Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-01

The arrival last Monday Of the high
officials of the supreme Lodge Of the
World, Knights Of Pythias, has served
only To increase the interest manifested in
the condition Of the funds Of the lodge
which were placed by supreme Master Of
Fxchequer Stansbury j. Wiley with the
insolvent firm Of X. Il. Robinson " Com
pany in the aggregate sum of S7U. 100, and
which, as the officers of the lodge have been
informed, have been carried away in the
lamentabe financial wreck that over
whelmcd he firm. The officers are W. w.
Blackwell of Kentucky, supreme chan
celor of the supreme Lodge of the World.
X. of r.; MessrS White and Steinhart the
former supreme keeper Of records and
seal and the latter member of the finance
committee These three officers arrived
in this city from Washington al ll1l
O'Clock and proceeded to Wills Hotel,
where dinner was served.
Ever since the visit Of w. w. Black
well ard w Il Richie, officials Of the ST.
prenie body to this city on May 10Th. to
look after the missing funds, expectation
has been at its utmost as to the ultimate
outcome of the complications in which the
orders funds are involved by the failure,
THE GAZETTE has been in possession for
over q week Of the action taken by the
officials on the occasion OF the first visit,
but the Information came through conf
from publication until Monday. whom II is
printed with the full consent of the par
ties furnishing the information
The officials came to Wilmington May
18th, ON receiving telegram from Mayor
Wiley, notifying them to come on They
registered at the Clayton House, after
which conference was held with Mayor
Wiley and his bondsmen. Lawyer
Richie who is looked upon Us one Of the
shrewdest Cornscllnrs i'll Ohio, and who is
an influential member Of the order, was
informed by Mayor Wiley Of the action
Of Mr. Robinson III transferring the prop
erty beyond rhrtieth street, for the con
sideratiun Of $4,000. Mr. Richie was
also informed that between S33,DuO and
S3G, 900 of securities had been transferred
to Job II. Jackson. who holds them III
trust as security for the loss To the X. of l..
through the failure.
The conference took place in the office
of Benjamin NieldS, counsel for Mayor
Willey's boudsmcn, and after the X. of J..
aitiCiais learned the status of the case they
submitted a proposition to Mayor Wiley
and his houdsmeI, which was to the effect
that the bondsmen should pay over 10 the
supreme Lodge the amount OF the bond,
$4,000; that the bondSmen should have
control OF the property transferred to
Mayor Wiley BY Henry G. Robinson.
comprising the $4,000 in securities and
that the bundsmcn were To dispose of the
property At their convenience, and If the
property brought Il sum in excess of $40
900, the amount of the bond, the bonds
men were to turn the surplus over 10 the
Supreme Lodge. Ii the sum did not ag-
grcgate more than $4,000 the lodge was
prepared to lose the difference between the
sum set forth in the bond, $4,000 and the
amont Of the fund involved, $40, 700 or
so 700,
This proposition was not agreed to by
the bondslnen of Mayor Wiley, a fact
which caused some surprise among the Il.
Of T.. officials, and induced them to believe
that action had better he taken rs speedily
as possible. With this object in view the
services Of J.. G. Bird and w. c. SpruanCc
We're secured to represent the interests Of
the Supreme Body IN this city. McssrS.
Blackwc and Richie, were not satisfied
with the existing stateof atfairs,and Messrs:
Bird and Spruance were instructed to hold
themselves ready for action III the matter,
and be prepared to begin legal proceedings
at such time as the X. Of T. officials shpnld
order them to 90 ahead.
AS soon ms the conference was over the
X. of L. officials returned to their homes
with the eSpressed purpose of examining
the bond, which was in the possession oi
the supreme keeper of records and seal
and for the purpose of laying the matter
finance committee was duly infOrmer
Of the status OF the case, and the result
was their appearance in this city Monday
morning to balance the accounts of thu
supreme master Of records and seal, aut
ascertain Just what action it would be bes
10 take IN the premises. They are in con
ference with Mayor Wiley this Afternoon
and the result OF that conference isawaltel
with interest. Benjamin Nields appears a,
counsel for Mayor Wiley, and Messrs
Bird and Spruance for the X. Of 7.
Hon w, Il. Richie, Lima, o., and Johl
c. Burns Of Mansfield, o., members Of tn
finance committee of the supreme Lodge
arrived sunday afternoon ami proceeded
TO Hotel Willis, where quarters had beer
engaged for them by Mayor Wiley Mr.
Richie, besides being a member Of III
finance committee, is supreme v!ce-Chan
ecllor and counsel for the supreme Lodge
To Il newspaper reporter Mr.. ltchl
said the committees visit Is Tor the pun
pose of balancing the books Of Mr.. White
The supreme keeper of records and sea
He thought the work could he complete
in day. He was asked whethe
the supreme officers still think thf
the funds Of the supreme Lodg
are amply protected, TO which inquir
lie replied that the bond Of the suprenl
keeper Of exchequer amounts TO S1O,UO
while it is estimated that the amount !
hand previous to the Robinson ialul
was $4,000. He asserted that the order
not in danger and stated that its prcsCI
receipts are sufficient to carry it. He sal
he would be pleased to give any informs
ton possible, but he could not say more
present.
Mr.. Stenhart resides in Grcenyllc. Ala
and Mr.. White in Nashville, Tenn.
j. h. Brayton of Newport r. l.; II.
Mcdonald OF Minneapolis, Mimi, an
George w Lindsay OF baltimore, who al'
are members Of the finance committe
arrived Monday.
A PROPOSITION OF SETTLEMENT WITH REsPE'
TO tine ROBINSON FAILURE.
The latest development in the Robnsc
failure is a proposition Of settlement mac
by the firm and now being considered
the creditors.
The proposition is for the creditors
waive all their claims against the firm Al
accept its obligation, without security,
pay the amounts due in instruments,
three, five and seven years, without !
terst.
Already nearly one half Of the credto
have signed an agreement to accept ti
proposition, and there is I probability til
all will eventually sign.
a strong incentive 10 adopt this course
the probability that lttleur nothing won
be gained by u forced liquidation OF Z
firms assets. Such action i'll view OF Y
costly litigation it would surely ensendt
would leave the creditors i'll the end vi
appliance too insi snlicant to be cunsidere
1t is held by many that it wll be lar Wls
10 allow the firm TO continue business Y
hampered, and take the not unreasonat
chance Of finally receiving their claims
full.
The officers of the Supreme Lodge OF t
World, X. of r., who have been prob
The circumstances of the funds Of I