The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-25
STARTLING FACTS
BIG SCANDAL IN THE AMERICAN FRA.
TERNAL CIRCLE.
Prominent Men Involved
HOW OFFICERS VOTED THEMSELVES
BIG SALARIES.
Mayor Latrobe's Certificate.
Mayor Latrobe's Certificate.
COL. LOVES HANDSOME AND APPRE
CIATIVE PRESENT.

How Banks, the Alleged Defaulter, and
Brother-in-LawC Cook Worked the Cir
Gle for the Dust-Some Inside Informa-
tlon Obtained by 1.-THE world.''
THE WORLD has secured the SER
vices Of an experienced correspondent
at Baltimore to investigate the work
ings and condition Of the American
Fraternal Circle. We do not purpose
to let up until every fact connected
with the gigantic swindle has been
fully exposed. AS rapidly as possible
we will give our patrons the benefit Of
our Investigations. The following
news was received this morning:
Receivers haveat last been appoint
ed to settle up the affairs Of the Amer
lean Fraternal Circle. They are Moses
r. Walter, Of counsel for the plaintiffs,
Bernard Carter, counsel fer the Circles
officers, and Joshua Horner, Jr., rep
resenting the certificate holders.
Each Of the receivers will be required
to give bond in 100000. Order Of
court does not state what the compen-
sation shall be and unless this it is
stated, s per cent will be subtracted
from all the money paid out. As
there is s65S, 091.9O IL the treasury
their commissions viii be $50, 64z-2 Is
richer when they get through. The
officers have not yet decided whether
they viii take an appeal.
| Everything that can be has not vel
been said about the late Circle by any
means, and the impression is gaining
strength among the members that the
grand jury should, and if the proper
impression is brought to bear viii take
a hand in the matter. For several
days WORLD reporters have been in.
vestigating the orders condition, and
the records of some Of the men who
have held positions of trust, and the
investigation has resulted in some facts
both interesting and startling. Many
of these are now detailed for the frs
time.
1t is not generally known thai
Charles w. S. Banks, the man who
originated the idea of the Circle and
who afterwards was charged with EN-
bezzling some thousands of its funds
| is the brother-in-law of John D. Cook
the supreme treasurer. Perhaps had
| it not have been for this Relationship
Banks would never been able to have
| laid his hands on the money which ht
afterwards, It's said, made way with
Cook as treasurer paid him IN less thar
three years s1O,65O. This sum wa.
not recorded in the regular books, but
put down in "a little black book,
which the ninth ward politician ant
superintendent Of the court house
earried round in his inside pocket
Besides this money Banks was paiS
50, 800 out Of the regular funds. 4
No part of Cooks Testimony has
ever been printed. He is very candid
in speaking of the way in which the
Banks defalcation was covered up. Il
| is the general impression that this
money was paid out Of the pockets Of
the remaining officers after Bank,
resignation. Such was not the case.
But 1000 was paid by them, the re-
naming of the shortage being paic
from the interest on the deposit Of the
circle. After the $4,000 contributed
by the officers had been paid, $3.50. Ii
was drawn from the Mercantile trusl
company and sl430.22 from the Fidel
lily deposit company, making in al
| Sc, 949. "a in interest which was drawn
from the banks with which to pay fol
Banks stealing When asked b,
A Y