The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-21
Want THEIR HELP
Lots Of Work for the Grand
Jury to Perform.


Receivers for the American Frater-
nal Circle have not yet been named,
and the officers viii not say whether
they will carry the matter to the court
Of appeals or not. They are still con-
sidering the matter, and II is said will
not come to any definite determination
until next week.
There is still great deal Of talk III
Baltimore about the probable indict-
ment Of the officers Of the circle By the
grand jury on the charge Of fraud.
This is the only indictment that can
be brought against them, as breach Of
trust Is il matter that may only be con
sidered by the civil courts. The meme
bers could combine and sue for the
money appropriated BY the officers,
but the grahd jury can only take cog
nizance Of criminal matters.
IF they do their duty as they are
sworn 70 do said prominent certifi
cate holder, Il for one do not see how
| it is possible for them to pass BY such
q fragrant case as this has turned out
to be. Here are two judges Of the
supreme bench Of Baltimore, both men
Of sound Judgment, who sign their
names boldly to an opinion in which
they say that fraud has been proven
on the officers. Surely this Is the mat
ter for the consideration Of the grand
jury. / venture to say that IL this
thing had occurred during the term of
Gen. Berry's grand jury an indictment
would have been brought in that would
have astonished the natives and scared
the officers out Of their boots. And
think it very probable that the present
grand jury win do something. It ii
young yet and hasn't got its hand in
but you can bet your bottom dollar
that If any OF the members Of the
circle have nerve enough to 60 before
them and make charges against the
officers that they would be very atten-
lively listened to. If ] had the time
would certainly do it.
i fit has been decided to take an
appeal to the higher courts, as is
very probable, the 10000 certificate
holders will be kept out Of their money
for months unless influence is used to
have the case advanced on the docket
Of the court Of appeals. This is what
the certificate holders say they will
do il Congressman Rayner and Ber-
nard Carter, counsel for the officers,
give notice Of appeal. These gentle
men are yet very reticent, and will not
say word as to their intentions. The
officers all want an appeal, but it is
said that this action on their part may
precipitate matters in the grand jury
room.
There is big stir among the certif-
cate holders, as might be expected.
The following letters indicate the feel
ing Of indignation
MARTINsBURG, May 20.
EDITOR WORLD 81 am much pleas
cd at the plucky way in which you ex-
pose abuses. If other papers would
act in the same way, official scoundrel-
ism would not be so rampant. You
have given the members of the Amer
can Fraternal Circle more information
as to how they have been swindled
and how they may yet further be
swindled than all the other papers
combined. If your report be correct,
that the officers intend to appeal
against the judges decision for re-
ceiver, there is no doubt that unless
the members take prompt action, pay
ment Of their claims will be indefinite
u postponed, and by the usual hacus
pocus trickery, the assets will dwindle
to comparative insignifcance. / say,
let few Of the members combine,
and prefer before the grand jury
charges Of fraud against those officers
who have illegally appropriated large
sums and also against those accessory
thereto.
How the people have allowed them
selves TO behoodwinked with IMMUNITY
50 far, am not loss to understand.
As write. am reminded Of another
large society that came TO grief in Bal
timore q few months ago. It was in |