Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-07-08
recently installed. to keep pace with
the growing business OF the Leader.
AT HIS OWN I S
WHOEVER RIDES THE GOAT
MUST TAKE HIS OWN CHANCES
JN ~ "

- s.. rHrG
In March OF last year ont H. Walx
a Of Glendive, was initiated into
the Maccabee lodge at that place, says
the Mandan Times. He is one of those
who cannot take a joke, and who
should steer clear Of secret societies.
1t is evident that he baked at some
point in the ceremonies, and was then
perhaps handled a little roughly. From
his own testimony it is seen that he
fought like avid cat, forgetting that
many LIE stronger than a few and
now he les sixteen members of the
lodge for damages placed at $4,000.
One Of the defendants is H. NJ. Coff-
man, of Mandan. who happened to be
in Glendive at the time and assisted
in the ceremonies. Another defendant
is ]. R. Widmyer, proprietor of the
Glendive Independent, who was pre-
siding officer Of the lodge.
The case began at Glendive last
week. and as a matter of interest we
will give the allegations of the plain
tiff and defendants as follows:
Attorney Haskell read the complaint
and stated that he would show that on
March IL, 1901, the plaintiff, H. War
man, made application to Busy Bee
tent Of the order OF Maccabees for ad-
mission to the order. After he had
been invested with the secrets of the
order and initiated according to the
ritual Of the order and was created
and dubbed a Knight of the Maccabees
he was instructed by n Of the de-.
PENDANTS to retire and work his way
into the lodge. He went outside and
on re-entsring was required to kneel
in front of the presiding officer and
lean forward with his head resting on
the book Of the law. While he was in
that position Of the defendants
struck him across the back with a ba-.
bon, which blow was of sufficient force
to injure him He was then seized by
nearly all the defendants and they at
tempted to place him on the altar, all
spread out. He resisted their efforts
and in the struggle fell to the floor.
Then two or defendants dropped
upon him with their knees with such
force that he was seriously hurt. after
which he could not resist with his
usual force and energy. They then
| fJ11sn ad him IN Jhic lhonE orH hinc ri%h
their knees on him and some one
poured something like acid on his
back. AS a result of his injuries he
had been compelled to consult ply
sicians and go to considerable expense.
Mr.. Haskell further stated that in 1897
or 1898 the plaintiff had been success
fully treated for appendicitis and was
completely cured. Afterwards he was
ruptured in his own house and of this
he had also been successfully cured and
the second injury was three or four
inches distant from the first. He ex-
perienced much bodily pain and his
physician stated that he would never
be absolutely free from it again. There
fore, the sum of $4,000 damages was
asked.
The answer of the defendants admit
ted that plaintiff made application to
become a member of the lodge and
that he had been admitted, but denied
that he had been brutally treated or
injured or that anyone or any of them
had poured a burning substance or
acid upon any part Of his body. They
also deny that the plaintiff was rup-
tuued at that time, but allege that he
was previously injured. They also al
lege that the plaintiff had entered in
to a conspiracy with other persons to
ruin certain of the defendants in a
business way and that he had publish
ed or had caused to be published
through THE papers of the state dam
aging allegations which had wrought
much injury to the defendants. (
Witnesses were examined on behalf
of both sides and the attorneys argued
the case pro and con, and finally the
case was given. tosthe jury. After be-
ing out thirty minutes the following
verdict was returned:
We, the jury in the case of Rev.
Henry Warman, plaintiff, VS.. J. R.
Widmyer, ct al, defendants, find in
favor of defendants" +
This would seem to settle it>that any
man, at least in Montana, who rides a
secret society goat must abide the con-
sequences. The trouble with Mr.. War
man was that The resisted instead of
taking things quietly. The principal
injury seems to have been to his feel
ings.
CARD OF THANKS. III
Mr. n SpmIino and oil relatives