100 years ago in Pullman: Washington State College president accuses University of Washington of encroachment

From our archive, 100 years ago

A turf war between the University of Washington and Washington State College (now Washington State University) broke out into the open.

E.O. Holland, the president of WSC, issued a statement saying that UW “is invading the field of Washington State College by instituting courses in technical branches, particularly that of agriculture.” This violated the original intent of the schools, he said, in which WSC was to be the state’s agricultural, technical and engineering college.

Holland noted that engineering had been “specifically assigned” to WSC in 1890 and 1891.

Holland did not threaten retaliation and said his school “had no intention of invading the legitimate field” of UW. All he asked was that UW abide by the rules. The article contained no rebuttal from the UW.

From the hangman beat: Edward Mayberry, the first man sentenced to hang in the region in 17 years, was confident that his sentence would be commuted.

“I don’t think you’ll have a chance to hang me,” the convicted murderer told the U.S. marshal. “But if you do, I won’t give you any trouble. I’ll jump right off.”

The marshal still was trying to determine where the hanging would take place. He had determined one thing: Despite numerous requests for invitations to the hanging, this would not be a public hanging.