St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-06
OPERATOR FAY IN TROUBLE.
Said to Have Misappropriated Sc
cret Order Funds.


Trouble hangs over the head of A. r. Fa;,
one Of the telephone OF orators at police
headquarters. The storm has been impend
ing for something like two months. Now il
bids fair to break in the form of a criminal
prosecution, and possibly civil suit, too.
1t involves the alleged ENLIGHTENMENT of
something over $500 from Flour City Camp
of the Order of Modern Woodmen. This
money is said to have been collected by him
when he was secretary of the camp, and was
never turned over to the camps banker.
Fay was secretary of the camp for two years.
1t was his duty TO collect dues and assess
ments. This he did and his brethren in the
order never suspected that he was not
all right. His term OF office expired
the LIST of January. Then. according TO the
usual procedure of the order, committee
was appointed to credit the accounts. They
1t is said. discovered shortage of Sl69 Fay
was asked 10 explain. His explanation was
that he had lent the money to a friend, but
could get it without trouble. But he didn't
get it. Still the members Of the camp did
not distrlst him.
So matters ran on until about the list of
February. Then he admitted that he
couldn't return the money. But the camp
was disposed to be lenient and offered
him time i'll which TO make up the shortage.
He proposed to give his note to the camp
with good security, payable SIS month, and
the remainder al the end of that time. This
the camp accepted, and Fay set to work to
get securities. But he couldn't or didn't in
QucO huEDOuy " ~ Ou HIS uOle WIFI MIN.
About Feb. Is he was called upon for a re-
port, and said he had done nothing. week
ago Wednesday night he was in the same fix,
and the camp appointed committee with
power to begin a criminal action unless the
matter was fixed up at once. Still, Fay has
done nothing. The members of the camp
think that their leniency has gone far
enough.
OBut this S169 is not the whole of the
amount which Fay is charged with having
diverted 10 his own purposes. Two assess
ments for October and November, 1899, are
said to have been collected by Fay, but not
turned over to the grand lodge. When the
man who took Fay's place as secretary made
the January remittal the grand secretary re-
piled: I'VE will credit the amount on the
October and November assessments which
have not been paid" This was q sumner for
the local camp. Fay was called upon and
insisted that he paid the two assessments.
He says he has the receipts at home, but up
10 this time has failed to produce them. I'm
less he can show the receipts he will be
stuck for $500, IN addition to the S169. All
this the camp thinks shows bad faith: and,
unless Fay makes n settlement by today, q
warrant for his arrest will be issued, SCOTT is
said.
Fay said last night that he might have
different side Of the story 10 tell within a day
or two, which would clear him from all
charges of crookednesS. He said that he had
seen the chairman of the committee which
is handling the matter tor the camp. and he
was promised that nothing further would be
done for a couple Of days. In the meantime
the matter may be settled
Fay has been trying to borrow money from
his acquaintances. but has not succeeded.
These facts have been known about the city
hall for weeks, but nothing has been said
publicly III the hope that Fay would be able
10 slraighten out the affair. But he will not
be able to do SO unless some help not now
known of should come to hand. He has
been operator at headquarters for four
years and during this time was married He
hoo N hoc ovfa ,16n cd
the utmost courtesy TO him, ana has been very
lenient. 1t accepted his proposition to repay
and proposed TO hush the matter up The
members now think that he has not been ap-
preciative of their kindness and has not
made the proper effort to save himself from
the impending disgrace. They want the
money right quick. or will make him suffer
the consequence. The charges preferred
against him have been communicated to the
mayor and Fay will probably be suspended.
A question Of law enters into this case