The San Francisco call., 1907-02-22
PROMINENT men ARGUE
AGAINST DR. ELuNWOOD
Cooper College Trustees
Are Supported by Many
Leading Physicians
REFER TO HIS ACTS
Directors Remove All Signs
of His Authority to
Close the Incident
REFER TO HIS ACTS

The Cooper College controversy, in
which directors of the institution have
accused DR.. Charles N EIIinwood of
Withholding funds intended for endow-
ment purposes, has brought to the sup
port of the trustees a large number of
men of high rank in the local medical
fraternity. The impression appears to
be general among them that the be-
quest made to Dr. Ellinwood by Mrs
Lane was intended eventually for the
benefit of the college.
why else" they ask. would Mrs.
Lane have ignored all of her relatives
to leave two-thirds of her fortune to
DR.. Ellinwood?
The friends Of the accused physician
answer. Because DR.. Ellinwood was a
lifelong friend Of DR.. Lane"
The directors of the college assert
that DR.. Ellinwoods position is under
mined by his own words. They claim
that at meeting Of the authorities not
long after the death of Mrs. Lane, Dr.
Barkan made a motion that a commit
tee be appointed to wait upon Dr. Ell
'linwood to learn what disposition he
intended to make of the money DR..
Ellinwood, who was present at tho
meeting, according to the other di-
rectors, arose and Indignantly ex-
claimed. There is no need of COM
mittee to wait upon me. I intend to
use the money to carry out the wishes
of DR.. and Mrs. Lane If you desire,
will put this in writing" The direct
ors thought no such step necessary and
the matter was dropped for time.
ELLINwooD's PROMISES
At another time. in conversation
with DR.. Henry Gibbons. DR.. Ellinwood,
according to the former, gave full as
s,a+a
bequest to a memorial library.
AS Dr. Ellinwood showed no disposi-
ton to devote the funds to the college,
notwithstanding his statement to the
directors, he was reminded at a sub
seuuent meeting of his promise and
called upon to make good. Thereupon,
it is asserted Dr. Ellinwood in heated
terms denied that he had ever promised
to use the Lane bequest in the interests
of the college.
The matter dragged along, occasional
reference being made to the subject at
meetings of the directors, but DR.. Ellin-
wood was never ready to act There
was talk of selling the valuable block
at Broadway and Devisadero street,
in which the college has q one-third
interest and DIR. Ellinwood a two
thirds interest, but, although good Of
fers were made for the property, Dr.
EIlinwood always opposed the sale
Finally the directors became convinced
that Dr. Ellinwood did not intend to
use the bequest for the benefit of the
college. He was asked for a final an
swer.A 1t was not satisfactory and he
was dismissed from the presidency. The
last vestige of his authority was re-
moved yesterday, when the sign bear
ing his name was taken from the
building.
DEFENDED BY LLOYD
DR.. Henry Gibbons, dean and presi-
dent of the faculty said yesterday that
the incident was closed so far as the
college directors were concerned. He
said that DR.. Ellinwood's connection
with the institution had been severed.
that no legal steps could be taken in
the matter and that nothing more was
to be done.
Dr. Ellinwood is not without sup
porters. Reuben Lloyd. who, with
Thomas I. Bergin, was an executor of
Mrs Lanes will. said yesterday that
Dr. Ellinwood was being maliciously
assailed. Lloyd asserted that both he
and Bergin were convinced that the
bequest was intended purely as gift
to DR.. Ellinwood.
'"The will of Mrs. Lane was as plain
and concise a document as I have
seen," said Lloyd. There can be no
doubt as to the intention of Mrs. Lane.
She intended the bequest as a pure
gift to Dr. Ellinwood. The truth is
that DR. Ellinwood has given literally
from his own pocket for the college.
and now the men whom he has aided
have turned against him."
The Cooper directors expressed
deep regret yesterday that the situa-
ton had come to such an unpleasant
conclusion. They are men who have
grown gray in the service of. the col
lege They have given their time and
they have given from their abundant
knowledge for the advancement Of
medical science. They have not de-
rived financial profit from their con-
nection with the institution or from
their friendship with Dr. Lane.