Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-15
LOOKING TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT.

The Suit Against the Bondsmon of Ex-
Mayor Wiley ms Custodian OF tho X.
of r. Funds That We're Lost in tho
Robinson Failure May BE AmIcably
Adjusted.
There is a probability That the suit
brought by the officials Of the Supreme
Lodge, knights Of Pythias, against tho
bondsmen OF ex-Mayor Wiley, who
was Supreme Chancellor, and who had
on deposit with r. r. Robinson &
Company upwards OF $4,000 Of the
funds Of the lodge at the time of the
big failure last June, will be settled out
of court. Negotiations are now pending
between counsel for the lodge and the
bondsmen Of Mr.. Wiley, and it is alto
gether probable that an amicable agree
ment will be arrived at soon, whereby
the suit CAN be settled without going to
trial.
It is understood that proposition has
been submitted to Messrs. Bird and
Spruance, counsel for the X. OF p, by
the attorney for ex-Mayor Willey's
bondsmen, Colonel Nields, and as soon
as this proposition has been thoroughly
considered by counsei on both sides
there may be speedy settlement of the
pending suit.
The bondsmen have agreed to turn
over to the Supreme Lodge the Beeson
farm beyond Riverview' and a certain
amount of the stock of the Wilmington
Dental Manufacturing Company. Vari-
Gus estimates have been placed on the
Beeson farm, and some have been as
high as $4,000. This sum is believed
to be excessive, however. There is q
mortgage of $4,000 on the farm.
The delay in bringing about settle
ment Of the suit is believed to be owing
to the present condition of the securities
of the Dental Company, 1t being we'll
known that the company'saffairs passed
into the hands of receiver several
months ago. The failure to place value
on the shares of the stock, and the diff
Guilty that has arisen in arriving at a
settled amount of stock to be turned
over to the lodge, have thus far pre-
vented definite settlement of the suit.
Counsel for the lodge will endeavor
10 have an actual valuation placed on
the Beeson farm, and as soon as the
stock Of the Dental Company has been
fully appraised, the full amount OF
securities lost to the lodge by reason of
the Robinson failure, which aggregate
$4,000 and upwards, will be paid. The
proceedings begun in the United States
district court will Immediately termi-
nate upon the payment of the funds to
counsel for the lodge.
In view of the fact that the Supreme
Lodge, K. of p, extends not only
throughout this country but also has d
large membership in Canada, the
Supreme Lodge of the World was com.
peeled to bring suit in the United States
court 10 recover the missing funds. The
result of the settlement will be awaited
with interest by knights all over the
land.
The counsel retained in the case arc
Levi G. Bird and William c. Spruance
of this city, and Walter B. Richie OF
Ohio. The latter is the man who engi.
neered United States Senator Calvin
Brice's campaign in Ohio and whose
name has been prominently mentioned
for the gubernatorial chair of the Buck.
eye State.
When interviewed by representative
OF The GAZETTE, yesterday morning
DIessrs, Bird and Spruance of counsel
for the Supreme Lodge, were reluctant
to discuss the matter further than to
state that negotiations were pending
looking toward settlement of the case
Counsel were not prepared to say just
how soon the suit would be definitely
disposed of, however.
Much interest is manifested in the
matter not only in Wilmington and the
State of Delaware but throughout this
country and in Canada.