Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-10
CAUSING A BITTER FIGHT
Much Heat in the Controversy Over Cranes
Petition.
HEARING NOW ON BEFORE JUDGE SMITH
Testimony Regarding the Affairs of
the United states Masonic BeneVo-
lent Associntion and Applicants
Connection Herewith.


There is plenty Of bitter feeling between
the opposing forces in the application Of
George ]. Crane for the appointment OF a
receiver for the United States Masonic
Benevolent association, now on for hear
ing before Judge Smith The feeling
cropped out early in the proceedings yester-
day. Attorney Shea, on behalf of Crane,
attacked the association in bitter speech,
in which he accused the officers with hav-
| ing misused and Incorporated the funds
Of the association. He charged gross mis-
management and predicted final ruin and
further loss of the funds of the association.
Attorney Burke representing the assocta-
tion, replied, and pointedly expressed his
opinion Of the man and the motives behind
the action against the association. He
| charged that Crane was actuated by malice.
After he had been discharged as manager
| OF agencies for the company, Crane, SO
| Mr.. Burke charged, retained some OF the
stationery OF the association, and later
went TO ]. C. Mitchell, the present treasurer
of the association and demanded $4,000 as
the price OF his silence, saying he would, II
refused, publish the association in the
papers and apply for a receiver. He was
refused, and tried to secure the publication
of a false article in one of the Omaha
papers and failing in this, secured its pup
lication in a Des Moines paper.
Mr.. Burke charged that a sample OF
Cranes work was the insuring of dying
man for the benefit OF his Masonic lodge
with the understanding that he was TO re-
eeive half the insurance. There is coloi
In the cheeks indicative of health and vi
tality," said Burke, but there is also
another pinkness. which is indicative only
of disease and death. Whatever appearances
may have been there never was and never
will be any vitality in the membership an!
insurance company may ever secure through
the efforts Of George J. Crane, anywhere oil
the face of the earth
That's not So" shouted Crane from I
back seat.
, Burke said that Crane had done an ir
reparable injury to the association by th'
mere filing Of such q suit, and charged
that Crane knew this and that the sui
was begun for this purpose solely. He sai'
that Crane was not financially or moral!
responsible, and the most that could b
done was to try to have him punished, a
nothing could be collected from him II
verdict for damages were obtained. Mr.
Burke also said that Crane had been dis
charged by the association for doing thing
that he should not have done.
The opening firing between the attorney
was not concluded until noon and in tn
afternoon the taking OF testimony ccin
menced. J. E. Richardson. secretary {
the company. was on the stand all ~
| afternoon and will continue his testimun,
today Mr.. Richardson's testimony wa
| statistical, for the most part, being in III
nature of a verifcation Of the published &c
ports of the association, made public iron
time to time.
Mr.. shea took up the circular letter whici
was issued by the association under dat
of May q last and sought to have addi
, tional light on the figures shown in IN
report. Mr.. Richardson explained the dit
ferent statements OF the financial conditlo
of the company and fully verified the show
ing made in the circular. On the question
, of the guaranty fund notes Mr. Richardso
explained that the notes were put In III
assets at their face value and that inter
! est was not computed in the publishe
statement. Mr.. Shea asked If member
note was still listed as an asset after tn
member had lapsed, and Mr.. Richardso
said the notes were considered as asset
until an unsuccessful effort had been mad
to collect them.
"Is 1t true that you tried to collect o
4 some notes of this kind in Nebraska an
, Richardson replied that such was not tn
| case.
, The cash assets of the association, MI
| Richardson explained in answer to ques
4 tion consisted of cash on hand in the var
9 | GUS banks In Council Bluffs and sl,0o
4 | that was deposited with the insurance dc
! partment in the state OF Missouri, in CON
! pliance with the laws of that state. o
) ardson testified that the claims since Janu
) ary /, 1895, reported as settled. had nc
r been paid. that most OF them had bee
. | compromised for 40 cents or about that o
the dollar Some claims had been settle
r | for a less sum, but these were claims ths
5 | were not considered strictly legal
Mr. Richardson testified that the associt
tion had paid out in actual cash in deaf
D losses in 1895 about 900. Since Januar
: l. of the present year, to June s, the assc
3 citation had paid out $50, 200 in losses. |
4 some of the claims a settlement had bee
0 made, and a partial payment made ]
I | such cases the losses paid were reported Q
e | only the part paid, and that the deferre
4 | payments were not liability OF the asse
e | ciation. as the settlements had been mad
g | on a written agreement that the deferre
. | nayments would no. be made until assesi
: ments had been made for that purpose.
r Mr.. Shea wanted TO know how many al
: sessments would be necessary 10 wlpe ..
: the approved claims. and Mr. Richardso
1 renlied that he thought all claims that ma
: been allowed by the board OF directors coui
e be paid by two assessments.
: On the question OF outstanding claims, NJ
II Richardson stated that the amount va
v sss,750. OF this amount, $4,000 was du
= on May /, $37, 900 was for claims reoorte
Il and not adjusted, and s4l,75o was f'
!. claims resisted and not settled.
e The question of the salary OF +. }
X Brown was taken up. Mr.. Richardson te
s tiaed that Mr. Browns salary in 1885 va
e 81. 500, instead OF $4,000. as had bee
e claimed by some OF the enemies of the a
sociation' There was also $1,000 a mont
s set aside for field work, as was customai
c with all companies.
The case will be on trial for several DAY
We offer you only clean, crisp. snow Will
laundry work and best delivery service