The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-26
Robert j. Stewart Makes Away
With $1,000
Belonging to A. o. U. w. Lodges
of This City.
HOW EXPOSURE CAME.
Stewart Confesses That He Used
j the Funds.
Stewart Won't Be Prosecuted
Lodges Not Crippled.

hOD0Tb y. OL0WdEI, one Ol the OOSb
known lodge men in Topeka, admits that
he is a defaulter to the amount of at
least 81 900 in A. o. q. w. lodge No. 3
and Capital Legion, Select Knights,
Mol.
Stewart, who has for several years been
officially connected with these two lodges
as Financier, has confessed a shortage of
$1,000 in his accounts with No. 3, A O.
Z. W., and of $500 with Select Knights
No 1.
Mrs. Stewart says her husband at
tempted to kill himself last night by tax
ing poison. but that he is still alive and
is able to sit up today.
The .defalcation was discovered
through the officers of Select Knights
No. 1. Last Saturday II. c. Streeter,
commander of this lodge. was notified by
Grand Treasurer Ford of Emporia, that
Legion No. 1 had been suspended for the
non payment of assessments. Mr.. Street
er went to Emporia Monday and made
an investigation, finding that his lodge
had four unpaid assessments with the
grand lodge. He came back to Topeka
and laid the matter before Mr.. Stewart
and asked him to account for the short
age with the grand lodge. Stewart at
once admitted that he had misappropri-
ated lodge funds.
An investigation Ordered.
At meeting of the Legion Tuesday
night special committee was appointed
to investigate into the matter and see
how much the lodge is short
The officers of the Legion reported
their discoveries to the officers of No. 3,
A. o. L. W.. and on making little in
vestigation the officers of No. 3 discover
ed that their lodge funds was also short
on account of Mr. Stewards financiering
Master Workman D. s. Myers and
other officers of the lodge laid the mat
ter before Stewart yesterday and de-
manded an explanation and ordered him
to turn over the books.
Stewart then admitted that for about
four years he had been appropriating
lodge money to his own use, but had
carefully concealed his peculations from
the auditing committees by keeping
double set of books. When the auditing
committee would make its examinations
of his accounts they always found every
thing all right, because they only saw
one set of books.
a Meeting Held Last Night.
A meeting of Lodge No. 3 was held
last night, at which Stewards stealings
were made public, and John Putnam,
proprietor of the Central Barber shop,
was elected financier to succeed the de-
faulting officer, while Master Workman
Myers was given the duty of straighten
ing out the financial matters of the
lodge.
Stewart lives in brick house west of
ent at the lodge meetings either Tuesday
night or last night. Mrs. Stewart sent
word to the lodge last night that her
husband had taken poison but
he is still alive today, and the
officers of the lodge do not place much
credence in the story of attempted sui
eide.
Mrs Stewart was seen in the lodge
room this morning by STATE JOURNAL
reporter but she didn't want to talk
about the affair which she said was
..lodge business" She said Mr.. Stewart
was able to sit up this morning.
Admits He Took $1,000.
Master Workman Myers said: 'We do
not know how much the shortage will
amount to in our lodge but Mr. Stewart
has taken about $1,000. A commit
tee will make thorough investigation,
However the lodge is still all right finan-
cially; all our debts are paid and we have
money in the treasury.
There will be no criminal prosecution
in connection with the affair, and the
lodge will not call on the bondsmen,
who are DIR. A. j. Huntoon and G. Bauer
schmidt.
Commander H. c. Streeter of Select
Knights No. l said: "We discover that
we are between $500 and $400 short with
the Grand lodge, besides losing some
thing out of the general fund, but the
legion has other resources, and will be
allie to stand up under the loss. ID. G.
Naylor, who is one of Stewards
bondsmen to the legion, went to Empo-
ria today to make a further investiga-
tion.o
Paid Only $50 n Month.
Stewart has been financier of these
lodges for several years and has been
paid $50 month by lodge No. for his
services while the Legion paid him $50
a year. He gave his entire time to the
work of keeping the books of the two
lodges.
1t is said that Stewart has used all the
money taken from the lodges in sup
porting his family but that he has lived
high for some time.