The morning call., 1893-09-01
AFTER THE COIN.
The Odd Fellows Begin an
Investigation.
A GUARDIANS LOST PAPERS.
G. T. PidwelI, Accused of EmbezzIe-
ment, Responsible to the
Probate Court.

An investigation of Cyril T. Pidwell's
accounts will be commenced this morning
by the trustees of the Grand Lodge, l. o.
o. F., of the State.
Pidwell IS the eX-SecretaTy Of the Odd
Fellows Hall Association, and also assist
ant to Grand Secretary w. b. Lyon of the
Grand Lodge, and as stated in The CALL
1t is charged that while in those positions
lie has appropriated funds to his own use.
The Odd Fellows Hall Association is Il
corporation entirely separate aud distinct
from the order itself, though many OF the
lodges in the city are stockholders in the
association. As secretary of the assOcia-
tlon Pidwell received all the rentals for
the various halls in the building, aud it is
charged that part of the amounts received
from this source went to replenish Pid-
wells eXcheQuer rather than to pay divi-
dends to the stockholders.
But Pidwell also held responsible posi-
tion in the grand secretary's Office, and
when Mr.. Lyon was away Pidwell had full
charge, and therefore opportunities for the
same work as that with which he is
charged in connection with the hall assU-
citation.
Grand Master J. II. Thompson of Eureka
cided on general investigation of both
the secretary's and treasursr's officeS, and
at meeting OF the grand trustees held
yesterday ii was decided that such an in
vestlgaIlOn should he held, and it was re.
solved to begin at once.
1t was the grand masters wish that
committee composed of men who were not
mem bers of the board should be appointed.
and then the acts of all the grand officers
would be lmpartlally investigated, and
there would be no chance for faVoritism
to influence their work.
But while the officers were nerfectly
willing to 0e investigated, an objection was
raised when 1t was proposed that the in
Nestigauon should be conducted by out
slders, aud Tor some reason the wish of
the grand master was overruled. aud the
trustees Will begin their work to-day. An
expert VIII be employed and The work
progress as rapidly as possible
30 lar as the actual amount of money
winch is supposed 10 be missing nothing
new has been found. and the officials OF the
order will make no further statement than
has already been published until the in
VestlgatOn Is concluded.
Another matter was reported at the
Odd Fellows building yesterday, which.
while 1t is IN no way connected with the
order. at the same time places PidWel1 in a
peculiar position. and il the facts are as
they appear and no explanation can be
gross injustice at his hands
In 1877 Pidwell was appointed guardian
or Caroline GarTone, a minor child of Felix
Garr0ne, deceased. The ward was AZ
that time 10 years Of age, and consequently
she oeca me OF age soon, out as Fidweil was
also guardian or her brother final distribu-
tlon nt the estate was not made until he
became of age.
AT that time petition was filed setting
1orth That Caroline GarrOne was Incompe-
Tent to manage her properly. and PidwelI.
being dlsch arged as guardian of the minor.
vas appointed guardian of an incompe-
tent person.
Ihe estate consisted of a small amount of
y money and some persona al property, and of
ck aal estate which was afierward sold
olnder order OF court, and Caroline Gar
zones share amounted 10 S495O
1t was in 1882 that Pidwei was AZ
pointed guardian of Caroline Garrone. an
lncempetent person, and during the next
two years PidweIl filed two reports as
guardian and then the case seems 20 have
dropped out Of the Probate Court entirely.
and for nine years it seems that no repnrf
has been made. The papers in the case
break on abruptly at that time, and there
Is nefher final report nor discharge. and
Fldweil Is guardian. How a matter thus
In probate could drop so completely out of
sight Is not explained.
In the meantime Pidwell has paid Caro-
line GaFTone $50 month, which, while
possibly sufficient for her support, would
be small interest on her estate, and IL il
has been we'll cared for it ought TO have in
creased in value during the nine years
since the last report.
Pidwel may have looked after the es-
tate carefully and kept the accounts of
his ward scrunuIously, but either the rec
ords have been lost or he has neglected the
very Important duty of making any re-
ports TO the Probate Court.