Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-05
A MASONIC DEFAULTER.
The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, Loses Heap-
ily by the Defalcation Of It's Treasurer.

The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin Loses Hedr-
Hy by the Defulcation Of It's Treasurer.
milwaukee Sentinel.
A dispatch from Fond du Lac brings the
startling announcement that Senator w. H.
Hiner, of that city, late treasurer of the
grand lodge of Free Masons, and who has
recently gone into bankruptcy, counts
among his liabilities some $4,000 of the
funds of the order. The dispatch says: The
fact of this defalcation has been known to
few since its commission, but it has been
guarded with Masonic fidelity, and might
not have become known at all but for the
mysterious transfers of property made by
some of his bondsmen, and the efforts of
others to secure themselves from loss. Mr..
Hiner has been grand treasurer of the
grand lodge of Wisconsin for num-
Der of years, and was reelected to that
position a year ago last June. AS such
treasurer he was required, of course, to give
bonds to the grand lodge, which is a corpo-
ration under the laws of the State. His
bondsmen were John Spence, John Burrows,
Fred Kalk, all of Fond du Lac, and Gabe
Bouck, of Oshkosh, member of Congress
from the Sixth district. 1t has transpired
that it is quite unlikely that any portion of
the amount can be recovered from Kalk,
Spence or Burrows, and that Col. Bouck
will be compelled, if the grand lodge insists
upon it, to reimburse the Masonic treasury
for the entire amount of the defalcation,
which is somewhat in excess of $4,000. Col.
Bouck announces his determination, it is
said by his friends, to pay the whole amount
rather than that the Masonic order shall suf-
fer the loss of a cent. A committee of the
grand lodge reported on the facts of the de-
falcation at the June session in Milwaukee,
and there were then hints and leaks as to
| the facts, but they were suppressed at the
time. Mr.. Hiner has been for six years
| State Senator from Fond du Lac county,
and was president pro tenn. of that body dur
ing the session of 1877, and he was favora-
bly, mentioned in 1875 and 1877 as can
for Governor. He has exercised command.
ing influence in politics and public affairs
and has been one of the most prominen
men in the State. His business, which was
that of iron-founder, suffered severely from
the panic of 1873, and if he had not been il
politics he would doubtless have saved thu
bulk of his fortune, or at least, if his fnan
cial failure was unavoidable, it would
not have involved the trust funds in hi
hands. But his ambition to remain in pub
lie life led him to make a terrific struggle t.
avoid bankruptcy, and to resort to mean
which have resulted so disastrously. II
doubtless expected to be able to replace tn
masonic funds when he used them, but th
adverse tide of affairs and the fearful de
preston of the iron interest, prevented hin
from making at any point requisite effo,
to secure the grand lodge from the loss c
the amount involved. Alexander White wa
the partner of Mr.. Hiner in business, and
joined with him in bankrupt proceeding
The schedule of liabilities of the bankrul
firm include some $500 of small preferre
debts, presumably workmen.