The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-28
18TH edition.


| AIter the court convened this morn.
ing jury WIS drawn to try tho case
of Mira Rebecca Emmons Va. Hope
Lodge, No. Q. Harry Enmons repre-
sonted the plaintiff and II. Ii. Ward.
the defendant. The suit Is brought
for tho recovery OF $500 as death bene-
fits. the husband OF Mrs. Emmons be.
ing member of the society aud In
good standing.
The plaintiff Ia tho mother Of Mr..
lGmmons and the deceased was his
father. He said he was not demand
ing any charity of.the lodge tut 1t was
a right. IL was doing wrong to the
members to allow any such action to
go unchHilenged. ut Is one OF the
cases whore duty and right demand
Justice" The deceased had boon an
active member OF the lodge for forty
years and during tnat time had COM
piled with every law OF the order. The
plalntiif was therefore entitled to the
amount asked for and the accrued in
Iterast from July 5, 1890.
Samuel Murphy, DR., was the first
witness called. He is the financial
secretary OF Hope Lodge No. 81, /. o.
10. F., and WAS acquainted with Win.
Emmons At the time of his death
lall the dues were paid. but they were
not when due. The books OF the
lodge were produced and they proved
lllnL Tile uttbH9tNl WIS uob ih'ODtpN "
the lodge, There WINS charge OF do
llluquency against VIM. Emmons, hi
having fallen behind with his duei
Just previous to his decease.
The ledger OF tho lodge showed that
on Feb, %. 1890 he was indebted "a
the lodge $40, aud lie was only
credited with f4,35. Tho following
week he was behind % cents and the
following week - cents. On March
10, he owed IS cents and on that
evening was credited with $500.
The payment of $500 covered all ha
lowed In dues and several weeks ahead,
l1he witness said tho deceased was not
lin arrears at tho time OF his death, but
according TO tho bylaws OF the order.
William Emmons would not become
beneficial until ono month afterwntd.
Mrs. Rebecca EmmonB was called.
IShe is the plaintiff and Is the widow oil
William Emmons. Alter the death
OF her husband she was returned ~
as overpaid dues
After Mr.. Emmons rested Mr. Ward
motioned for non-sult on tne
grounds that there had been 10 proof
= as to the amount of indebtedness at
the time OF tho death of William EN-
mons; that there had been no proof
good standing, and no proof that he
had 80 continued to be for six months
lprior to his death
MIR, Ward then called Edwin Hirst
to tho stand. Mr.. lIirst has held posi-
Itions OF noble grand. grand represen..
tative and grand scribe OF lodges OF
the order, Nj Emmous obiscted to
Inllowing Mr.. lllrst to read from the
digest book of the Grand Lodge the
clause describing the word, "delln
iquency," on the ground that the wilt
moss was nm officer In the lodge. H'
thought tho books should speak fol
themselves. All the evidence OF thu
witness was ruled out
Harry l.. France is member o
Hope Lodge, and is receiving secre
, ttary of the lodge. lie vas handed his
books and from them he read the m In
lutes OF March 3lst. 1890, showing tina
William Emmons had been placed II
, the care OF committee TO visit tn
sick.
On April ., the books showed thai
lir. Lmmons had died on April D. anC
was buried three days later. ON TIL
! same date an order was moved to b'
I drawn In favor OF Mrs Emmons, 10
( So overpnid dues, but action was cor
tinued until the next meeting, whe
i lit was again moved with umendmen
\ THAT the funeral benefits be allowed
/ but final action was again postponeI
J, On April %, the motion to pay iul
eTal expenses was defeated ana u
4 order for the original motion OF pay
= ling the overpuid dues was pussed.
On June is, 1890. Harry Lmmon
presented certificate asking for fuI
(. ,eral benefits, but It was laid over III
It'll the following week, whom 1t wa
agRin laid over. Tho minutes state
that tho bentits would be paid In du
time.
a, The following week the motion I
~ pay tho funeral benefits aslndetinit'
Y lily postponed. On July 9th the MI
ton was defeated.
c. Perkins said member to DO
good standing, according to the la
of the lodge, must not he behind
Iany time while member. lilo re0
from the bylaws the section.
William s. Illlles asked for judi
ment Tor want of appearance Ill Il
lforoign attachment cases OF ilille5
Jones ss. Ernest $. Naylor and WI
3. IIilles. vs. Catherine ). Christ
juries OF inqulsition will delermlI
respective amounts.
Judge Bail asked for publication I
the return OF Commissioner HnrrinI
ton in the divorce Case OF Anton Sku
ak Va. Mary Skupski. The relu
TN WAS IN favor OF tho divorce.
In At a55 O'Clock court Adjourned.