The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-12
HEAVY DEFALCATION
Trust Imposed in Charles B. Thomp.
son Is Betrayed.
After Serving for Many Year. r.
Supreme Finance Keeper of the
Mnccnbees, He Confesses Def
nlcntion of $4,000.

tugman OF this city, is defaulter in
the sum of $4,000. Mr.. Thompson,
however, was heavily bonded in the Ma
tional Surety company of New York
and the Fidelity & Deposit company of
Baltimore, and the arder is therefore
protected from loss. Thompson made
no effort to escape after his defalcation
was discovered. He is now at his home
awaiting the action of the bonding COM
panies. His embeZzlement is confessed
in the following letter to Supreme Com
mander ID. p. Markey:
His Confession.
I'D. p Marley. Supreme Commander X
o. T. M.-Dear Sir: 1t is with a feeling of
distress and shame that tender herewith
my resignation as supreme fnance-keeper
of the order of which you are the head.
And this step is taken with a bitter realiza-
ton that l am no longer worthy the COM
partnership and association of my fellow
officers. / have held the position since the
order was founded. have during most of
that time been officially associated with
the present supreme officers and never I'M
til now did in any way betray my trust. I
was engaged in a legitimate business VEN
ture in which had made large invest
ment and found myself in a position when
further money was necessary to save my
self from bankruptcy and ruin. There was
apparently no chance for loss. then be-
trayed my trust and used the funds of the
order, at the time believing there was no
question of my ability to replace them
within a short time. The amount used
was $4,000 l have no hope of being able to
repay this amount. know the order is pro-
tected from loss by the surety bond of near
~ twice the amount in a perfectly respon-
sible company, but this does not lessen my
mental suffering nor relieve me from the
disgrace of having betrayed the confidence
reposed In me. Nothing that may occur
can Increase the tortures which have suf-
tered and am still suffering. 1 can only
await such action as may be taken and
abide the consequences. No punishment
can be greater and no suffering so intense
as that resulting from the loss of the re-
spect and esteem of the membership of the
order and the suffering necessarily caused
to my family,
(Signed) CHARLES B. THOMPSON"
The Discovery.
The first intimation of the shortage
came last Tuesday afternoon, when Su-
preme Commander Markey and SUI
preme Record Keeper George j. Sigle
were checking over the finance keepers
books. An error was discovered, and
they called Thompson's attention to it,
He said that he would take he books
and papers home with him that night
and look it up. Wednesday morning he
came to Supreme Commander Markey's
Office and confessed that his accounts
We're short $4,000. He then and there
signed a written confession of the en-
bezzlement. An examination of the
books followed and the shortage was
disclosed.
A Statement
Supreme Commander Marley Thurs
day afternoon made the following
statement in regard to Mr.. Thomp-
sons shortage:
"Charles B. Thompson has been supreme
firance-keeper of the supreme tent since
1t was organized in September. 1883. and
has handled and disbursed more than S15.-
100000 during that time and until this de-
falcation no thought has ever been enter
tanned against his integrity and this be-
trayal on his part will be keenly felt by the
membership. The supreme tent keeps on
deposit large amounts of money in leading
banks in several commercial centers on
which warrants are drawn for the pay
ment of death claims. but all collections
are made through the Commercial bank of
of the supreme tinance-keeper to transfer
from time to time from the Commercial
bank to these other repositories money
for the purpose of keeping the account
good at such banks. and the money that
was used in this case by Mr.. Thompson was
on a draft transferring from the CONNER
clal bank to the First national bank of
New York. Mr.. Thompson's shortage is
s57 900. but no loss will be incurred by the
supreme tent as every financial official of
the association, including Mr. Thompson,
is bonded In surety companies. and the
bond held by the order as security for Mr.
Thompsons integrity is very much great
er than the shortage. But the fact that no
pecuniary loss is sustained does not re-
lieVe from regret the membership of the
association who have been. up to the pres
ent time, able to say that no officer In the
association has ever misappropriated
single dollars worth ntrusted to his care
Inc bond companies have been notified of
Mr. Thompson's 6efalcation and the SUI
preme tent will look to them TO make good
the amount. Pending an adjustment with
the bond companies there will be no deiay
IN the payment of death claims as the or
Ger mad on deposit in cash on the first Gay
OF this month in its various repositories
throughout the United States, a little
more than 100000 besides having bonds
amounting to more than 81, 10000"
How Money Was Lost.
l.