University of Virginia Library

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98

An adjourned meeting of the Board was held on this
date at 8 o'clock to consider and act upon the resignations
of Professors Albert Lefevre and W. S. A. Pott, and Dr.
Charles P. Howze.

There were present Visitors Dillard, Hall, Hart, Hull,
McIntire, Rinehart, Scott, Williams and Walker, and President
Alderman.

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99

The President stated to the Board That Professors
Albert Lefevre and W. S. A. Pott, and Dr. Charles P.
Howze of the University Hospital staff had tendered to him
their resignations as members of the faculty of the University
following charges preferred against them for intoxication
and transportation of liquor, when the car in which
they were riding turned over near Hanover while on their
way to Richmond on May 17, 1925, and that when the case
came to trial before the grand jury of Hanover County,
Messrs. Pott and Howze were acquitted of all charges, but
in the case of Dr. Lefevre a fine was imposed for unintentional
transportation of liquor. He further stated
that Prof. Lefevre assumed all responsibility in the matter,
stating that he had taken from the house of a friend,
whom he was visiting, a small silver flask that had been
left there previously, without knowing the amount of its
contents and without having opened it, placed it in the
pocket of the door of the car in which he was riding.

Following the presentation of the matter by the President,
Prof. Lefevre was heard by the Board. He made a
very straightforward statement of the whole matter expressing
his deepest regret for any odium cast upon the
University on account of his connection with the matter.
He stated to the Board that he was reared under conditions
when social drinking was not considered ungentlemanly or
prohibited by law, and in reply to questions by the members
of the Board stated that he made it a rule never to take
a drink before going to class or to drink with any of the
students in his own home since the adoption of the prohibitory
laws; that he never was drunk in his class room
nor had he ever left or missed a class on account of being
drunk; nor did he use intoxicating liquors except in some
few cases with special friends.

After several motions had been made and failed of
adoption, the following resolution offered by Mr. Hall
and seconded by Mr. Rinehart, was adopted by a vote of
seven to two: (Ayes: Dillard, Hall, Hart, McIntire, Rine-
hart, Williams, and Walkers Noes: Hull and Scott.)

The Rector and Visitors decline to accept the resignations
of Professors Albert Lefevre and W. S. A. Pott and
Dr. Charles P. Howze, voluntarily tendered by them in
view of certain charges preferred against them by the Grand
Jury of Hanover County, on the ground that they were acquitted
of all charges, save in the case of Dr. Lefevre on the one
item of unintentional transportation of a small amount of
liquor in a pocket flask.

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100

The Rector and Visitors, however, are convinced that
Prof. Lefevre has for some time permitted himself a too
free use of alcoholic liquors and her by authorize and direct
the President to suspend him, for one year from July 1, 1925.

The Rector and Visitors highly respect the character,
ability and the teaching power of Prof. Lefevre. His influence
upon the student life in the big essentials of conduct
of the University, save in the too free use of alcoholic
liquors has been good and permanent and no moral turpitude
attaches to his name.

It is the decision of the Rector and Visitors that a
reorganization of his habits, as regards any use of alcoholic
liquors, is fundamental to his functioning as a teacher of
youth, and such a reorganization of his habits must be an
assured and permanent fact before he is offered further service
upon the teaching staff of the University of Virginia.

Several days after the adjournment of the Board the
President was approached by friends of Prof. Lefevre in an
effort to have the last paragraph of the resolution changed
to read as follows:

It is the decision of the Rector and Visitors that a reorganization
of his habits, as regards any use of alcoholic
liquors, is fundamental to his functioning as a teacher of
youth, and such a reorganization of his habits must be an
assured and permanent fact before he automatically resumes,
on July 1, 1926, his former post as Professor of Philosophy
upon the teaching staff of the University of Virginia.

The President sent to the members of the Board the amended
resolution for mail vote, but it was not unanimously adopted
and therefore cannot be recorded officially, but is entered
here to complete the actions has in this matter.

On motion the meeting than adjourned.