The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-08
Stories OF a General Row at the
Last Meeting
THE PRESIDENT THREATENED
The Janitor Says They Are HotbIooded
Fellows
Ex-President Davis Says That He Was
Threatened With Personal Violence.
Other Statements

kahar Israel, as Its name implies. is
congregation of Hebrews consisting OF
thirteen members only, founded for the
purpose OF devoting more time to religi.
Gus services in strictly orthodox way
than any of the other societies are in the
habit of practising. Last Sunday, No
vemebr Sd, a business meeting was called
at o'clock in the afternoon, which, as is
seems, has not ended in way that ons
would naturally expect from q union OF
q religious nature.
Herald reporter called on the janitor
of the Mcdonald hall, who stated at first
that he knew nothing about the matter,
but after a short conversation with the
newspaper man said: The kahar Israel
congregation has met in this hall fog the
last two years and to my knowledge have
hal great deal OF trouble, as they are
constantly quarrelling. Last Sunday
they had an extra lively time after which
Mr.. Davis, the president, who has lately
paid the rent for tina hall, gave me orders
not to let any of the members in. but
countermunded it Tuesday, telling ma
that he had resigned and Withdrawn from
the cone regation. They are certainly u
lot Of hot-headed fellows, as one or the
other Is always ready to shoot some body
of course with their mouths only.
Mr. Grinert, the sec fetary OF the kahar
IIrael, was seen next.
What do you know about the trouble
in the meetings last Sunday?' no was
rsked:
Nothing at all'' was his quick reply.
s. called in only for a minute, paid my
dues and left. There was no disturbance,
anu who ever reported any such thing
told lie, and will have to suffer for it.
The society is for benevolent purposes,
has eighteen mem bers and whatever hap
pens in the hail is Of a strictly private
nature and nobody's business.
Mr. Davis Observation-Disclosures ho noe
asked then.
He was, but has resigned and a new
one has not been elected yet, Mr.. Grlngert
said. But go to Mr.. Levitt, who keeps
a second hand clothing store on Los An:
geles street near First, he can tell you all
about it. Mr.. Davis has promised to
give the society $500 but never did. I
suppose he has not got it.
Being asked for the address of ono
Meisel, who goes around with horse
and mainly old clothing, he said: He
lives at IL. no 10 -. but I can't re-
mem Der the street" and although being
the secretary of the society. consequently
in the possession of the addresses of all
the memb ers, he stsrnly refused to give
the required information.
Mr.. Levitt was called upon next and
gave the Same answers as Mr.. Gringert,
so much SO, that it would be tiresome to
repeat it here. He only added: "We are
Ill HlCo peOple. DaViS IS very nice
man, only he is old and excitable, and
has too much of old county ideas in his
head
Arriving at the residence OF Mr.. Davis,
211 Wilmington street, The Herald re-
porter founnd the old gentleman nursing
to talk ON the subject At last being ad-
dressed in his native tongue, he thawed
ana made the following statement:
81 am rs years old, and for about eight
months member of the Kahar Israel. 1t
has cost mo during this time just $780, ana
l have offered $500 toward a fund for
building synagogue. Against my will
l WAS elected president, and HAYS tried
my best to make the congreg alton pros
porous. There are thirteen members.
Two are Germans, the balance Russian
Poles. Seven hold offices and the rest
come SO irregularly to the business meet
ings that last Sunday l proposed to
amend our bylaws, giving the officers,
as board OF executors. the right to
transact ali business. Instead of any OBJ
jeCtions, man by the name of Metsel,
about "a or 25 years old, jumped t. his
feet and began to abuse me in the vilest
kind of language, and when l tried to
make him stop. calling him to order, he
rushed forth to do me bodily harm.
Luckily he was held back by some of the
mem oers. or, | am sure. l would be q
dead man today, as a blow from the big,
powerful young fellow would kill me at
once.
cat the same time the vice-p-esident
took away the gavel from me and usurped
the chair. I feel not safe to go out at
night, as fear some one of the crowd il
liable to injure me. i"
A rumor was ahoat that some OF the
members, expecting trouble in the meet
ing. had. before going there, armed
themselves with ham mers. but the truth
of 1T could not be ascertained.
1t is evident that the Kahar Israel
should observe Roberts rules of order q
little more strictly and treat its mem bers
in way more becoming society which
prides itself on being benevolent fra-
ternity.