The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-03
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Continued from Page One) ority-at least it is fair to assume he | represented the sorority-had a law yer at the investigat ton and if at any time he had anything to say in be- half of the sorority, he could have found opportunity to say it. It was not necessary for the sorority to take pen in hand. But I suppose this or ganization like every other has a number of ever-ready letter writers.
 This communication said the alum nae association had met yesterday, and it purported to come from the members of the board of directors or some such body of the alumnae as- sociation. Insofar as it expressed the alumnae members regret at the un- fortunate circumstances surrounding Miss Clark's hazing l take no excep- tion to it. But when it maligns the Clarks I believe it is going too far. I don't mean that the communication openly attacked the Clarks, but by inference it was anything but pleas ant I don't wonder that the alum nae added to their effrontery by dlc- tating to us that the communication must be considered confidential As I recall it the aIumnae said they didn't court any further nOtoriety, and prac- tically ordered us to keep secret what they said. I believe some mention was made of their giving up their time honored initiation ritual, something like ten years old, but I am not quite clear as to that. Since our meeting tonight I have heard the letter was prepared at a meeting of the board of directors at the Stratfield during the afternoon. Even if we were in- clined to have taken different view of the proceedings. I'm sure this let ter wouldn't have helped the cause of the sorority in any degree:
 ''But how did the board of directors assail the Clarks?" the commissioner was asked.
 ''Why, they questioned the state ments of the parents about their daughters serious condition. THEY SAID THE CLARK GIRL WAS SEEN LAST TWO WEEKS BY MEMBERS OF THE ALUMNAE, AND ASKED US IF SHE WAS so DANGEROUS LY ILL IN THE SANITARIUM HOW SHE COULD VISIT HER PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
 But who signed the communica- tion?" he was asked.
 ''Oh, there must have been at least a dozen. I can't recall them all. There was Miss Burritt, who testified at the investigation in the Common Council room a week ago, Helen Ker- shaw, Ruth Sanford Abele, the wife of Lieut.. Abele, and a good many more.
 What action was taken on the communication?
 'I believe it was accepted and plac- ed on file.''
 Do you propose to answer it?"
 AS far as I am concerned, would Personally believe it was an unwar ranted position for the aIumnae members to take. It may be well enough to hold that this is an inn personal investigation. That was what MT. Clark said he wished. But it has developed, principally through tire attitude of the girls themselves. into what amounts to a trial of Alpha Alpha sorority on the charge of wrecking a young girls health. Here we have the prisoner sending a mes sage into the jury room, malisning the victim, and commanding the jury tC make no comment on the mes Sage.'
 "What is your opinion as to the success that has thus far attended the investigation? the commissioner was asked.
 'I will not hesitate to say that I am heartily disgusted with the pro- ceeding. But 1 realize that I stand practically alone, and have no chance to cope with the overwhelming ma jority who are armed with whiteWash brushes. If the members of Alpha Chapter, Alpha Alpha Sorority, caus- td Lorraine Clark to become a ncrv- GUS wreck, and robbed her of the en- joyment of the happicst part of her life. they are criIninally responsible and no time should be lost in making wholesome arrests. But it strikes me that the board of education has sought to shield the members of Alpha Alpha sorority from the incep tiOn of this investigation.
 'Fayette Clark came to the City L.. r1,I to expect. fair treatment. It is fair to assume be cherishes his daughter. She was hundreds of miles away, un der treatment in q Sanitarium. His wife was laboring under heavy nervous strain brought on by wOrri- 1 ment. Yet when he went on the wit 1 ness stand, the members of the board