The record-union., 1895-08-16
LATE TROUBLE AT THE CEMETERY.
The Charges Against Superintendent
FiCks Investigated.
The Trustees Suspend Him From the
Discharge of His Duties tor the
Next Thirty Days.

charges made by FL Dorado Lodge, |. ..
o. f., against Superintendent OF Gene
teries George W. Fieks.
The charges hled by Ell Dorado Lodge
against Superintendent Ficks were then
read, Tozer being in the chair.
Lawton moved that no testimony be
received except such as related directly
TO the charges.
Kent thought that there might be some
circumstan ces leading up to the occur
renee that might throw some light on it.
After a short discussion the motion was
passed.
William Boyne appeared for Mr.. Ficks
and II. 3. Nielsen represented the lodge.
Daniel Barnes testified that at the
funeral of Arson C. York, he as Noble
Grand, stationed himself at the head of
the grave. AS the relatives were taking
their seats Deputy Coroner Craig asked
him when the body would be lowered,
and witness told him that it would be
lowered at the proper time III the ritual.
Craig went away, and shortly afterwards
ticks came and said be was in hurry
and was going to lower the body as he
had another funeral to attend to. Wit
ness told him that the body could not be
lowered till the proper time, and Ficks
said he was Superintendent and was 60
ing to lower the body. He spoke loudly
and was excited. Witness and other
members would not allow him TO do 80.
Edmund Ellis testified that he heard
Ficks talking to Barnes, and afterwsrd
TO Howard, the Marshal, saying that he
wanted TO lower the body, and they told
him that they would do it al the proper
time in the ritual.
A discussion arose us to whether a
question asked by MIR. Boyne should be
lot Cf ia
grave caving in, and what the officers of
Ihe lodge would have done if they had
known of the condition. The question
was not allowed Witness saw no dan
ger OF g cave.
NJ. A. Howard's testimony was to the
effect that Mr.. Ficks wanted to lower the
body into the grave. He was told that
he could not do so, and went away. He
neither saw nor heard Of any danger of
cave until after he got home.
H. b. Nielsen heard Mr.. Ficks insist
on lowering the body, and tell Mr.. How
ard that ne was superintendent, and
knew his business. He was excited and
talked loudly. Witness saw no signs of
cave.
Lawton and Leonard objected to the
question Of ownership of the plat, as not
relating to the charges. Boyne said that
he proposed to show that the city had no
control over the plat, as the Odd Fellows
owned it. and Mr.. Ficks was not Super
intendent of it. He proposed to show
that it was cared for at an annual loss of
several hundred dollars to the city. The
city has no right TO have anything to do
with the Odd Fellows, Catholic or any
other except the City Cemetery.
The question was allowed, and Mr..
Nelson said the Odd Fellows owned it.
In q former administration the Board of
Trustees claimed that the odd Fellows
had no right to take care or their own
> - 4 ho
troll of the Superintendent of Cemeteries.
II. Z. Wolf testified that Ficks was ex-
cited and insisted on lowering the body.
Ii was before the ceremonies commenced,
and therefore did not interrupt them, but
EIcks talked loudly and ia what witness
considered an ungentiemanly manner.
X. q. Aiken testified substantially to
the same facts as the others had, and said
that the workmen started 10 carry the
body, instead of the pallbearers doing so,
as usual.
Charles Craig, the undertaken, testified
that Mr.. kicks asked him to see the No
BILE Grand and find out If the body could
be lowered right away, as another funeral
was close behind. The workmen carried
the body TO the grave, the pall-bearers
walking ahead. The officers told him
that the body could not be lowered until
the proper time. and he told Mr.. Ficks
so. Mr.. Ficks had said nothing to him
of the grave being in a dangerous condi-
ton that he remem bered. H only heard
one man talking loudly, and he said: II
don't care if you have forty funerals.
We don't need you. and you can go
away" He thought it was Mr.. Howard
who spoke. He did not hear Mr.. ticks
speak loudly. He was standing from
twelve to sixteen feet from the Noble
Grand when Mr.. Ficks spoke TO the latter.
Henry Balsz testified to being close TO
Barnes when kicks made the remarks to
IL J,
gentlemanly manner. MIR. Craig took
hold OF him and asked him to como
away. Witness spoke of the matter after
the funeral.
There were many other witnesses for
the prosecution, but their testimony
would have been the same and they were
not called.
Mr.. Boyne said the defense proposed to
prove that the Trustees were exacting
and Mr.. FiCks had always tried to do his
duty. The city was caring for the plat at
large annual loss. There was another
question bearing on the case. Many of
the monuments have no foundation and
there is danger on that account to those
attending funerals.
d. IL. Mills, one of the pail bearers,
said the workmen took charge of the
coffin and carried it. He heard Craig
tell Ficks not to make q row, but to go
and attend to the other funeral.
a. W. Prince, heard Ficks say he was
superintendent and would attend to his
business. He saw the grave and thought
it was safe.
George Clifford, relative of the de-
ceased, was about fifteen feet away, but
heard nothing.
l.. Salomon was called for the defense
and testified that he was Secretary of the
lodge and was asked by Boyne if a COM
munication from Ficbs was read in the
lodge last Monday night, but President
Lawton objected TO any testimony on
that point. Boyne said that Ficks wrote
an apology to thelodge and tor the family,
and he wished 10 ask Mr.. Salomon If it
was read.
Devine said if Mr.. Ficks had apollo
gized and the members were willing to
allow the matter 10 drop he would like to
hear the letter read.
MIR. Nielsen said that such a letter had
been received and other members said it
had been discussed, but objection was
made to accepting it.
The board decided that the document
should not be read. and that Solomon
shouId not answer the question.
Mrs Mcdonald heard all the services,
put heard no confusion or loud talking.
she was about sixteen feet from grave;
she saw MI ticks placing the chairs.
Mrs A. Resm saw Mr.. Ficks. but
neard no disturbance. She was tanning
Mrs. ork, short distance from the
coffin.
Mrs. A. Walter did not hear or see any
disturbance, nor did Mrs. Epp, although
she was beside the mourners.
Mrs. Mary SHAW was near the grave,
and heard one of the members of the
lodge say IN an angry manner. "Nell,
throw him In ana cover him un too''
she knew nothing of the trouble until
she read of it in the paper.