The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-30
SHORE

Grand Treasurer Kelley, OF the Grand
Lodge i. o. o. T., Claims 10 Have Been
Robbed Of o., g0O-The Matter Being In.
Observation-Disclosures Over the Oeeur.
enee. .s.....
Quite sensation was produced in the
Grand Lodge Of Odd Fellows Of West vir.
ginia, now in session in this city, yester.
day morning, when the Grand Secretary,
Thomas G. Steele, arose In his place short.
" after the opening and announced that
the Lodge had lost $500, and gave the
following explanation: For the last eight
or nine years W. R, Kelley, Of Parkers.
burg, has been Grand Treasurer OF the
Grand Lodge Of West Virginia, and during
that time has been faithful and efficient
officer and enjoyed the confidence and
esteem Of the members Of the order
throughout the State. On Monday after.
noon at $3.50 o'clock, he in company with
Brothers Lang and Mather, left Parkers.
burg for Grafton and Wheeling to be in
attendance on the meetings Of this Grand
Lodge. The train was an hour or two
behind time In It's arrival at Grafton,
reaching that place at 1890 o'clock.
He and The brothers with him took room
OF the Grafton House, and took the train
for Wheeling about five o'clock Tuesday
morning, and sometime alter daylight he
discovered his loss, but strange 10 say, he
said nothing Of It to his companions. Ar
irving at Wheeling Of 9:45 o'clock in the
morning, he treasured up his secret all
day, saying nothing oil 1t to his brethren,
although thrown with them all day. About
ten or eleven o'clock In the evening after
the night session Of the lodge, It became
necessary for him and the Grand Sec.
rotary TO settle and ascertain how they
stood with tho Grand Lodge. After the
papers for the year had been examined
and all found straight and accurate, he
told Mr.. Steele that he had met with
loss, had been robbed on the way from
Parkersburg to Grafton Of $1,000 In cash,
which he said had been taken from an
inside peck OF his coat, "cut
out" he said, exhibiting his coat in
the cloth OF which was slit four or Eve
inches across the pocket, and through
which he averred the poCEetbook contain
ing the money had been drawn. He fur
ther explained that on the way from Par
kersburg to Wheeling he had fallen asleep
in his seat, and from which he had been
roughly awakened by Imam jostling him,
who begged his pardon for his rudeness,
saying the motion oil the car had thrown
him the stranger) against Mr.. Kelley.
This was the only explanation he could
offer for his mysterious loss. He said
further that he had left ParEersburg with
81, $40 on his person, $1,000 in one pocket
and $40 in the other. The 1890 was
taken and the $40 left. The reason that
the money was not altogether in one peck.
1t was that the book would not hold more
than was already in 1t.
Mr.. Steele was ofCourse much impressed
with the story and called in Judge Hoke,
Deputy Grand Master, who was in the
house, and told him Of the mysterious ac-
count.
0fcourse the announcement OF this loss
and the circumstances surrounding II, pro-
duced profound impression on the mem
bers Of the Grand Lodge, and immediate
steps were taken TO ascertain the status OF
affairs. A committee consisting OF ]. A.
Miller, Youell and with o. S. Mckinney as
clerk, was sent out to examine Mr.. Kelley.
This committee reported later in the alter
noon and preferred charge OF official ne.
glect, with the following specifications:
Neglecting to deposit funds in a bank or.
dered by the Grand Lodge; End, Neglect
ing TO take the proper care Of lodge funds
during the last year. A committee with
DR., T. o. Edwards as chairman, was ap-
pointed to investigate and report the truth
Of these charges and the specifications.
This committee met at o'clock, Pm, and
so far as they had proceeded at the time OF
this writing had proved the last specifica-
ton, and Mr.. Kelley had confessed to the
first, The committee then adjourned until
0 o'clock this morning, at which time it
will prosecute It's investigations further.
Mr.. Kelley had given bond at the time
Of his election for the faithful perform.
anCe OF his duties, with Mr.. Dunning, OF
Parkersburg, as bondsman. Mr.. Dunning
has since died, but his wife is executrix Of
his estate, and qualified to an estate OF
500 900; 80 the bond is good, and the
lodge intimates It's intention of bringing
suit TO recover Immediately.
A reporter OF this paper sought Mr..
Kelley at the Stamm House last night to
ascertain II he had anything to say In the
matter, but he persistently declined, say
ing: ~ have already made statement to
the proper authorities, and have nothing
further to add.p