St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-08-07

for Soliciting Insurance without a
License.
Last week was full of surprises for
the Massachusetts assessment insur-
ance men.
Thursday morning the citizens
found a 'hyer" on the street an
nouncing that Supreme Secretary
Kimpton of Boston would explain
the workings of the Order of Unity
and kindred societies at the Opera
house that night. 1t was also an
nounced that G. S. Hall, who was
not in Jail but out on bail" would
relate his experiences of the last As
hours. Just before the time of the
address heavy shower came up and
the attendance at the Opera house
was very light. BY actual count
there were AZ present, of which num-
Der 80 were boys who came to see
the fun. Among the 1 2 citizens pres
ent were a policeman, the agent of
the hall and two insurance agents.
Mr.. Kimpton gave Il short talk of
about 80 minutes. He said he came
here at the request of the people of
this vicinity who are interested i'll
benefit societies. The arrest of MIR.
Hall is an event that Inever dreamed
Of We are a Massachusetts institu-
ton, incorporated by an act of the
Legislature of 1883, and our papers
have been approved by the insurance
commissioner. We have lodges all
over New England and in New York,
Maryland and elsewhere We are
fraternal, benevolent, benefit society.
We have social gatherings and are
just like the MaSOnS and Odd Eel
lows and similar societies. When
one receives a sick benefit of $40
week the amount is deducted from the
$1,000 he draws in seven years and
he also pays six per cent interest on
what he draws out in sick benefits.
Mr.. Kimpton gave many statistics
about the Ancient Order of United
Workmen and how this order had
grown in 20 years to 4 membership
of $50, 900 and how it had paid out
$50, ,OOO,OO to the working people
of the country in the meantime. The
Order of Unity, he said, was based
on the same principles as this one
and by increasing the amounts paid
it could pay the benefits sooner He
devoted some time to explaining
how the order of the IronuHall had
prospered and said that the best
brain of the United States, ex-Gov
Robinson of Massachusetts had de-
Tended the order before the Massa-
chusetts Legislature and Gov. Amcs
had signed the bill which allowed all
these societies to carry on their bust
ness. The Order of Unity was in
corporated last June. We have 1000
members, 45 lodges and have paid
$1,000 in claims. All our claims
have been paid within a day after
the claim for a benefit was presented.
Mr.. Kimpton next devoted his at
tention to circular giving the list
of over 100 assessment companies
that had failed within the last two
years. He waXed eloquent in de-
nouncing the misleading statements
therein contained and said that the
list contained only companies of
limited membership and none of them
were like the fraternal society he
represented.
In nclosinghe said, 81 am very sorry
that any opposition should have
arisen against an order that will do
so much good. We are in existence
to benefit mankind l hope the day
will speedily come when no one will
be in position to say of our com
pany, Beware
Before Mr.. Hall had Il chance to
relate the experiences of the last As
hours the audience had vanished
On Friday afternoon George S.
Hall was tried before Justice Nichols
for soliciting insurance in this state
with license. The case was prose
cuted by States Attorney Dunnett
and the respondent was defended by
H. c. Ide The first witness was DR..
J. E. Hartshorn who stated that he
told Mr.. Hall that he would not join
the society but would examine appli-
cants for them.
E. H. Blossom related the cOnver-
sation he had with Mr.. Hall and on
cross examination said he was n
member of the Knights of Pythias
Arthur F. Stone was kept on the
stand the longest and explained to
the court how this order differed
from the Iron Hall of which he was
once member. He said he told Mr.
Hall he would find it difficult to
make st. Johnsbury people under
stand how they could put in $500
and draw out $1,000. On cross ex-
animation he said Mr. Hall never
said anything about the social fea-
lures of the order but only spoke of
the cash and sick benefits
l.. w. Rowell testified that the only
conversation he had with Mr.. Hall
was in reference to printing some
flyers"