Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-11-08
.hAccABEES ARE SHORT
Details of the; Shortage of Supreme
Treasurer Of the Knights or
=. %, Macabees
Treasurer Says He Used the Money
in His Business, Expecting Soon
to Repay 1t.
Order Protected from Loss by Surety
Order Protected from Loss by Surety
Bond in Twice the Sum of
the Shortage.

Port Huron Mich, Nov. 8.-Charles
B. Thompson of this city, supreme
finance keeper of the supreme tent,
Knights of the Maccabees, is a self
confessed defaulter in the sum of $751;
900. The order, however, is protected
from loss by Thompson's surety bond.
The shortage is acknowledged in the
following letter to D. P. Markey, su-
preme commander of the order:
1T is with feeling of distress and
shame that l tender herewith my res
ignation as supreme finance keeper of
the order of which you are the head.
And this step is taken with a bitter
realization that I am no longer worthy
the companionship and association of
my fellow officers. have held the po-
sition since the order was founded,
have during most of the time been Of
fcially associated with the supreme
officers and never in any way, until
now, did | betray my trust. I was en-
gagged in legitimate business venture,
In which I made large investment,
and found myself in a position when
further money was necessary to save
myself from bankruptcy and ruin.
There was apparently no chance for
loss. I then betrayed my trust and
used the funds of the order, at the
time believing there was no question
of my ability to replace them within
short time. The amount I used was
$57 900. l have no hope of being able
to repay this amount l know the or.
der is protected from loss by the
surety bonds of nearly twice the
amount in perfectly responsible com.
pany, but this does not lessen my men.
tai suffereing nor relieve me from the
disgrace of having betrayed the con
f1dence reposed in me. Nothing that
may occur can increase the tortures
which l have suffered and am still suf
ferlng. | can only await such action
as may be taken and abide by the con
sequences. No punishment can be
greater and no suffereing so intense
as that resulting from the loss of the
respect and esteem of the membership
OF the order and the suffering neces-
sarily caused to my family
Supreme Commander Markey during
the afternoon made the following
statement in regard to Mr.. Thompson's S
shortage:
charles B. Thompson has been su-
preme finance keeper of the supreme
tent since it was organized in Sep
tember, 1883, and has handled and
disbursed more than 100000 during
that time and until this defalcation no
thought has eveS been entertained
against his integrity. This betrayal
on his part will be keenly felt by the
membership.
Mr.. Thompson's shortage is $751;
600. but no loss will be incurred by
the supreme tent, as every financial
officer of the association, including
Mr.. Thompson, is bonded in surety
companies and the bond held by the
order as security for Mr. Thompson's
integrity is very much greater than
the shortage"
The shortage was discovered last
Tuesday by Supreme Commander
Markey, who was examining the books
OF the order. On being confronted
with the shortage Thompson broke
down and confessed. He then signed
confession drawn up by Commander
Markey. It has been impossible to
locate Thompson since the matter
leaked out.
1t is said that Thompson, who was
interested in the lake carrying trade,
lost $4,000 in June on the sale of the
steamer Harlem