The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-01
SHORT IN HIS ACCOUNTS.

Mr.. Wayne AIcOtt as Treasurer of the
ManteO Lodge of Odd Fellows, the
knights of Pythias and the Covenant
Building Association, Uses the Funds
of These Organizations for his Pri-
yate Purposes and COnfesses Judg-
ment In Satisfactien--The Societies
Safe Against Loss--He Resigns his
Office as Treasurer--Sympath Ex-
Pressed for him by FelIOw-members.
On Saturday last, Mr.. Wayne Alcott
of this city, was recorded in the Clerks
office as having confessed judgment IN
favor of Manteo Lodge Of Odd Fellows,
the Knights of Pythias, and the Cove
nant Building Association.
This action led to rumors which yes
terday were prevalent in a quiet way.
To be brief, Mr.. Alcott had been Treas
urer of the three organizations above
named and as such had misused their
money for his own purposes. That is the
whole story.
Last Friday night, at meeting of the
Pythians, Mr. Alcott had, it was stated,
voluntarily told of his short comings,
and had offered his resignation which
was accepted.
The amount of the whole shortage
amounts, it was said, to about $500.
This is expected to be met by property
of Mr.. Alcott's and by his bondsmen,
if necessary. His bondsmen in
the Odd Fellows are Messrs.
Beine and Blake and in the
Pythians, Mr.. Frank Stronach. In
the Pythian lodge, Rev. j. L. Foster
was elected in his place.
Mr.. Alcotts was seen concerning the
matter, and was frank to confess the
facts as stated above, saying at the same
time that the money had been used for
building his house, with the expectation
of having it returned to him by another
party whom it is not necessary to name
here.
On inquiring at the store of Mr.. A. B.
Stronach, where Mr.. Alcott had
been at work as book keeper, Mr..
Stronach was seen, and said that he did
not regard Mr.. Alcott as a dishonest
man; that he regarded him as man I'M
fitted by nature for management of
affairs; that he had gone into some die
tionary scheme in which probably some
of the money had been put.
Another pythian said that Mr.. Alcott
had been man of means, with bank
account, and that it is quite probable
that this tleasurer's money was mixed
with his own in way to confOund
things.
Another very prominent Odd Fellow
said that Mr.. AlcOtt got behind
with his Odd Fellows Lodge, his Pythian
lodge and the Covenant Building Asso-
cation using monies which he had rea
sonable expectation of replacing, but in
which he was disappointed. He said all
the losses were secured by bonds which
were good. OF course, continued this
gentleman, this did not justify
the act, but he believed that
Mr.. Alcott did not act with
any criminal intent and he certainly
had shown his purpose to surrender all
that he had to exonerate his bondsmen.
''It is not an unusual case", he con-
tinued, "and I believe he will make
good every cent that he has used. He
has yet many friends who believe in
him.
Inc yLnIauS VIII lOS6 9l0U W 9Ifo,
one of the members said. The bulk of
the balance will fall upon the Odd Eel
lows, but it seems that the shortage will
all be made good.
1t is understood that no action will be
taken against Mr.. Alcott, who still re-
tains his membership in the lodges, the
members, those who have been seen,
seeming to express themselves more in
sorrow than in terms OF condemnation.