The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-08

A quiet investigation OF the Official ac-
counts OF George w. Hall. grand treasurer
OF the /. .. O. F. for the state Of Wash
ington, which has been IN progress ever
since the meeting OF the Grand lodge in
June, yesterday eliminated in the filing
OF a suit il the superior court TO compel
the Seattle Safe Deposit Company to dis
close whether the treasure box rented by
Mr.. Han for the Use OF the lodge does in
faes contain the money and securities 1t
should contain according 10 the lodge
books.
Mr.. Hall. who has been a prominen, ci,i-
zen OF Seattle since 1863, and who was once
mayor OF the city. is now In Dawson. n.
w. T., where he went in April last. His
failure 10 attend the meeting of the Grand
Lodge two months later, or TO report the
condiiton OF its finances at that time.
officers OF the Grand Lodge are 10th 10
believe that Mr.. Han has misused the
funds in his charge. II Is alleged in the
suit nled that the deposit box saould con-
tan SS,ssl y u money and state warrants.
IL Is intimaIed thartf this allegation should
prove true The suspicion Of shortage viii
be diSpelled.
Mr.. Hall has for many years been
prominent Odd Fellow and held the office
was e:ecIed to It u las, tine in June. 1881.
IN the complaint filed against him by the
Grand Lodge, il is alleged that il was one
OF the duties Of his office TO invest the funds
Of the lodge in interest bearing securities
and that he did make such investments 10
an amount at present unknown.
The safe deposit company. II Is alleged
refuses 20 allow the Grand Lodge officers
TO inspect the box rented by the grand
treasurer for the use of the lodge and the
prayer Of the complaint is thai the com
pany DE compelled 70 bring the box into
court and allow an inspection of its con-
tents TIE lodge further demands that the
court order the surrender OF all property
Identified as belonging to the lodge.
To Post-Inteiligencer reporter. the Of
hcers OF the safe deposit company stated
that they were in no way disposed 10 ha M
per the Grand Lodge In lis investigation
of Mr.. Halls affairs but that they were
not informed by the latter that the deposit
box was rented for the use OF the lodge,
and preferred TO allow the cour. 10 decide
whether the demand of the lodge should he
complied with, that the litigation was en-
tiyely friendly.
Grand Secretary Jerry Fortain. TO whom
the reporter was referred Cor further in
formation. was very reticent. He denied
that the alleged shortage was $500, as
other members of the Grand Lodge had
stated. In fact he denied that there was
any known shortage. ana intNla.ed that an
inspection of the contents of the box might
prove that all fears were groundless. Such
he hoped would be the case. The Grand
Lodge would be able to give out accurate
information. he said, within a week or ten
days
Members of the lodge and old friends Of
and express confidence in Mr.. Hall. He
has been engaged IN an Alaska river boat
building enterprise at Lake Bennett.
From a friend Of Mr.. Halls Il was learn
cd yesterday that the bodybuilding enter
prise turned out badly. In partnership with
j. l. jerks. a Colorado man Mr.. Hall built
a large number or small boats on the lakes
but found no sale for them, most OF the
goidseekers coming over the passes bring
ing or building theic own boats.
Mr.. jerks returned to Colorado by the
way of Seattle two months ago. He re-
ported then that he ard Mr.. Hall had IL
vided the boats. and that Mr. Hall had
taken those belonging to himself TO Daw
son 10 be disposed of in any way possible.
| He was intending 10 break them up and
| sell the lumber II they were not salahle
otherwise.
| Mr.. Hall FOR some tine before going
| north lived at the Occidental hotel. His
| family Is now In California. He was long
| a nszmher of the Hail & Paulson Furniture
| Company. and later interested IN the lum-
| her business OF late years he had given
1 hls, attention 70 real estate and the man.
| agement OF his own property. At one time
| ne was one Of the wealthies. citizens Of
| Seattle. He served five terms n the city
| council