In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a member of the Class of 1931 meets with tragedy while engaged in heroic efforts to save others, an employee stages a stakeout, and more.

August 23, 1981—Under new legislation signed by Ronald Reagan this month, students who secure educational loans after this date will be required to pay a 5% “origination fee.”

August 24, 1930—Senior Ransom Miller Wilkinson tries to protect guests from gunmen in a robbery at a house party he is attending in Cleveland. Police arrive and open fire. In the resultant gunfight, bullets hit Wilkinson. The injury will be fatal, making headlines in many major newspapers.

August 25, 1875—The Liverpool Weekly Mercury reports that all of Princeton is gossiping about a breach of promise case wherein a local woman, Alice Noice, is suing a former College employee, Albert D. Brown. It turns out Brown is already married, and therefore has been leading Noice on. Noice’s 25-page affidavit includes copies of love letters Brown sent to persuade Noice to accompany him to Brazil.

August 26, 1863—In response to concerns about mistreatment of the incoming Class of 1867, who have “been subjected to a series of indignities” for the better part of a week, an employee of Princeton stages a stakeout in one of the frosh’s rooms where he anticipates “a repetition of the outrages.” Five seniors show up and will subsequently be “directed to leave College.”

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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