Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-16
GONE WRONG.
A SHORTAGE m A PAIR or LODGES
The Trustees Do Not Closely Examine the
Accounts, Which fxsmpIifes Mans
Confidence in Man.

For about a week past there has been
a stir among the members OF the WI
liam Tell Encamplnent OF Odd Fellows,
and the subordinate lodge OF the same
name, over an alleged shortage IN the
accounts OF the secretary, Capt. Johh
Sala6e, we'll known and always re-
spected German OF this city. The mat
ter has been known To the lodge for some
time and with the best OF intentions u
was endeavored TO keep 1t from the
public know ledge, but il leaked out on
Saturday and Sss subject for gre at COS
sip and comment. Capt. Salade has held
and now holds several positions oil trust
and many persons are now un"ilhg
10 bslieve aught against his good name
Yesterday afternoon, a REGISTER scribe
hunted up trustee for both the en-,
campment and subordinate lodge anu
from him learned the following parucu'
lars: So.
Captain Salade has been financial sec
retary for the lodges for about twenty
three wears, and Was trusted, withou;
auspicion, with all the funds collected.
The trustees went through the form oil
examining the books, which Was mere
form. The examinations were held on
SUNDAYS, and as several Of the trustees
either desired to attend church or had
religious scruples against dong that
kind of work on the Sabbath, the over
hauling OF the books was very super
fetal. Captain Salade was always on
hand with his papers and made his
statements in a very satisfactory man.
ner, and they were accepted as correct.
A few weeks ago he resigned his posi-
ton as Secretary Of the Encampment,
alleging that the pay did not compen'
safe him for the work. HIS resignation
was accepted and a successor duly eject
ed and qualified. ,
! A short time ago Charles Myers, oil
Brownstown, died, and, being member
| of the Encampment, his standing was
examined and found to be not correct
| rhis led to further Investigation, and
other cases of the same kind were DIS
covered. The Encampment went INTO
secret session and considered the mat
ter, and finally Captain Salade sent a
letter in which he acknowledged having
gone wrong, and asked to be dealt with
as leniently as possible.
The discovery ofthis state OF affairs III
the Encampment led to similar lnvcs'
tipatiou into the books Of the subordl'
nate lodge, whose secretary Captain Sal
ade now is. Matters were found to be
in the same condition. The trustee
| said that entries had been made directly
into the ledger, without passing through
the account books; so that while the IN
dividnal paying the money would he
credited with it, the cash account would
show no corresponding charge. Our IN
formant cited us cases o; this KIND, pay
ments made by Louis Orth, Charlie
Schumacher and others.
A special committee OF examiners Is
now at working upon the books oil the
lodge, their labors being carried on at
night. Our informant said he did not
know whether the Encampment was
similarly engaged or not, as Capt. Salade
had turned over its accounts when he
resigned. There is very little known
upon which to base an assertion. Nari-
GUS claims are made as to the amount OF
shortage, two thousand dollars being the
average; but one of the trustees is au-
thoriSy for the information that this is
the merest speculation, based upon the
belief that the irregularities have been
in progress for some time back.
Nothing will be done, in legal way.
and the exact amount OF shortage can
never be known. A thorough examina-
ton might fail TO fix it and would be-
side be very expensive, and all for moth
ing, as there was no bond given and is
now no hope OF recovery. The trustee
raid an expulsion from the Odd Fellow
ship would follow, but no prosecution.
Capt. Salade, IN confessing his irregu-
larities, blamed the lodges for not hav.
ing more strictly examined his books,
and there is much in the charge. 1.-THE
books had long ago been subjected to
the severe scrutiny which should al.
ways be given, this trouble could have
been avoided and Capt. Salade' s good
name preserved. 1t is criminal negll-
gence in body to permit, by its own
neglect, an irregularity to continue In
its financial matters.
Besides the position of Secretary FOR
the Odd Fellows, Capt. Salade holds
other positions of trust and has always
been found trustworthy and reliable,
The most important one was that OF So
licitor for the Franklin Insurance Com
pany. Since the shortage in the lodges
has been discovered, several persons
have gone to the insurance Office to see
that amounts paid by them to Salade
have been placed to their credit. As far
as we can learn, everything is perfectly
square and straight at that office.
Mr.. Salade is also collector for the
Harmonic Maennerchor Singing Society
which accounts are also believed to be
entirely correct.
Capt. John Salade, as mentioned
above, is one OF the oldest, and best
known German citizens OF the city. He
was in command OF a local military or.
ganizstion in 1861, from which his title
is derived. His character has hitherto
heen nnstained and for the sake OF his