Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-11-26
FATAL LODGE ORDEAL.
Prominent Iowa Politician Rec elves Fa
tai Injuries While Undergoing itiation
by the Elks.

| Prominent Iowa Politician Rec elves Fs
tai Injuries While Undergoing iitiation
| by this Elks.
Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 10-E. W.
Curry, chairman of the Democratic
state committee died to-day at the
Savery hotel in this city. His death
was caused by blood poisoning due, Ii
is alleged, to injuries received while
being Initiated into the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, about four
weeks ago, In the lodge room in this
city. This fact was kept secret at the
urgent request Of Mr.. Curry during his
illness, but tonight became the gen.
eral topic of conversation.
Mrs. Curry is Frustrated and the
| physicians will not allow her to be
seen.
Mr.. Curry, before his death, urged
his wife and friends to hush up the
matter, and insisted that they make
no attempt to cause the lodge any en-
barrassment. He declared that the
Elks tonight declare that the injury
received by him was wholly unavoid.
able on the part Of the members of the
| order and due to his own act eXclus-
lively. The Elks refuse to tell the real
nature of the injury received by Mr..
| Curry.
They admit he was being initiated In
to the mysteries Of the lodge when lie
was injured. This story has become
current, and Mrs. Curry firmly believes
that the injury was caused by electric.
ity. This the Elks say is not true.
They take shelter behind the oath Of
the order and declare that they cannot
reveal the facts. The physicians who
attended Mr.. Curry were members of
the order and were supplied by the
lodge.
They also insist that the death was
due to blood poisoning incidental 10
the injuries received and due to the de-
billtated condition Of the sick man.
They assert that Mr.. Curry and the
members Of the order did not know on
.the night Of the Initiation that Mr..
Curry was injured in any way. The In
jury was not discovered, they declare.
until the following day. Then ply
sicians were summoned and until six
days ago believed that the sick man
would recover fully and easily. In
stead blood poisoning set in and for
three days Mr.. Curry was unconscious.
The story which has been well cir
culated relative to the injuries sus-
tanned by Mr.. Curry, and which is
fully believed by Mrs. Curry. is this:
1t is said that the order has n test
with a torture chair. This chair is
said to be fitted up with metal seat
and arms. An electrical battery sup
plies various grades of voltage. 1t is
said that Mr.. Curry was induced to
seat himself in the torture chair and a
slight electrical current was turned on
The masked Elks in the dimly lighted
room waited to see the candidate jump
| In terror from the char.
Mr.. Curry disappointed them, for nc
did not move muscle. More current
was turned on. Still there was nc
movement. and more electricity was
turned on until the battery was at Its
full capacity. Curry sat still in the
chair of torture.
1t Is said that some one noticed that
smoke was issuing from the seat OF
the chair and enveloping Mr.. Curry
He was hurriedly dragged away from
the torture seat, and It was then dis
covered that by the exercise of will
| power and nerve he had remained In
the chair while his clothing was burn
ed from his body by the electricity.
1t is said that he was then given
the attention of physicians and taken
to his apartments in the Savery hotel
where he remained until his death. To
the last he insisted to his wife that the
blame was all his own and made his
law partner, V. II. McGinnis Of Leon,
Decatur county. promise that there
would be no attempt made, If he should
die, to prosecute the elks.
The elks refuse to divulge the names
of the degree team which was doing
the work of the initiation or in fact
whether the entire lodge takes part in
| limitations or only certain selected
ones. The members refuse also to Ill
yulge who were present on the night
in question. This Mr.. Curry also re-
fused to tell.
The lodge includes in its membership
some of the most prominent profess
,ional and business men in Des Moincs.
1t feels keenly the embarrassment
brought upon 1t by the revelation con-
cerniug Mr.. Curry's DEATH The order
paid the expenses of the care of the
sick man, amounting to about $1,000,
and they will send an escort with the
body to Mr.. Curry's home in Leon.
| wnshGuts In Washington.