Letter from R. L. Evans to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 30, 1875

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Letter from R. L. Evans to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 30, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Evans, R. L.Rhodes, Travis Thompson, C. H.Vashon, George B.

Events

Crime Crime--Robbery Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Employment--Resignation Political Office--Appointment to office

Organizations

Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Treasury Department Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--Mississippi. Alcorn State University

Occupations

Education Professionals Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians School Chancellors Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Claiborne County Mississippi--Jefferson County. Rodney

Page 1

[seal]

Alcorn University
September 30^th 1875

M^r President and Gentelmen of the Board of Trustees of Alcorn University

Gentelmen Your com-mittee appointed to visit Alcorn University and to Inquire into and investigate the Official Conduct of D^r C H Thompson and to reccommend to the Governor such action as they may deem advisable in the premises Beg leave to Report as follows To wit

A Full committee was not in attendance and the Committee organized by Electing R L Evans Temporary chairman and Geo B Vashon Secretary

On account of the absence of the Chairman with whom any charges ^were to be ~~made~~ deposited^ if any were made against D^r Thompson Your committee found themselves without any starting point either of charges or facts and for this Reason they have to present only such a report as were Justified by ~~the~~ circumstances which came under their notice during their stay at the University

Your committee find that during his state as President the Position of D^r Thompson has been more ornamental than useful

Page 2

He has performed little or no duty as an Instructor and as an Executive officer his administration has been a failure In this that he has been unable to enforce discipline and has rendered him self personally and officeidly unpopulor Much complaint and predudice a great deal of which as we believe to be unjust exists against him as an administrative officer but while it does exist his presence here we believe would be productive of no good and ~~much harm~~ might do much harm

As a Financier his admin-istration has been unfortunate much money has been uslessly expended & very little Received in Return therefor In fact at this time the Extent funds now in the hands of the Treasury or likely to be for the next three months with the [?] in the payment of Claims now held against the university if the board Conclude to allow the same Much of this Expense could have been avoided with care & prudence & while we do not believe that the D^r has been ^[careful?] or^ Derelict in His duty he is certainly in-capable of performing such duties properly

Page 3

Before the final seperation of the old Board he accepted from them the position of Ex Officeio Superintendant and as it was period of vacation perhaps he might have found time to look after the property of the Univer-sity But we find that Robberies large & Repeated have been perpetrated and that the property of the Institution is fast dis-appearing under those Raid

Your committee find that ~~the~~ much of the property of the Uni-versity has been disposed of without being properly accounted for and that this want of Business qualifications has Resulted in disastrously to the Institution

In view of these facts we believe that the Best interest of the Institution Require that Dr Thompson should Resign and [?] as to the funds of the University are very low we Reccomend that there be no President appointed to take charge of the University before the first day of Jany next

All of which is Respectfully sub-mited

R L Evans
~~President~~ Secretary

Page 4

Report of Committee to Investigate the officeil Con-duct of Dr C H Thompson

Filed Oct 1^st 1875

Page 5

Alcorn University
October 1^st 1875

To his Excellency
Adelbert Ames Governor of Mississippi

Governor

Enclosed find Report of committee appointed to Investigate the officeil con-duct of Dr W H Thompson Prest of Alcorn University The com-mittee have endeavored to be as concise as the circum-stances would permit & think that their statement is a fair expose of such matters as come under their notice

Respectfully Submitted

R L Evans
Chairman of Committee

Page 6

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
Claiborne County,

From Committee of Investigation.
Address Rodney, Miss.
Dated September 30, 1875.
Received October 4, _"
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Report of Committee to In-vestigate the official con-duct of Dr. C. H. Thompson.

The same being unfavorable.

(Inclosures 1)

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

TRAVIS RHODES,
Private Secretary.