The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-09-08
FRAUD kILLEBREW AGAIN.
his Time He Turns up at Emporia,
Va, and Attempts to Play His Old
dame-FoiIed by the Gold Leafs
Account of His Escapades Here and


Account of His Escapades Here and
Elsewhere.
The following which we take from
the Emporia (Va) Messenger of last
week will be read with interest:
The latter part of last week a rather
good-looking stranger; tall, dark, and
with good address, made his appearance
here and began actively to canvass for
insurance as the agent of the Wood
men of the World" mutual and secret
insurance society. The pleasing stranger
registered at the hotel as J. l.. kilIe-
brew. He very quickly interested some
here with his company and everything
looked promising for the immediate or
ganization of a camp of "Woodmen. -
The Henderson (N.C.) GOLD LEAF though
OF last week contained an article that
we reproduce which had fallen under
the eye Of some citizens here, and the
description OF kilebrew so fitted the
stranger that no doubt was left OF his
Identity. Thereupon. information was
forwarded that killebrew was here. On
the next train from the South came one
r. ". Cotton, who represented himself
as the adjuster of the "Woodmen of the
World and stationed at Atlanta,
armed with warrants for the arrest OF
killebrew. He informed persons here
that killebrew was an unmitigated
scoundrel; that he had robbed his com
pany of hundreds of dollars in North
Carolina and had been guilty of other
infamous acts, and wanted Sergeant
GOODWIN to make the arrest at once
upon the papers he had. The Sergeant
though preferred to act on q warrant
sworn out here, but Mr.. Deakins, the
mayor, was too unwell to attend to the
matter. Judge Goodwin did not think
he had authority to issue a warrant, and
so Sergeant GOODWIN went out in great
haste for DR.. Matthews, who is a magis-
trate, who at once came to town to issue
the necessary papers. In the meantime
Cotton and killebrew met at the hotel,
and when the officers appeared to make
the arrest Cotton informed them that
the matter had been settled. He ex-
pressed himself as greatly grieved that
such injustice had been done killebrew
Ind promptly paid all costs.
The next morning the two appeared
on the streets jointly working for the
"Woodmen," and were extremely ''chum-
my"
Some of the town people strongly
favored escorting the gentlemen to the
suburbs, but nothing finally was done
and on Wednesday night they left, Kill
Hebrew going West over the A. & D., and
Cotton taking the train South.
Nobody here doubts but that Cotton
is as tough as killebrew, or that either
are other than unmitigated rascals,
and, in the minds OF all, is great wonder
that Cotton was permitted to come
here. And if he is really the accredited
agent OF the insurance company, openly
a felony, without any at
tempt on the part of the officials here to
hold him or kiilebrew.
There is evidence going to show that
Cotton is recognized as the representa-
tive of the "Woodmen" by the officers of
that society in Atlanta, and if he is, then
at least to as many as saw the capers of
the adventures here, the "Woodmen"
will stand in disrepute.
The GOLD LEAF regrets to see the
severe criticism of Mr.. Cotton con-
tanned in the above. He must have
been actuated by causes unknown to
the editor of the Messenger in not
having Killebrew arrested and prose-
cuted; but we can see no excuse that
he can offer for 'appearing on the
streets jointly working for the Wood
men, with a man whom he knew to
be. a scoundrel, swindler and dead
beat. And what "injustice'' had
been done him (Killebrew) that he
(Cotton) should "express himself as
greatly grieved" at it we cannot for
the life us conceive.
We saw Mr.. Cotton and had brief
with him the day he
went to Emporia to have Killebrew
arrested. He stopped over in Hen
derson to gather evidence against
him and wanted Mr.. Massenburg to
swear out a warrant against Kiile-
brew saying he had good case if he
would go at it in the right way. But
Mr.. Massenburg if appears chad a
plenty of Killebrew and declined to
take further action. Yet with tn
papers and evidence already in his
possession Mr.. Cotton expressed him
self as confident he could make out
clear case against his man and bring
him back with him.
During the course of our talk it
developed that Killebrew had at one
time been a duly accredited rep
resentative of the order of Wood
men Of the World, although he now
has no authority to solicit member
ship or organize camps of that Order.
However, he still retained in his pos
session a lot of its literature such
as application blanks, receipt books,
etc. Upon ascertaining this fact we
doubt as to whether it
would be easy to convict Killebrew,
which view after discussing the
matter MIR. Cotton seemed to take
himself agreeing that this would be
a point in his favor. He said further
that he had reason to believe the
and money of the Young
vile people had been sent in and
the matter would be adjusted all
right. His idea was that Killebrew
held up the money for time but re-
mitted it to the home office later
If this had not been done he said the
Order would make it good, the GER
titicates would be forwarded and the
camp instituted, Mr.. Cotton himself
to return probably this
week to do that work.
So there will be no loss sustained
by our Youngsville friends and it is
hoped that the Woodmen will suffer
no unfavorable criticism or loss of
confidence on Killebrew's account.
Indeed as it turns ont the whole
thing rather shows the responsibility
and correct business methods of the
Order in that the public do not
suffer by the crookedness of any
black sheep who may unawares get
into the fold as an authorized and
accredited representative of the
Supreme Council.
Going back to the ''compromise'
or settlement MIR. Cotton made with
killebrew we incline to the opinion
that he entertained honest doubts as