The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-10
ALMOST GONE.
THE WORLDS PREDICTIONS COMING
TRUE.
American Fraternai Circle Is Now in =
Loyal Trouble.

Of the Supreme Council, Order 81 the
American Fraternal Circle, at the
proposition to change the order into a
long-term association eliminated yes
terday in proceedings against the
order to place it in the hands Of re-
ceiver. Six bills were filed, four in
Circuit Court No. and two in Circuit
Court No. /. All ask for an injunction
and receiver. There was an appar-
ent rivalry among some Of the counsel
to be the first in bringing an action
against the order, so as to secure a
prior claim if a receiver should be APP
pointed. The first bill mentioned be-
low was fled in Circuit Court No. 2 as
early as 0 o'clock, and the Others fol-
lowed not long afterward.
The Office Of the order, at No. 113
North Charles street, was the scene Of
great excitement. As soon as the
members heard Of the actions they
flocked to the building and crowded
the Office, stairway and pavement.
The police were called upon to prevent
any possible outbreak, but their
services were not required.
This is the story as told in the bills
Of complaint: The order was incor-
porated on July %, 1888, for the pur-
pose of paying 81, 900 on the death Of
q member or at the expiration Of seven
years. Each member had the right to
withdraw two-tenths Of the value Of
his certificate, or 5000, at the end Of
three years, and three-tenths, or $500,
at the end Of FIVE years.
Alta convention Of delegates, held on
February 4, it was decided to abandon
the short time payments and to post
pone the payment of all certificates
except those on which the first pay
ment matured prior to the 18th Of last
January. This change, it is asserted,
was determined upon because the num-
Der of certifcate-holders who would be
entitled to the first payment of 5000
within the next month would more
than exhaust all the funds on hand,
and because it has been discovered
that the plan of the order cannot be
worked out as at first proposed. The
order has on hand $780, 900 applicable
to the payment of the certificates which
matured prior to January Is, and the
officers propose to use the fund for that
purpose as far as it will go. About
$500 certificates, it is Gained, will
mature in the next or months, re-
quiring 100000 to pay the first in
stallment. The order has reserve
fund Of $4O0, 900, Of which So, 900
may be used during 1892 to meet its
obligations.
To pay its p, 900 certificates in the
next three years would require the
enormous sum of So, 400, 900, which, it
is charged, is vastly in excess Of any
sum likely to be received upon any
plan of assessment likely to be adopted.
Therefore, it is charged that the order
is insolvent, and that unless steps are
taken to prevent the proposed payment
of the $3.50, 900 all the members except
those receiving the money will not
only lose what they have paid in, but
all benefits from their membership.
The attempted change in the plan of
the order, it is charged, is without legal
warrant and is violation of therights
of the members. The injunction is
asked to restrain any payment of GER
tiicates, and receiver is wanted tol
distribute the funds of the order under
the jurisdiction of the court. Judge
Dennis. in the Circuit Court, ordered
that cause be shown on or before Feb
ruary Oath why the application should
not be granted, and Judge Phelps, in
Circuit Court No. 2, signed a similar
order for February %.
In Circuit Court No. 2 the bills were
filed by W. B. Crisp, J.Charles Lin
thicum and OsP, Baker, counsel, for
Clemena Robinson and three others;
by Geo. Norbury Mackenzie and Find
ley & Mackenzie, counsel for Talbot
w. jenkins and five others; by Lewis
j, Cohen, counsel for George Ewalt
and seven others, and by Martin Leh-
meyer, counsel for Leopold Rosenheim
land three others.
The bills in the Circuit Court were
filed by Samual Snowden and B. b
Shreeves, counsel for Oregon M. Den
MS and three others, and by Highland
iP. Stewart, counsel for Louis Bennett