The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-11-12
KlDtSG.rllE GOAT.

The Initial Services OF Odd Follow ship De.
scsibedia Court.
An usique case was tried before Dir,
Justice Gait at Whitby, a small village
twenty miles east Of this city. Richard
kinyer, a chairmaker, broughtsui. Ssains.
the Phoenix Lodge OF Odd Fellows, Of
Whitby, for injuries received at the hsrds
OF members OF the lodge while he was be.
Ing initiated into the mysteries OF the or.
der, The case is the first Of the Kind ever
brought before n court Of justice in this
country, and has excited a great deal Of in.
terest. The court room to-day was crowd.
ed with members Of the. pnGnix Lodge
and curious outsiders, anxious to learn
something Of the secrets OF the brother
hood. The plaintiff appeared in court
leaning on clutches. He was badly bruised
about the head and body, and appeared to
be suffering severe pain. On tho witness.
stand he told the story Of events on the
night OF his imitation. he was met, he
said, by 4 committee Of the Odd Fellows
Lodge. who first blindiolded him by draw
lnga black cap down over his face, so that
he could not see the slightest thing, and
then led him into the lodge.room.
Ills entry was the signal for shouts Of
derls!on from the members present. He
had hardly got inside the room when he
was iorcibly seized from either side and
whlrled rapidly round till he hAd become
so dizzy that he had lost all idea Of his
surroundings. Then . chain was fastened
about his body and he was dragged
roughly about the room, the cap being
still down over his head. Wien the
brethren had tired OF sanking him about
at the end OF the chain he was brought up
standing, while a mysterious jarson was
gone through. Suddenly the candidate
received G rough push from some one be-
hind, which threw him over on his face.
His feet tripped over something and he
fell headlong on tho floor, striking in fall
ing Upon I stool which cut u deep cash in
his head. File was partially stunned by
the fall. lie was Just conscious enough
to hear some one ask in q deep voice:
Brethren, shall we have mercy" and
some one else replied: "Haye mercy"
Then ne was lifted up off the floor by the
chain, and was led about the o ior
awhile, with the cap still on, until he had
somewhat recovered from the effects OF
the TALL. His initiation Was no;
concluded, owing to his inability
to endure more. Since then the
witness testified that he had been un.
able to support his family by working at
his trade. Physicians WHOM he had con-
suited said that his injuries would trouble
him for several years, and that he might
never get over them. The defendant Odd
Fellows admit the truth OF kinver's testi-
many regarding his experience in the
lodge rom They said it was the custom
Of the f6dge to lead the candidates Tor ini-
tlation around with a view to bewilde.inc
or b%efogginc them, SO that when the cap
is removed they can not find the door BY
which they entered the ROOM. There is
nointention OF harm;n:the candidates, and
the Initiation is not rousherthan a healthy
man can stand. The constitution OF the
order requires that candidates shall be in
sound health. Plaintiff knew this, and
procured his initiation by fraudulent rep
RESERVATIONS and concealment regarding
his health. Medical men testified that
kiaver had received Internal injuries
from which he might die. The case was
adjourned to q hign court at Toronto.