The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-13
AFTER THE PARAPHERxALIA.
The Grand United order KnighfS OF
Archery sim Fighting.


Savannah's colored population, or a good
part Of it. at least. turned out yesterday
10 hear the proceedings in the case in
volying the status Of the Grand United
order OF the Knights Of Archery, which
was heard before Judge \. H. MacDon-
ell in the city court. The gallery was
filled, and so were The witness rooms and
the court lobby.
Both Of the factions were well repre-
scented in the court room,
numerically speaking it was
question which was the strong
er. The case consists of a bail in
trover action brought by one faction to-
recover from the other the bows and ar
rows, seals. books. rituals and the gen.
eral paraphernaHa Of the order. In other
words. it is a question as to which fac
ton has the right to the ownership of the
paraphernalia.
The case reads J. H. johnson as grand
master of the Grand United order of the
Knights Of Archery against Ebert Ander-
son. The latter is in possession of the
articles desired, while the former claims
to be the only legal supreme grand mas
ter Of the order. It goes without saying
that the latter makes the same claim.
1t appears that a convention of the or
der was called in Augusta June Il. 1894,
at which no election Of officers was held.
Under the bylaws Of the order they had
nine days in which to recover" the
81.
to recover" or in other words, to call
another meeting for the purpose of hold
ing an election, within the time specified,
and on June 20 James Dorsey, who was
then supreme grand master. appointed
Ebert Anderson to succeed him, and
also appointed other officers of the order.
On July 3d. 1894, the Johnson faction
held a convention in this city, at which
j. II. johnson was elected supreme grand
master and the other usual officers were
also chosen. Subsequently a possessory
warrant was taken out in
Justice Naughtin's court by john
son against Dorsey, Anderson and
others in order to secure the par
aphernalia, which they claimed rightfully
belonged to them. The matter went final
~ TO the superior court where Judge Fail
hgant decided that a possessory warrant
was not the proper remedy for the plain
titfs, and the stun was left in possession
of those who already held it. 1t was
then that the bail i'm trover action in the
city court was instituted.
Last Monday the Anderson faction held
meeting at Pooler at which ii is claimed
about 200 members of the order were
present, and elected officers for the en-
suing year. Ebert Anderson was of course
elected supreme grand master, and the
usual list of officers was also chosen.
Yesterday morning the Johnson fac
ton held meeting in the colored Odd
Fellows hall on Harris street, and elected
J. II. Johnson supreme grand master,
with his list of subordinate officers. There
were forty or fifty members present at
this meeting II is stated by those pres
ent that the attendance was small on
account of the early hour of holding it,
and that it was held early in the morn
ing so as to give all the members an op-
portunity to attend court. There were
members from South Carolina and Florida
present at both meetings.
Mr. w. r. Leakin appeared for the
plaintiff in the proceedings yesterday,
while Anderson, who has possession of the
property, was represented by Mr. p. J.
O'Connor of Messrs. OConnor & O'Byrne
The entire day yesterday was consumed
in taking testimony. Witness after wit
ness was sworn, one side seeking to show
that johnson was the only legally elected
supreme grand master, and the other that
he was not and that Dorsey had per-
feet right to appoint Anderson in his
stead.
1t was amusing to hear some of them
talk. (which faction do you belong tor"
one Of the members was asked.
Il belong to the proper faction" was
the almost invarable reply.
THAT fellow Johnson was initiated in
a coffin shop" another said.
The Knights of Archery is a colored
benevolent and charitable institution or
ganized for the purpose of looking after
the sick and the wants of families of de-
ceased male members. The case involves
the construction of one of the laws gov
erninS the order, and the possession of
the paraphernalia used. 1t will probably
be in progress all day to-day.