The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-05
THE Bogus MASONRY CASE BE.
FORE THE MAYOR.
THE AFFAIR VENTILATE D
Prominent Masons on the Stand.
THE ACCUSED SENT ON FOR FELONY.

n
statement of the case of Mr.. Pierce, who
stood before the Mayor charged with obtain
ING money to the amount Of slS6 under false
pretences. From this it was shown that the
accused under the pretence of forming
Lodges Of the Masonic Order among the color
ed people, had obtained the aforementioned
amount of money.
The case was continued once or twice,
and was again called before the Mayor
Yesterday morning and examined. Pierce
is an elderly man, of thin visage, and alto
gether of rather eccentric appearance.
From all accounts, he had but little diff
Guilty in working among the colored people,
for they, with that love for mysterious and
secret organizations which has character
lied them, focked to him when he first
came among them. He himself, it is said,
is a sort of monomaniac upon the subject
of secret organizations, and has been n
member of greater number of them than
almost any man who can be found.
The complainants in the case were Is. b.
Jones, R. II. Burke, L.W. Williams, Henry
Randolph, George Walker, r. Loney, J. I.
Mathews, Richard Adams, James Smith,
John Banks, William TIMBER, and W. j.
Wells.
Mr.. Noise appeared as counsel for Pierce,
who seemed much embarrassed during the
whole investigation.
The following documents were submitted
to the Mayor by the complainants
WASHINGTON, D. c., A. L. 1868.
" To all ,chom 1t may concern:
"Know We that by virtue of the power
tod NO do W
constitute and appoint our worthy and we'll
beloved brothers w. j. Wells, Robert l..
Lowrey, Benjamin r. Harris, j. c. Carter,
c. X. Jones, james Washington, Richard
Adams, John Banks, W. D. Jackson, Plumer
Cooper, and Moses Gardner, officers of a
Lodge to be known by the name Of the
"TRuE BROTHERHOOD" No. l, to be held
in the city of Richmond, State of Virginia,
in the Division of North America.
"And we do further authorize and en-
power our said truly and wcll-beloved
brethren to admit and make Free Masons
after the most ancient and honorable
custom of the Royal Craft in all nations
throughout the known world, and not con-
turyciSe.
"And we hereby appoint the foremen,
toned brethren and their successors to de-
termine all matters relating to the Craft
within the jurisdiction of the State of Vir-
ginia. They are hereby empowered to in
stall their successors, to whom they shall
deliver this warrant, to invest them with oil
power hereunto appcrtaining Forever pro-
rided, That the brethren whose names are
hcreunto written shall pay due respect to
the Grand Lodge OF the United States and
the ordinances thereof. Given i'll open
Grand Lodge, under the hands Of oul
Worshipful Grand Officers, at Washington
this 9th (St. Johns day. June, 1869, y
l.. $3.50. ga. G. MAZEE, u. ),
81. II. Orr. G. T."
"RICIMoND, VA, June %, 1869.
Received of w. J. Wells, Secretary OF
True Brotherhood Lodge, No. -, the sun
of thirty-fvc dollars $3.50 to pay for dis
pcnsation for said Lodge this 23d June
1869. WILLIAM PIERCE,
"W. NJ. pro tenn.
"No. of II $40 bill, 933, 1863 No. of q !;
bill, $50 ,552; No. of SIS bill, 1881
No. of u s. bill, l0,SO7.
"lE. 4. Ndgee, Washington, D. c."
The witnesses were all examined as tc
the amount of money paid Pierce, anc
every one, in almost every particular, cor
roboratcd each others statements.
D. B. Jones stated that he paid nothing
but was initiated by Pierce on condition
that he would get n dozen to join the Lodge
lie had taken three degrees. The docu
ment was received after his initiation. H'
had never received any degrees under thu
dispensation, and could not say 1t was ,
forgery.
Il. II. Burke had paid $40 in money az
initiation fee. Witness believed that Pierce
had taught him correctly. Could not say
that the dispensation was forgery.
L. W. Williams was initiated by Pierce
but had not paid any money.
- Cooper had not paid any none.
himself.
Richard adams had paid $3.50 in mo
ncy.
Isaiah NutheocS had paid $40 by an agree
1nent. Witness believed that he had beer
regularly made Mason.
John Bank:S had paid SO for his initia
ton, and believed he was Mason III every
sense of the word He had made himscl
known TO white Masons, and was by then
recognized as such.
known to Masons in the city. He had pait
50 to Pierce.
William j. Wells did not know whcthe
he was Mason or not. Was, however, on
of Picrce's Masons.
Dr. j. y. Brock, and Colonel Eybert
Chief Of Police, regular and recognized Ma
sons, and members of Lodges of this city
we're examined. They could not say posi-
lively that the dispensation (given above
was forgery. Did not know whether
dispensation required the seal of the Gran'
Lodge. Colonel Egbert stated that he wou!t
not recognize any one working under sucl
q dispensation.
Several witnesses initiated by Pierce a
members of the "True Brotherhood testi
fed having paid money to Pierce.
The Mayor, at this juncture OF the case
though Mason himself, thought prudent t
send for DR.. John Dove, W. B. Isaacs, W
H. Crew, J. R. Dowell, and other proni
nent Masons of this city. These gentle
men, upon being apprised Of the facts
proved beyond doubt that the transaction
of Pierce were fraudulent.
Dr.. Dove, being sworn, stated that he wa
Master Mason and Grand Secretary Of tn
Grand Lodge of Virginia. The bogus docu
ment was handed him, and, upon tho
rough examination of the same, he en-
phatically pronounced it forgery.
In answer to questions by the Mayo
and counsel for the accused DR.. Dove sai
that it would be an act of extreme igno
rance on the part of any regularly -lnstl
tuted Lodge to recognize persons inltlate'
under the forged paper alluded to. Iher
was no such institution as the Grand Lodg
of the United States. He would undertak
to saw that no one could be made Masol
by anybody whomsoeyer unless that bod
was provided with proper dispensatiou
He thought that any man could teach th
secrets Of Masonry without dispensatio