MEADS CHARGES DENIED

The following self-explanatory letters offer gratifying vindication of the faith which was manifested by the alumni in the College and its President at the time of the sad tragedy last spring:

(Copy) September 18, 1920.

My dear Sir:

In the daily papers of Friday July 10th, there appeared an interview with Mr. Albert H. Meads of Chicago, making certain statements in attack upon the College among which the most sensational was speaking of the College, "What I found out about condition? was so revolting as to be almost unbelievable. There are on file in the office of County Solicitor Noonan of Grafton County the depositions of more than a hundred students in which they state that they either engaged in or knew about the traffic in booze."

I have not felt it within the proprieties while the case of Robert Meads was before the

courts to enter into argument or controversy in regard to any assertion that his father might see fit to make. The statement of the above interview, however, the authenticity of which Mr. Meads has never denied, is one in regard to which the College is anxious to have the facts.

I should be very glad for a statement from you concerning this and for any information that you may be willing to give me as to th; number of affidavits concerning this matter which have been filed with you, and what their purport is,

I am,

Yours very truly,

(Signed) ERNEST MARTIN HOPKINS

John H. Noonan, Esquire, Enfield, New Hampshire.

(Copy)

President Ernest M. Hopkins, Hanover, N. H.

My dear President Hopkins:

I am in receipt of your favor of the 18th inst., asking for a statement concerning a newspaper publication of Friday, July 10th, last, purporting an interview with Albert H. Meads of Chicago, wherein certain statements were made attacking conditions at Dartmouth College. I recall very vividly the publication because of the assertion.as to the depositions on file in the office of County Solicitor Noonan of Grafton County bearing on the traffic in booze at that institution. I had expected that inquiry might be made as to the correctness of the statements and am pleased that it was delayed until a final disposition of the case had been made as I did not care to inform the public as to just what might be on file in this office.

In answer to your inquiry which seems quite proper at the time, I will say that I have had on file the depositions of three young men, viz.: Howard W. Whitaker, James C. Chilcott and Crile N. Wise, detailing the circumstances of the shooting of Henry E. Maroney by Robert T. Meads at Hanover on the morning of June 16th, last.

These depositions disclose no system of smuggling or boot-legging at Dartmouth College, and I have the names of only three men who were engaged in and knew about the traffic in intoxicating liquor at your institution. I mean by this, three men, including Robert T. Meads, who had knowledge of the smuggling for consumption and distribution.

I might say that I had never met Mr. Albert H. Meads until I met him at the Court House at Woodsville last week when Robert was arraigned and pleaded to the indictment, and no information has been given newspaper reporters as to what I had, or did not have, in the way of depositions.

Hoping I have given you the information requested, I am,

Yours very truly,

(Signed) JOHN H. NOONAN

Enfield, N. H., Sept. 20th, 1920.