The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-15
RIDING THE GOAT.
The Initiatory Ceremonies Of Odd Fellow
ship Described by a Candidate In Court
of Justice.


The Initiatory Ceremonies Of Odd Fellow
ship Described by Candidate In Court
of Justice.
Toronto speclaLl
A unique case was tried to-day before
Mr.. Justice Gait, at Whitby, a small viii
lage twenty miles east OF this city. Rich
ard Kinver, a chairmaker, brought suit
against the Phoenix Lodge Of Odd Eel.
lows, of Whitby, for injuries received at
the hands Of members Of the lodge while
he was being initiated into the mysteries
of the order. The case is the first of the
kind ever brought before court of Justice
in this country, and has excited a great
deal of interest. The courtroom to-day
was crowded with members OF the Phoenix
Lodge and curious outsiders, anxious to
learn something of the secrets Of the
brotherhood. The plaintiff appeared in
court leaning ON crutches. He was badly
bruised about the face and body, and ap.
peared to be suffering severe pain. On
the witness stand he told the story Of
events on the night Of his initiation. He
was met, he said, by committee Of the
Odd Fellows Lodge, who first blind
folded him by drawing a black
cap down over his face, SO
that he could not see the slightest
thing, and then led him into the lodge
room His entry was the signal for
| shouts of derision from the members
present. He had hardly got inside the
room when he was forcibly seized from
either side and whirled rapidly round
till he had become so dizzy that be had
lost all idea of his surroundings. Then
chain was fastened about his body, and
he was dragged roughly about the room,
tho cap being still down over his head.
When the brethren had tired of yanking
him about at the end of the chan he was
brought up standing, while a myste.
rious jargon was gone through with. Sud.
denly he candidate received rough push
from some one behind, which thr, W him
over upon his ace. His feet lripped over
something and he fell headluns ON The
floor, striking in falling uppn stool,
which cut n deep cash in his head
He was partly stunned by the fall He
was just conscious enohgi TO lear some
one ask In deep voice, Brethren, shall
we have mercy" ana some one else re.
piled, "Have mercy" Tnen he was II cd
up off the floor by the chain, and was led
about the room for awhile, with the car
still on, until he had somew hat recovered
from the effects Of The TALL His initiation
was not concluded, owing to bis inability
TO endure more. Since then the wi ness
testified that he had been sick, so thus he
had been unable to support his family by
working at his trade, Physicians whom
he had consulted said that his injuries
would trouble him for several years and
and that he might never get over them
The defendant Odd Fellows admit hi
truth Of Kinver's testimony regarding hi
experience in the lodge.room. They sale
1t was the custom of the lodge to lead can
didate5 for initiation around with view
TO bewildering or befogging them, 81
that when the cap is removed they can no
find the door by which they entered the
room. There is no intention of harm M
the candidates, and the initiation is no
rougher than healthy man could stand
The constitution Of the order requires tina
candidates shall be in sound health. Plain
tiR knew this, and procured his initia.io
by fraudulent representations AMI con
cealment regarding his health. Msdica
men testified that Kinver had received In
: ternal injuries from which he might die
The case was adjourned to high court q
Toronto.