Col
lege ana at present a student IN Bexiey
theological Seminary, were the committee
selected to bring young Pierson to the
chapter house whila the eldAr PiArsan WINS