The San Francisco call., 1907-02-21
COOPER COLLEGE
DIRECTORS SIGN
AN ACCUSATION
Charge DR.. Ellinwood With
Having Violated His
100000 Trust
SCANDAL LAID BARE
Officials Say Mrs. Lanes
Fortune Was Intended
for Institution
ADMIT HELPLESSNESS
Cannot Compel the Retired
President to Make
Restitution
ADMIT HELPLESSNESS

Three of the directors of
Cooper Medical College affixed
their signatures yesterday to a
document which lays bare the
scandal that has lurked about the
institution for the last four years.
In writing they charged that DR..
Charles N. Ellinwood had with
held coin and real estate to the
value of 100000, which had been
bequeathed to him in trust for
the institution. The men who
thus accuse their former associate are
DR.. Edward R. Taylor. acting president
of the college; DR.. Henry Gibbons, dean
and president of the faculty. and DR..
Emmett Rixford. secretary of the board
of directors All three have gained
more than local fame by their attain
ments. DR.. Ellinwood, whom they ac-
cuse, has been identified for more than
a generation with the social and scien-
tihc life of San Francisco. He is a
member of the board of regents of the
University OF California
To the statement that the property
bequeathed to him by Mrs Lane was
intended for endowment purposes for
Cooper College. DR.. Ellinwood entered
an absolute denial.
CLAIMS 1T AS A GIFT
The property was left to me out
right and with no restrictions" he said
yesterday Il had no intimation that
Mrs. Lane intended to leave anything
to me and when at her death I learned
that such a large bequest had been
made to me was thoroughly surprised
took 1t as springing from the long and
firm friendship which had existed be-
tween DR.. Lane and myself In CONVEX
sations with DR.. Lane some time before
his death he told me that he intended
to give no more money to Cooper Col
lege. He was not pleased with the
manner in which it was being con-
Quoted"
Opposed to this statement is that of
DR.. Taylor. who said yesterday that
both DR.. Lane and Mrs. Lane, in con
versations with him had repeatedly said
that they intended their estates to go
to the college.
Under the California law" said DR.
Taylor only one third of an estate
-
der to avoid any possible complications,
therefore, Mrs. Lane left one-third of
her estate to the college and the re-
naming two-t thirds to DR.. EIIinwood
It was her desire, often expressed and
we'll known, that the entire estate go
to the college,
BY general consent. however, the sum
of se5,O0O was paid to a sister of Mrs.
Lane.
OLD FRIENDSHIPS BROKEN
A parallel will was pointed out in the
case of Mrs. Honora Sharp. who left a
great part Of her estate to Reuben
Lloyd, the intention being that 1t should
be used for park gateway. 1t is
claimed that Mrs. Lane desired to aid
the college through like medium.
The controversy over the Lane be-
quest comes as a dark shadow over a
noble muniicence. Men whose friend
ship has covered nearly the span of the
city's active life have broken asunder.
DR.. Ellinwood, his hair silvered by
time. stands accused by the men who
have been his lifelong associates.
The obligation which, the directors
claim, rests upon Dr.. Ellinwood is
purely a moral one. Even those who
accuse him admit that they have no
legal claim upon the fund. Mrs. Lane
died in 1902 and in her will made no