The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-14
Those Indicted Are the Men Who Voted 20
Transfer the Orders Money to Somsrbys
Phiadelphis Will o the Wisp.
Attorneys Have Been Retained and the
"Supremers' Will Stand Trial.
It Is Not Known How Soon SOmerby and His
Pals Will Be Arrssted-Ex. Cashier Davis
Says He Will Not Run Away.
sUPREMERs INDICTED.
Somerby and His Associates Charged with
Embezxiement

SUPREMERS INDICTED.
Somerby and His Associates Charged with
Embezxiement
Yesterday afternoon the Marion county
grand jury returned indictments against
some of the supreme officers of the Iron
Hall, charging them with embezzlement
Those indicted are the officers who were in
terested in the steal of S200, 900. which was
taken to Philadelphia to bolster up Somer.
by's bank.
The persons ore indicted jointly, and each
on two counts. Prosecutor Holtzman
is authority for the statement
that all the officers of the
defunct order who voted TO transfer money
TO the Philadelphia bank have been in
dicted on this charge. The first count
charges the officers jointly with embezzling
s2Oo, 900 of the orders funds, which they
converted to their own use. The second
count charges them with converting to
their own use $500. OCo by using it id Somer.
by's bank ut Philadelphia.
Prosecutor Hoffman was seen last night
by Journal reporter. He was not very
we'll pleased that the matter had got out.
In reply to question he said: ''As to
what the grand jury has done,
/ have nothing to say. As soon as
the receivership case was decided. In
structcd my deputy to present the matter
to the grand jury for full and complete
investigation. and to have indictments re-
turned against all the Iron Hall officials
concerned In tho embezzlement Of funds
from the order"
Were any of the Iron Hall officers M
dicted except those already namedf"
mot that / know of. The fact is. do NOS
remember all the persons indicted, except
that they include those who were instru-
mental in having the funds of the order
transferred to Somerby's Philadeiphis CON-
cern."
The persons mixed up in that affair werS
the ones who met in Philadelphia at Som
erby's call TO arrange some plan to bolster
up the bank. The persons who were there.
according to Mr.. Somerbv's testimony in
the receivership suit, were as follows:
Supreme Justice F. d. somerby.
Supreme Cashier Mark G. Davis.
Vice Supreme Justice A. II. Hosmer, Baltimore
4. w. Rouse, Baltimore.
James III: Eckersley.
Z. III. Baker.
J. Henry Hays. Philadelphia
H G.. Williams Philadelphia.
s. j. Stockwell, Philadelphia.
MT. McMeacnlm fHlladelpnla.
The grand jury based its investigation
and returned the indictments upon the in.
formation furnished on the wltness-stand
by Somerby on Aug. h. Ii was in relation
to the manner in which the $40 900 was
transferred from the orders funds to the
Philadelphia bank. In speaking of the
sllo0O0, In reply to aQuestion, Somerby
said:
1t is in deposit portion OF it $4,000 10
eliminated from the deposit It was used to pre-
vent the attempt TO wreck the Order Of the from
ing Company. think 1t was on April or Git
was on satnrday-the bank examiner OF that
city closed the Mutual Surety Trust, and made
an examination. We had every reason TO believe
IL was an attempt TO wreck the Iron Hall. as it
was known that it was the depository Of the
vestigation IL was discovered that there
was large deposit of the Iron Hall
money there. so large that If the bank
were allowed 10 60 into the receivers hands
1t would In all probability entail heavy loss on
the order. meeting Of executive officers was
from indianapolis. The situation was looked
over, and seeing the peril of the amount therein
deposited. at that time something over $4o0. 900,
the final conclusion arrived at was that II the
bank was wrecked the next move would be re-
ceiver asked for the Order OF the Iron Hall. The
question as To what We should do had TO be an
swered quickly and promptly. Believing the as
sets OF the bank to be good and further be-
lieving that if the bank could be saved az
that time, the Order OF the Iron Hall would
be also saved. we agreed TO protect the cashier,
provided the Iron Hall would donate $4,000,
the amount sufficient TO tide over the bank and
save IL from the recevership. The agreement
was made that the amount should be donated to
the stockholders or the bank for that purpose.
This act was done voluntarily by NJ. C. Davis,
who volunteered 10 furnish the money outside
the Iron Hall, provided the Iron Hall would pro-
tect him in so doing L understand the arrange
menL was afterward made with NJ. c Davis to
that effect by members of the order in that city.
In accordance with their agreed support and
protection, relying upon the order To assume
,n t 1s an sSe aa9 sndsrsS She tns
directors, deposited in the bank, and the bauk
was allowed TO proceed with It's business. This
was reported TO the Supreme sitting which in
dorsed the action and called an extra assess
ment TO pay anything that might be lost at that
time by the measures taken in the orders de-
fense. want to be full and frank Here occurs
the list OF those present given above.
"You assumed 10 take Sl7o,000 ofthe funds OF
the Iron Hali and donate it TO the stockholders
of the banks"
ait was necessary for us so to do, believing at
the time that the loss would be trining that
would he finally donated. There was no find
settlement made, neither has there been up 60
the present time. 1t was matter 10 be adjusted
later on"
Two hundred thousand dollars as taken
to Philadelphia, and SS0.C00 was expended
in worthless bonds. 1t was considered at
the time that Somerby's evidence showed q
loose state of affairs. and the fact that the
officers have been indicted Is not q very
great surprise TO many.
lt Is uDQerSt0Ou tnat the necessary papers
will be issued this morning, and that Gov
ernor Chase will be asked to furnish
regulations for the persons Undated who
reside out of the city. Prosecutor Holtz.
| man was asked If any attempt had yet
| been made To arrest any OF the persons In
dicted.
"No." said be. mo effort las Jet been
made to arrest"
"Will they be arrested soonfu
Yes. think they will.b
Mark &. DAVIS, ex-supreme cashier of the
order. was In consultation with his sttor-
ney last evening. It 10 said by one in q DO.
sition to know that none of the indicted
persons will make any effort TO eysde q
trial. Somerby 10 in Philadelphia, aud 1t ID
on information telegraphed by Judge Cox.
] Already steps have been taken to defend
| the suit The attorneys for the defense will
be Winter X Elan, duncan & Smith and
Albert Wishard. Ii Is not known W hat the
at but the attorneys assert that ell will
give bonds. The reason given for she
grand jury not returning the indictments
| at the last session Is that the evidence had
| TO be- considered and there was 90 much of
| it that il was not placed in their handa
until the last day of the session.
1t Is said that the grand Jury
has not yet completed its iavestiga.
tions, but will look into the evidence
against othera Much more money beside
the S20o.000 mysteriousiy disappeared. and
an attempt will be made to find who 10 re-
| sponsible.
| Prosecutor Hoffman says there is ne
| ouestron but " hat the Dersons indieted or n