The Tupelo journal., 1908-08-07

charging them. l do not appreciate to
the least degree President Hardy's
con6 uct and attitude in this and other
regards since the action of the board,
and it looks very much to me like he
either does not know how, or does not
intend, to profit by past unfortunate
and hurtful experience. Insofar as |
understanding, as has been frequently
stated, by which the trustees were to
sustain or compliment him, then, after
wards, that President Hardy would re-
sign. The public should bear in mind
that this investigation was directly
caused by a resolution introduced by
me and passed by the board on June 2,
1908, and which is as follows:
"'Whereas, There has been charges
of neglect of duty, inefficiency Of serv-
ice and incompetency to fill the posi-
ton, and counter charges thereof, by
some of the higher employees of this
college, and there being an apparent
feeling of unrest, dissatisfaction, lack
of confidence in and antagonism be-
tween certain of such high employees,
and in view of the fact that such con-
dition, and a continuation thereof, will
unquestionally and too soon work to
the serious harm of this great institu-
ton and it's broad field of usefulness,
therefore be it
Resolved, That this board of trus-
tees, in order that justice may be done,
and the future best interest Of this col
lege may be had and safeguarded, that
they hereby agree to meet on notice
OF the chairman, within the next sixty
days, for the purpose of thoroughly in
vestigating conditions generally at this
college
The public should also remember
that in accordance with above r4solu-
ton all the members OF the faculty
pear, and that they testified under oath
hence no testimony offered bears the
semblance of being voluntary or of a
'tattling' nature, and if the general
public knew how hard it was in many
instances to get the facts from many
witnesses they might wonder why. 1t
should also be remembered no immun-
ity was offered or granted in order to
induce or encourage testimony, but on
the contrary vas explicitly denied.
THE following open letter speaks for
itself, and a copy thereof was sent each
member of the board by the same mail.
AS yet the same elected no recognition
or response from or action at the hands
of the governor or any member of the
board except that of Hon. A. II. Me-
harg, who signed and returned the let
ter above referred to, which follows,
and commented favorably thereon in a
personal letter:
"'West Point, Miss, July -, 1908.
"'Gov. L. f. Noel, President of Board
of Trustees, Jackson, Miss:
Dear Governor-President Hardy's
letter in the Commercial Appeal OF
July DIST is, in our opinion, an open de-
fance of the beard and the true condi-
%tions, for the reason that portions of
his statement are altogether out of
harmony with the admonition given
him when he was called before the
board and urged 70 a conciliatory
method of dealing with the situation.
Then, too, as we see it, he mistakes
certain important matters, and, upon
the whole, the article is misleading.
Truly the creature seems greater
than the creator. The facts are that
his breach is so grave and serious that
we are of the opinion that the board
ought to act at once in this matter.
Formerly accepted conditions have
not been regarded and we do not and
cannot subscribe to anything which, in
the very nature of the case, will tend
to keep up this fight.
1--WE may feel it incumbent upon us,
however much we may regret to do so,
to make a public statement.
"~'Sincerely yours,
so. w. NORMENT, Trustee.
"'J. NJ. WHITE, Trustee
whilst naturally averse to going
into print, and especially SO about
these college troubles, however l de-
plore having so to do, l have endeav-
ored to state facts as | regard them, in
a mild tone and manner, and | am will
ing to be accountable for my position
in this most disagreeable yet important
matter. l indulge the hope that the
press of the state will, in justice to me,
give this statement the same publicity
that they have given other official
statements bearing on these troubles.
JAS. w. NORMENT,
Local Trustee Miss. A. & NJ. College,
Starkville, Miss"
j. L. Flemming, the noted bigamist
and insane convict who escaped recent
ly from the insane asylum at Jackson,
has been definitely located in Arkansas,
his old home, where he is patiently
awaiting the remittance from Gov.
Noel of a small balance of 81, ZOO, 900,
which ~Flemming claims to be due him
from the state Of Mississippi. Before
receiving the notice of Flemming's es-
cape from the insane hospital autbori-
ties Gov. Noel received a letter from
Flemming, written in Arkansas, in
which the convict stated that he was a
triae hard pressed for money and in.
structed Gov. to get ready at once to
cash an order for s. ,000,0 900, which
Flemming proposes to present shortly.