The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-07-30
NO INDICTMENT OF
DR., CALDWELL.
Grand Jury Praises Ex-President of
State NormaI-Nothing CuIpable in
Management of School.
TROUBLES DUE TO HIS LACK OF
CLERICAL ASSISTANCE.
No Reference to Double Milk Item
Everlasting Debt Due Caldwell by
People, Says Jury.
Special to the States:

Special to the States:
Natchitoches, La, July 26.-Of state
wide interest is one feature of the re-
port of the Natchitoches Grand Jury,
just submitted to Judge Henry. It
has reference to the results of an in
vestigation into the management of
the Normal School under the admins
tration of eX-President B. c. Caldwell.
whose resignation was forced.
The jury says that in spite of the
most diligent scrutiny it was unable
to find any facts that amounted to
even a suspicion of anything more
culpable on DR.. Caldwell's part than
loose management Of the business af-
fairs of the boarding club, more the
result of his inadequate clerical as
sistance than to want of business
ability. The people of the state owed
Prof. Caldwell everlasting gratitude
for his work at the school the jury ad-
ded
It will be recalled that after DR..
Caldwell left the school and the state
criticisms by his friends of the action
of the administration in forcing his
resignation led to the publication by
the Governor of State Bank Examiner
Young's report in which exceptional
looseness was shown in the manage
ment of the institution, particularly of
the club of students boarding at the
school It was shown that Dr. Cald-
we'll owned cows and hogs and sold
supplies to the school; that the prof
it's of the club we're borrowed for the
construction of the new main build
ing; that the dormitories were with
out comforts, and that there were few
vouchers for the thousands of dollars
| which had been spent
That Double Milk Payment.
Dr. Caldwell came back to the state,
answered the Governor and Auditor.
and challenged an investigation Of his
administration. Governor Sanders
called the administrators together
and an Investigation was held at the
Normal School. DR.. Caldwell was
present and managed his own case.
The decision. criticising the looseness
of DR.. Caldwell's administration, was
unanimous
After the adjournment Governor
Bank Examiner Young and Auditor
Smith to continue their examination
of Dr. Caldwels books. The follow
ing day he was suddeny called back
to Natchitoches by a sensational dis
covery that in one instance Dr. Cald-
| well had made a double charge Of
$1,000 for milk furnished, the rec
ords showing an entry to his credit
on the books of the boarding school
| on the same day that he drew check
| in his favor for the amount. When
confronted with the facts DR.. Caldwell
said it was evident there had been
an over charge and Immediately re-
| tored the money.
The Grand Jury was in session at
| the time and Governor Sanders was
summoned before it and related the
! facts. DR.. Caldwell made no public
! defense To his friends, however, he
is understood to have insisted that
the double payment was an error,
made by a lady relative of his, who
was keeping the books and whom he
had no wish to drag into the affair.
The Grand Jury makes no reference
to this item in it's report to Judge
Henry. DR.. Caldwell, after the dou-
BILE payment disclosures, returned
to Kentucky. Subsequently he came
back to Natchitoches and took out
his registration papers, indicating his
intention to remain in Louisiana. 1t
is not known whether he will seek
any further vindicatiOn.
Here is the report of the Grand
Jury:
What the Grand Jury Said.
eve had the pleasure Of inspecting
the operation of the State Norma!
School and Of witnessing the instruc
ton Of the 1900 or more pupils. grad
yates taking post graduate courses
and undergraduates now attending the
summer term. This is, indeed. mod
ell school Under the able manage
ment of President Aswell the enroll
ment has greatly increased and we be
,;eve IN a short while this will be one
ef the leading educationa. institutions