The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-11
How the Energetic Pythian Life In
surance Man Conducted His
Business in Helena
Great Falls and Deer Lodge
We're Also on His
List
He Was in Missoula Neutrality-suspicious.
al Names of Helena Men Who
Subscribed.

auces of the knights of Pythias, who felt
that they had been duped by one George d.
Crane, the general agent of the Pythlan
Life association. It was clearly shown that
this man had grossly misrepresented the
financial condition of his company. be
told some people that the concern had
100000 back of it to meet losses. On the
other hand the secretary of the company, IN
report to the X. G. Dunn company said:
''We have reserve fund sufficient to meet
two or more losses" The financial state
ment of the concern as taken from the last
report of the state auditor of Nebraska
shows that their total assets, cash, furni-
ture, mortgages, ETC., to be $d,247.5l. w.
f. Bechtel is the name of the president.
"W. T. Bechel'' is the name of a wealthy
and influential citizen of Omaha but it will
be noticed there is slight discrepancy in
the spelling of the names, though they are
pronounced alike.
Some new districts were heard from yes
terday where Crane met with tattering sue
cess in securing members. A telegram was
received from Deer Lodge, after IHE IN
DEPENDENT had reached that place, inquir-
ing tor more particulars about the associa-
ton. It was was signed by Emil Hansen,
who also added that the people were rather
uneasy. Great Falls also entertained Mr..
said lie met with great success in the Falls.
The people came in nobly,' was the way
heput it.
As ruster Crane can be said to have few
equals iH the country. While on the train
from here to Missoula he induced Con-
ductor George Snedaker to become MEM
Der of the Pythian Life association MIR.
Snedaker paid $50.
On reaching Missoua Crane was nitro
duced around by Mr.. Carr, of the Missou-
Il ,,l<,,,{ <,f (kr,,, t>s,
Among the gentlemen he was introduced to
was F. w. Gasmann, of South Omaha, rep
resentative of the George Burke Il
Frazier Live Stock company. MIR.
Gasmann knew of firm of Crane
Bros, wealthy men of Omaha,
and asked this Crane if he was one of
them Crane replied that they were cous-
ms of his and Immediately withdrew from
his company. This action slightly surprised
Mr.. Gasmann, but when he read The INDIE
Crane withdrew the night before because he
was afraid he might incidentally be tripped
up before his new acqnaintances.
Talk of some method of prosecuting this
man was rife yesterday but just how to &C
about il nobody seemed to know, and the
individual sums of money we're apparently
SO small that nobody seemed to care much
about the task of prosecuting him. That
the Pythian Life association is wild cat
concern is the opinion OF many who CON
and feel that they got off cheap. The com
pany is in existence, to be sure. but that il
is far from what it is represented ia now The
opinion of many interested.
DIR. W; l.. Steele is the examining physl-
clan, and made enough in the business tt
warrant him paid up policy for $4,000
"The company has surely been misrepresent
ed to me-" said DR.. Steele to reporter, "o1
l should not have gone INTO it. now
think it amounts to a case of some mer
90 I,i11 inc II Il foO r. 1fleEE
without any capital behind, but hope to Sc.
cure membership enough to place it on 6
solid footing. According to their financial
statement, they would be unable to meet
two or three losses.'
tions of Mr.. Crane in securing members
were learned yesterday. When asked by
DR.. Reed if any other than Knights OF
Pythias could obtain insurance he said
mot until We get through with the knights
then We will teke in Others and will SET
that you get some of the business of medi
cal examining.
To Mr.. l.. Marks. who is insured in tn,
United Masonic association. Crane said tina
the Masonic association would soon adop
the plan of the Pythian association. H,
took letter from his pocket bearing thu
signature of Mr.. Stoddart, of Chicago, ont
of the leading officers of the Masonic asso
citation. This letter informed Crane tina
Mr.. Stoddart would soon meet him at Tn
Helena in this city; that he was arranging
to change the plan of the Masonic to tn
Pythian Life plan and desired to appoin
him general agent. Crane further told Nj
Marks that az soon as he received the AZ
rointment he would drop the Pythian assC
citation.
This news rather alarmed MIR. Marks, q
at his age of life, the Pythian would pro,
much more expensive plan.
Here are few more names of people WI
have gone into Mr.. Cranes company: v
G. Riddle, c. F. Parker, Ben Harris, Morr
Sands, 81. Marks. w. j. Brennan, Ge
Snedaker. Jos. Sennett DIR. c. Il. Cole,
A. Walker. Lou. Harris, Chas. Stewart, OF
Jeck, j. w. Eastin ana Ii. Bamberger, an
others to hear from.
There were q few upon whom Crane WI
unsuccessful. Among these were A.
Gates, Clarence kinna, Herman Cans an
DIP Patenaude. While interviewing tn
latter gentleman he would not give HIM
chance to say a word but ratified OF his Pc
suasive arguments like chain lightning, wit
good grace. But Mr.. Patenaude told hill
he would have to get down to business II b
expected to insure him: he wanted to hes
something else besides 'glitterlng general
ties" Figures We're resortcd to but indin
that Patenaude knew something abor
arithmetic, Crane suddenly remembers
that he had pressing engagement. n
looked at his watch and found he had ju:
five minutes to keep his appointment. h
jovially patted Pat on the shoulder an
made an appointment with him for
O'Clock the following day, but he new,
kept his appointment.
One of the amusing incidents of Crane
campaign occurred at hotel. He let Il
proprietor into his scheme the ''grour
floor" and warned him not to tell his cler
who was also an applicant. He let the clerk
on the same basis and also urged him n
to tell the .'boss' anything about it. II
proprietor and his clerk compared not
yesterday and they ''set 'em up to ees
other after good laugh. These men pa
cash. BIS 40 each.
Quite number of people were observ,
about the Cruise bank yesterday. tearing
small pieces of paper as they left the plat
These were men who settled with Mr.. Bo
man, the paying teller, who bought t
notes from Crane at discount. Th
quietly paid their notes. satisfied
get off that cheap. believing from What tn
bad learned that the Pythian Life was 7
the reliable institution it WAS represent
to be. There is no way of estimating
this time the amount of money secured
Crane in Helena, Great Falls, Deer Lod
Bozeman and Livingston and Marysvi
but it is safe to say 80 per cent. of the me
beers of the X. of p. are into the scheme a
that Crane cleaned up thousands of doll
in the aggregate. He will probably 4
that seven-eighths of his new members ,
allow their dues to lapse. The Rssociat
probably expects they will, as in that '
Ehey would be making money. The Sta
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