Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-07
RECHMER'S HAUL.
The West VirgiRian who Raidsd the
Catholic Knights of America.
Final Results Of the lnYestigatiOn-How
Ne Managed the the Order
Preparing for Big Haul.
Fryn the G,atto,, Elqle.


The recent defslcation and flight OF John
l.. Hechmer, late Supreme Treasurer OF the
Catholic Knights OF America, are still
fresh in the minds Of our readers. Several
statements with reference to the matter
have already been published, but all Of
them we're based upon partial examina-
ton of Hechmer's books and upon
the assumption that they were cor
rect. To determine beyond doubt the
correCtnt So or incorre tless sOt the
books II was necessary to submit them to
thorough and protracted examination by
all expert. Prof. 4. 5. LOyenthal, OF Leba-
non. Kentucky, was selected fOr this WORK,
and had the assistance of Hon. J. Z. Thomp-
son and one or two of his clerks. He was
engaged nearly three weeks upon the task,
and made an elaborate and exhaustive re-
port with illustrative documents ana eN-
hibits. The report in detail is too long Tor
our columns, but We are enabled 10 lay De-
fore our readers the general
BosuIts Reached by the Examination.
The total amount of Hechmer's defalca-
ton, as shown by Prof. LOyenShaI 5 report,
is so 6}S. Besides this the order has
claim, against the First National bank for
- OOO deposited there by Hechmer and
Withdrawn, as is alleged, without authori-
". The bank contests this claim, and,
should it succeed against the o.der, the to-
tai of HeChmer's shortage will be augment
ed to -, ,7GS. This embraces everything
that has been traced to Hechmer's hanos,
or that can be traCed!from data now in the
possession OF the Supreme President. Re-
ports yet 10 be received from branches may
pOsSibly increase the amount by few
hundred dollars.
Heehmer Balanced Ills Books
April %. lSS3, and made a report to the
Supreme Council of the Order as of that
date. This report showed balance in his
hands Of SlJi -, which amount he subse-
quently paid over to Ms }. OBrien, his
successor IL is evident that HeChmer
he'd. or should have had, larger sum than
this in his hands at the time of his report.
His books show that he had, besides this,
the sum of STi2 IS, which he had credited
TO the branches paying it, the branch ac-
count being balanced by pretended trans
fer of the amount to the widows and or
phans' benefit fund, bat the transfer was
not in fact made, and the account with the
widows and orphans fund therefore failed
to show that Hechmer owed the amount.
This was a clear fraud by false entries, or
rather by fraudulent
FaiIure 10 Make the Popular Entries.
UeechmerS ledger shows the receipt,
after the meeting OF the Council and be-
tore O'Rrien qualified, of Sl5,353,ll, no
rart OF which has been accounted for.
There is reason to believe that he received
all this money before the meeting OF the
COunCi. but the entries were not made till
afterwards. In this wsy HeChmer con-
cealed from the Council the large amount
which he bad received aud should have
had in his hands, when he made his re-
port. .
making together Sl6O95. I6, are all that
HeChmpr's books show that he had re-
ceived, except what he had accounted for.
But an examination of the branch reports,
the stubs OF receipts found among HeCh-
merS papers, and statements accompanying
rsmittanCes msde by branches shows a
further deficit of Sl,6l5, making the total
previously mentioned of so, ,73S, to which
s. OoO must be added if the claim OF the
bank should be allowed.
The ABOVE includes only sums received
and not accounted for by Hechmer.
In Addition 10 This
he received, after the meeting of the Coun-
| Gil and before his successor qualified, over
! 81, 900, of which he paid out s., 900 in death
benefits, left 5000 in bank, and turned
| over 10 his successor, SlS5SS.55.
Within twenty days after be qualified as
| treasurer, NJ. J. o Brien received upward
/ Of $3S O0O on assessments levied by Hech-
msr. Ii will be seen from the foregoing
| statement that at the time O'Brien took
| charge HeChmer had $l5,O 900 in cash and
7 owed the order over $4,000 besides-mak-
| ing total of S63, 900 that Hechmer would
! have had on hand If he had held the office
twenty days longer. Each assessment
I yields a little over 5000. So il seems
| HeChmer had ordered eight assessments in
| advance notwithstanding that the rules Of
/ every organization Of this kind permits but
: one assessment in the hands Of the treas.
/ urer at time. This shows clearly that
! Hechner was accommodating funds
| To Make Big Haul
l The prom pt action of the Supreme Presi-
/ dent in calling Hechmer 70 account in part
defeated his designs and saved the order a
\ very large sum of money, to-wit: S43, 900.
/ Too much cannot be said in praise of the
! foresight vigilance aud zeal which Mr..
/ Russell has displayed in the management
I OF this great trust.
! II is matter Of Congratulation that the
/ Order has come out of this trial without
| substantial injury. The bond of the Treas
/ urer is good, and the sureties solvent; and,
unless it shall appear that the signatures
! OF the sureues are fOrgeries it can not be
( seen bow the Order can lose dollar.