Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-14
A SOLON SHORTAGE,
Their Supreme officers on
Trial for EmbeZzlement
and Conspiracy.
AN EXPERTS TESTIMONY
Shows That the Order Has Lost Sew.
eral Thousand Dollars.
MINUTE BOOK TAMPERED WITH.
A Page Bearing an Important Resolution
Disappears.
AN EXPERTS TESTIMONY
MINUTE BOOK TAMPERED WITH.
THE CASE ATTRACTS MUCH INTEREST.

yesterday. The defendants, who arr
charged with embezzlement and conspiracy
are ex-Supreme Treasurer R. j. Godfrey
ex-Supreme President j. NJ Ball and ex
Supreme Secretary A. S. Mundorf The
District Attorney was assisted by Attor
neys L. X. Porter and Rush Lake. The
defendants were represented by John f,
Robb, D. F. Patterson and A. Israel.
The two cases were tried together. The
prosecution expects to prove that the de-
PENDANTS conspired to cheat and defraud
the order by publishing false statements,
and that R. ]. Godfrey is guilty of EN-.
bezzling funds. It is alleged that his short
ages from month to month for nearly year
ran from S400 to S14, 900; that he secured q
warrant for 50, 400 and had s.. 300 deposited
to mis- individual account which did not
belong to him.
| w. c. McKelvy, the prosecuting witness,
was first called to identify the books and
charter of the society, ard to prove that
Godfrey. became the Supreme Treasurer
the moneys after June, 1891. Mr.. Sawhill,
the expert who examined the books, told
the witness that there was a discrepancy,
but Mr.. Godfrey said it would be all right
as soon as he could check up some out
standing warrants. A few days later God
frey told McKelvy that the shortage had
| been reduced to S4,700, and that he had
used it to protect his own property. Checks
representing $3.50 and indorsed by R. j.
Godfrey were offered in evidence. Witness
said Godfrey deposited 50, $40 of the orders
money to his own account in the Mononga-
hela National Bank, and that the order
never got the money back.
Had Faith in Godfrey.
Mr.. Patterson cross-examined the wit
ness:
"Why didn't you make information
against Beatty, who had charge of the fund
on which these checks were drawn?"
"There was no occasion to do So He
trusted Godfrey to deposit this money to
the account of the order, but he did not do
so.
''Why was Godfrey suspended"
because ne was snort $4,000 on Sep
tember %, and 1 believe he had that money
in his possession. On October 26 the de-
fcit seemed to be only S1.353 Between
these two dates he had deposited So, 800 03,
although he had no right to handle dollar
of the orders money.
A. t. Sawhill, the accountant who aud
tied the books of the Supreme Secretary
and Treasurer, corroborated the testimony
of Mr.. McKelvy, that between September
% and the same date of the following Octo-
Der Godfrey had deposited over $4,000
over and above all receipts of the Supreme
Lodge, and that while he was under suspen-
sion. He said the books of the Supreme
Secretary, Mundorf, and the books of the
order did not agree. The receipts of the
order from all sources feom June 25 to Sep
tember 25. 1891, were S64, 276 co. there
being a deficit in deposit OF So 444 81 in
that months account. The total deficit at
that time was S14, 233 13
Miss May Terrence, a bookkeeper en-
ployed at the Supreme headquarters of the
order, said Godfrey got the orders mail at
the postoffice for day or two after he was
suspended, but that she knew of an order
having been sent to the postofice authori-
ties to deliver all mail to the Supreme
headquarters and not to give it to anyone at
the postofice.
did Mr.. Godfrey leave any deposit slips
with you for deposit after he was sus-
pended?"
The Witness Was Puzzled.
This question seemed to puzzle the wit
ness and she hesitated answering until after
it had been asked in two or three different
ways, and finally said she did not know.
The witness had taken the books to the
bank to have them balanced at the time the
expert accountant was employed to exam
inc the accounts. But she could not remem-
Der if she had taken any money along or
not. Mr.. Porter produced the testimony
given by the young lady before the commit
tee of six, in which she had said she did
take money along.
Mr.. Patterson objected to the witness
having her mind refreshed in this way, but
the objection was overruled, and Miss Tor
renee said the testimony given before the
committee was correct.
c. L. McMillin, the Supreme Vice Presi-
dent gave an interesting piece of testimony
bearing on an effort that was made by the
defendants to cover up their alleged
deficits The witness attended meeting of
the Supreme Executive Committee on Octo-
Der 8, 1891, at which nine members were
present. A resolution was passed suspending
Supreme Treasurer Godfrey, and authoriz-
ing the Supreme President to engage an
expert to audit the books. At the follow
ing meeting of the Supreme Executive
Committee, on November 80, 1891, a vote
was taken to expunge the action of the |
previous meeting from the minutes.
Protested Against Using Acids.
Witness said he protested against this As |
he was secretary of the committee and he |
did not want this done. The Supreme |
Solicitor, who was present, suggested acids |
be used to remove the resolution from the |
minutes, but. the witness again protested |
and cut the leaf on which the resolution |
was written, from the book.
The minutes of the two meetings in ones.
1nAf
out of the minute book, were offered in
evidence. Mr.. Patterson objected but
Judge Slagle said they were competent for
some purposes at least, and he would admit
them for what they were worth, The ex-
hibits follow:
From the minutes of the meetino of Or.
tober g. 1S9l
In consideration of resolution of Surname
Trustees in regard to employing an exnert
to audit books of Supreme Recorder and
treasurer ana III the matter of deficit in
supreme treasurer r. j. Godfrey's account
as per report OF Supreme Secretary renort,
ing him short Sc 94 81, not taking into ac.
count noat1ng checks and warrants and the
connictlng report of Supreme Financier
Mundori, who reports shortage between S3-
600 and $1,000 and that books or Sunreme
secretary were not correct the following
resolution was passed unanimously.
Resolved to suspend Godfrey.
Resolved-That Supreme Treasurer r I
Godfrey be suspended from office pending
an investigation; that Supreme President
j ohm NJ. Ball, so notify him; that the su.
preme President assume the preropatfves of
SAID of1ce pending investigation and that
he secure the order against any and all loss
Immediately and that Supreme President
Ball employ an expert Dookkeeper to audit