Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-08-12
THE ARGUS.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 12, 1892
IRON HALL AFFAIRS
The Supreme Sitting Takes Ac.
ton on the Trouble.
DAVIS AND WALKER CONDEMNED

The Supreme Cashier and Accountant
Charged with Treachery to the Order
-Beginnine of the LItieation-Both
Sides Present Statements in Court
What the Plaintiff, Complain OF and
the Reply of the Extraordinarily
Goes on the stand-His Testimony.
ISDIASAPoLIs, Aug. IL. - Yesterday
morning the supreme council Of the Order
IF the Iron Hall, which was called for a
special session by Supreme Justice Som
srby, met at the supreme Office. Fifty
three delegates were present They pre-
served the utmost secrecy, and refused TO
talk AT all TO newspaper men. At u
O'Clock they entered the council hall and
the meeting was called to order by Som
erby. The purpose of the meeting was to
consider the condition of the order and
to take action with reference TO the
charges recently made against it's fnan-
cial condition. member of the supreme
sitting, who for obvious reasons does not
care TO have his identity revealed. last
night outlined to a reporter the proceed
ings OF that body and committee ap-
pointed By it. The sitting was in session
unit 1870 p. IN. First Supreme Justice
Somerby read his call and made speech
~ "i--NA A-N G-NiAtti Ms lIiHDtcHCc Oh al
charges, and dwelt upon the pride he had
taken in building up the order.
The Sitting Condemns Davis.
A committee of niue was then moved TO
inquire into the @state Of the order" and
discover if the officers were doing their
duty. or If some Of them hal been treach-
erous TO its best interests, as intimated in
Somerby's speech. In electing this COM
mittee the anti-Somerby faction was out
voted. The committee met last night and
heard evidence. 1t will report 10 the sit
ting today to the effect that Supreme
Cashier Davis and Supreme Accountant
Walker have been recreant TO their trust
In that they have Joined in a nspiracy
with the plaintiffs IN the present suit TO
wreck the Oider, and have furnished infor-
nation 70 the attorneys of these plaintiffs
The heads Of Davis and Walker will IN
doubtedly 20 off.
Why They Want a Receiver.
While tie supreme council was n ses-
sion dozen attorneys were before Judge
Taylor arguing the application for re-
ceiver made last week Neither the plain
tiffs nor the defendants were in court at
the morning session. Attorney Hawkins,
representing the plaintiffs, made the
opening statement, reiterating the allega-
tions in the complaint and simplifying
them He said that it would be shown
that the supreme officers had conducted
the affairs with the utmost extravaganza.
At Omaha IN 1889 the four days session OF
the supreme coUncil~that was composed Of
only forty uTeIn bers cost the organization
<l5, 600. The council had given cham
payne supper TO the board Of trade and the
council, and had presented the mayor
with an expensive silver service Il had
also voted . 90 to Soner by as a gift.
Other similar incidents were related by
the attorney.
The Defense States It's Case.
At the afternoon session Mr.. SOmerby
and the executive committee of the order
appeared in court. Judge Howe made the
opening speech for the defense in which
he said: ave are not ready TO 90 to trial.
This suit wss filed while Mr.. Somerby Was
out of the city, and we were compelled to go
TO Mr.. Davis aud Mr.. Walker for our in
formation, which we believe is not as
complete as that given the opposition" He
denied ali allegations as to any dishonest
ty, but admitted and sought to explain
many points made by the defense. Money
had been "borrowed !" he said, from the re-
serve fund for the general fund, but paid
back. He explained the failure to hold
meetings by saying there was no business
to justify them,