The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-18
COMMITTEE ENDS
PEABODY PROBE
DIR. D. B. JOHNSON MAKES FINAL
STATEMENT.
President OF Winthrop Denies DIR. s..
G.. Mitchell Was Singled Out
for Attack.

Of the investigation of the: dlStrlDutlon
Of the Peabody fund held its final ses-
sion Yesterday, and as soon as the
stenographic notes are transcribed the
report will be submitted to the gen
eral assembly. Yesterday DR.. Jonn-
son submitted statement to retute
the charges made by DR.. Mitchell tnat
he had been singled out for attack in
the whole matter. DR.. Mitchell made
brief reply to this, and D. W. Nc
I>aurin stated that he was responsible
for the information given the gov
ernor
DIR. JOhnsOn'S Statement.
DR.. Johnson, when the committee
WAS called to order, made the follow
ing statement:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen OF he
Committee:
81 have been very patient under
great proyocation: have tried TO
keen the peace under trying and un-
i fortunate circumstances.
"This room has been crowded main
" with DR.. Mitchell's students and as
sociates. My girls and my associates
are in Rock Hill, and | am standing
here alone, forced into the false posi-
| ton of prosecuting witness to answer
| the summons of this committee as tht
result of reference to DR.. Mitchell
by the governor of the State in his
inaugural.
"For that reason I am assailed by
President Mitchell, who imputes tc
me sinister designs and motives thai
| 7 never entertained. | have a wife
and children in Rock Hill to whom
nv good name is as dear as his repu'
tation is to his family. do not believe
T have lived and labored in this State
for SO years in vain and that Presl'
dent Mitchell's words can outweigh
the service to the State OF these 5:
wears. I have not made any persona
attack upon President Mitchell here
or anywhere else, nor do / expect to
take it for granted that this commit
tee desires to conduct this investlga
ton in a dignifed way, and without
; personalities, insinuaticns or IN
nuendoes-to get at the facts and moi
TO stir up bad blood between the
friends of the university and Win
throp, and have so governed myself
and have refrained from all person
alities.
REQUEST OF University.
Now, gentlemen, with your indul-
gence / feel that | must take notice
of several personal references to my
self made by President Mitchell in
his statement before this committee
! yesterday.
1.-The universit yasked for anything
| that was left, but even to this DIT
J Johnson objected
Il asked for the adoption OF the
pending resolution in favor OF VIM
throp in accordance with resolutions
Of the board of trustees of Winthrop
college already submitted to this COM
! mittee did not put the resolutions
in the minutes OF the Peabody board,
| afterwards agreed for Winthrop to
stand aside for the university and am
abiding by that agreement.
For the first time an effort has
been made to blacken my name and
that effort has been traced directly to
! Dr.. D. &. Johnson.
Il wish to say, Mr.. Chairman, with
! all the emphasis at my command, that
/ ! have net MADE any Such elIoIt, anu
have never thought of making any
such effort | have had no desire
whatever of doing Dr. Mitchell or the
university any harm Dr.. Mitchell
makes his charges against me because
of the. reference to him by Gov. Blease
! in his inaugural. and that too, in face
! of the facts established here before
! this committee.
Il resent his use of the word trace.
! do net wish to shiTk responsibility
for anything I have said or done.
90 not wish to hide or conceal any
thing. l have not done anything to
! EiGe or conceal.
Did Not Institute Attack.
There IS plenty Of conclusive eYi-