New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-22
first time in the history OF the state into the
Republican electoral column.
CPTELTY IN AN INITIATION.

CRUELTY IN AN INIIIAIION.
A rather curious and unusual case was tried
the other day in the District Court OF Waitham'
Mass man named Frank A. Preble VINO was
initiated into the Orange Lodge OF Waltham on
the evening OF July %. brought suit against
Daniel Tracy and william Mabe. two members
Of the lodge who had acted as conductors on
the evening in question, alleging that they had
treated him with unnecessary cruelty during the
ceremonies. He swore that he was compeneh
to discard part OF his raiment. One arm was
stripped his legs barred to his knees, ana
then being bndfolded. he was taken In mana
by Brothers Tracy and Mabie. who. according
to the victims account. seem to have discharged
their duty as conductors" with zeal II not with
discretion. Whether or not they strictly fol-
lowed the ritual Of the order Is known, OF course
only to the members. and equally OF course they
will never tell. That. however was not an es-
sential fact in this case The Court WAS not
asked to decide whether the ritual OF the order
did or did not prescribe acts that were cruel
but simply whether the two accused men had
committed an unjustihable assault on Preble
His evidence would certainly seem to show
that they did When he led into the lodge
room. he says he was forced to Chamber over
lot Of rough blocks. after which he was logged
severely with whips and was finally made to
mount what seemed 70 him to be a stepladder.
While he was in this position and not thinking
Of anything in particular. the ladder was sud
denly pulled fom under him. and as the laws
Of gravtation were n full force. he fell. Then
he was thrown into a canvas blanket, In which
he was vigorously tossed for several minutes,
while he me ntaly murmured. where am at
For a man who was supposed to be taking only
a passive part in the exercises. We are bound
to admit that he l. id been exceedingly active
thus far. But his troubles were by means
over number Of persons hit him in the neck.
after which they marched around, while he
carried heavy bag OF stones Then came the
really tragic part in the ceremonies on which
Mr.. Preble chiefly based his charge OF cruelty
Some told him TO raise his hand ana ma
the serpent. He raised his hand. but. naturally,
found serpent. for that creature Is too wise
to be caught by bndfolded man His failure
was probably expected for voice exclaimed:
You did not find IT, hut 1t has found you"
Strictly speaking this was not true. for what
really found him a hot branding iron. with
which he was branded twice on the breast. But
Preble's sense of outrage and wrong was just
as great as II It had been a vertable serpent
And therefore he poured forth his tale Of woe
in the Watham District Court before Judge
Enos +. Luce the other day.
The officers Of the lodge offered no evidence in
rebuttal OF Prebles charges. Obviously, they
could not do so. without dragging the secrets OF
the order into public light. But the counsel
for the sed argued that no proof had been
submitted that there had been any departure
from the regular form Of initiation. and. more
over that the complainant having voluntarily
applied for initiation. was thereby estopped
from Directing TO any feature of IT. But Judge
Luce very properly disregarded this plea. and
imposed fine of $50 each on six officers Of the
lodge II Preble told the truth-and no at
tempt was made TO impugn his testmony-he
was treated with unjustifable harshness and
cruelty 1t is neither good law nor good NOR
ais to say that because a man applies for MEM
bership in a society its members may subject
him to any indignity or outrage whatever In its
initiation ceremonies. The public has no con-
Germ with the internal affairs OF any society 50
long as it transgresses no law. and does not Of
fend against public order and decency But
society is no less amenable TO the law than an
Individual. and the outcome OF this case in Wal
than ought TO impress upon all societies the
danger Of allowing their desire to have fun with
a candidate for initiation to overstep the bounds
of proprlety and justice.