The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-03-16


THE MASONIC FRAUD.
The fellow who has been swindling
the Masonic Fraternity in Northern Yer
mont and Northern New York, going by
the name of Chas. II. Mason of Nit. An
thony Lodge of Bennington, came to
grief in Oswego, N. Y, last week, in re-
spouse to kilograms from Judge Mason,
and the Associated Press dispatches Of
Wednesday. 1t would seem from the
correspondence and articles in the Os-
wego Daily Palladium that from Chat
eaugay the fraud went tC Watertown
and there got into trouble with the au
thorities under the tramp law, and this
fact coming to the ears of the MasOns in
Oswego, coupled with the kilograms
from Col Bennett and Judge Mason to
arrest the scoundrel as he was fraud,
the Recorder made quick work of his
case and sent the alleged Mason to the
OnOndaga penitentiary for four months
and he commenced his term last Friday.
The fellow appears to know people in
Bennington, and freely refers to Col.
Benrett, w. M, John G. Clark, secre-
tary and other members of the Frater-
nifty here. Before the replies to the tel
egraphi, inquiry of Tuesday afternoon
were made, the scamp had obtained of
Bro. E. P. Burt, chairman of the Reli,f
Committee, ticket for Bennington, and
a small sum of money. The ticket the
fraud sold for Urifle and got drunk on
the avails. This assisted the Recorder
in giving him sentence. The fellow
made some of the fraternity believe he
was a Mason, but did not prove himself
to Bro. Burt, who telegraphed as above
stated, and the latter does not believe
the scamp ever saw the inside of lodge.
The Palladium says:
Mason (the fraud), claimed he was a
locomotive fireman by profession, and
had been employed ON the Central Yer
mont Railroad. The prisoner further
stated that he had told no untruths in
appealing Mr.. Burt, but that his name
was G. II. Mason and that he comes from
Bennington, Vt. The only thing in
which he deceived anyone was as to his
intention of going to Bennington"
When the tramp was arrested in Wa
tertown, N. Y he claimed he was only
Is years of age, and Bro. Burt is of the
opinion that he is very little. if any, over
q, which disposes of the possibility of
his being a Mason. The alleged g. Ii.
Mason was sworn in his own behalf. and
it would appear chat as he stuck to it, he
was Chas. II. Mason, member of Mt.
Anthony Lodge of MasOns of Benning.
ton. Vt, charge of perjury might be
sustained against him on his release.
The friends o. the real Judge Mason are
having quiet laugh al the Judges eX-
pense over the last clanse of the OswegO
report which says: sc. Ii. Mason left ON
the afternoon train and is now safely
lodged in the Penitentiary at Syracuse,
for four months, still perSisting that lie
was the true Chas. II. Mason of Ben
nington, Vermont.
Over Sunday i'll prison seems to have
changed things with the scamp, as the
following letter shows:
ONoNDAGA COUNTY PENITENTIARY, |
SYRACUSE, N. Y, March u, 1894.
10 charles MGSon.-Mr Mason. | hope
that you will have little pity for me in
my present condition. wish to write
you these few lines to let you know
that am truly sorry for what | have
done. | wish also to state that if you
will not prosecute me, l will leave the
country for good. have learned more
in the few days l have been in prison
than | have ever knew before, and if you
will give me a chance. | will try to lead
better life. If you will write me at
once, for | am only allowed to write but
once month Now, Mr. Mason, | wish
you would not prosecute me, as these
four months in prison is the first l have
ever done, and hope it will be the last.
And if you and the other men will give
me chance, l will leave the country for
good, and obtain work and try to pay
back in time what have obtained from
them. Yours with respect,
CHARLES HINsON MASON.
The writing is not at of an illiterate
person, but couple of expressions show
the prison slang. This is not his first
term. While there may have been an
other Charles III. Mason in Bennington.
at some period, yet it remains true that
there is no other than Judge Mason who
is, or ever was, member of Mt. An
Uhony Lodge, +. and A. NJ, hence the
scamp's personation of the real Bro.
Mason, should never be allowed an OPP
portuRity to be repeated. The Brethren
of Oswego say that If the fact could have
been shown on the trial, that the real
and only Charles III. Mason of Mt. An
thony Lodge. Bennington, was at home,
the sentence would have been more Sc
we're; but, as stated in the BANNER two
WeeRS ago, the CelePrdmS all lell sHOII VI
stating said fact This matter has been
a great annoyance to Judge Mason, and
we are glad the scoundrel was so soon
apprehended, and is likely to get his just
deserts. Like all camps, high o. low,
he is sorry most a,pfuIty, and will never
do so any more.
DIR. George S. Cahill, formerly of st.
Adams, has been appointed surgeon of
the Boston and Maine railroad. He is
now delivering course of lectures in
the Boston Physicians and Surgeons
hospital.
1872 YRss
But Healthy