Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-20
A Curious Sect SueO.

HOW THE SOCIETY OF THE ECONOMIES WAS
FOUNDED-A REMARKABLE TRUST.
telegram from Pittsburg, Dec. Is. says
To-day an argument took place in the United
States circuit court on the demurrer filed in
case of Elias Spiedel against Jacob Heinrich and
Jonathan LEM. trustees of the Economic
society, one of the wealthest and most exclus-
i've sects in the United States. The plaintiff 8
bill recites the history of Economics from the
time of their organization to the present date,
plaintiffs connection Herewith, and much in
teresting information 1t states that in 1900
George Rapp, an intelligent German citizen, Of
Wurtemberg, preached clandestinely to his neigh
bOrs not having be Ell ordained as required by the
laws of church and state. His views differed
widely from those held by his hearers. He told
them he was the mouthpiece Of God In guiding
them TO salvation, and soon won many sympa-
thiZers. Fully three hundred citizens of Wur-
teinberg became firm believers in his doctrine
and when he proposed that they should form
settlement Of their own. under his guidance and
CONTROL twenty-five families signified their
Willingness to 20 with him. In 1905 they EN-
barked for America and settled in Butler county,
Penn. Rapp, it is alleged. induced the heads of
families to turn their money over to him to be
held in trust. Plaintiffs parents contributed
$1,000 to this fund. About 1918 the society
moved to Indiana and in 1925 they settled at
theirpresent location, Economy. Rappfrom time
TO time introduced various rules and regula-
lions, to which the members were compelled to
accede by their leader, who had wonderful in
fiuence over them. Among these were restric-
tlons fOrbiddng the members to communicate
with outsiders, prohibiting the use of tobacco.
prohibiting marriage. prescribing the character
and quantity Of food &c.
1t is further claimed by the plaintiff that from
the age of 12 to % he labored hard with his
parents for the society. for which they never re-
ceiyed more than bare existence and in 1915,
Rapp, who had previously destroyed the records
of the amount contributed to the common fund
by each member concealed $500, 900. The trust
fund. the plaintiff believes, now aggregates
1000. and the annual income of the society
Is $50 eco. The mode of life as prescribed by
Rapp became obnoxious to the plaintiff after the
death of his parents, and in 1881 he left and
married At the death of Rapp Cornelius S.
Baker and Jacob Henrici became trustees OF the
society. Subsequently Baker died, and was
succeeded by LEM. The demurrur of
the defendant states that Spiedel on
the face of the bill, has no equitable
relief. that he is barred long since by
the statute of limitation and therefore has no
claim. Plaintiffs counsel held that the fund
was trust, as the rules and regulations OF the
society show, and that it does. therefore not
come under the statute of limitation. The same
points of law as are involved in the present
case have been raised heretofore both in tho
lower and supreme courts. The ruling, SO far
as the record shows. has always been in favor of
the society In analogous proceedings.