The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-07
DID he Get IT.?
Member of School Board Ar.
rested For Embezzlement.
W. G.. Williams Charged With
Taking Lodge Money.
SAYS HE'S NOT GUILTY.
Claims the Funds We're Sent to
Chicago.
Friends Say That It is . Case Of
Persecution.

W. G. Williams the negro member Of
the board of education, has been ar
rested on the charge of embezziing 81
from the Euclid Masonic lodge, colored,
No. z He was released on bond.
A. M. Thomas, the colOred lawyer,
swore to the complaint He charged that
the Euclid lodge was called upon to
send some money to a Chicago colored
Masonic lodge to be used in defraying
the funeral expenses of a man named
Richardson, who died in Chicago. The
complaint is that the Euclid lodge rails
ed $67 and that Williams was entrusted
with sending SAT to the Masonic lodge
In Chicago. This occurred about June 1.
In his complaint Thomas claims that
Williams failed to send the money to
the Chicago parties. There was some
communication with the Chicago Ma
sons and they claimed that they had not
received the money. Thomas then filed
the complaint charging Williams with
embezZlement Williams was arrested
and gave bond in the sum Of $500 and
asked that the trial of the case be post
poned 80 days as in the meantime he
would vindicate himself
Williams claims that he sent the mon
ey to Chicago and that the fault is at
the other end and not with him. He
says he has been imposed upon by the
Masonic lodge where the money was
sent. He claims to have sent the money
in the form of bills. $40 in one letter and
$21 in the other.
no occasion for having him arrested for
embezzlement and that the trouble is
| the outgrowth of Williams voting as a
member of the school board to have
| four negro married women dropped
| from the teaching force for the coming
! term. Williams was among the members
| of the board who voted for report
| made by the teachers committee which
| failed to name the married teachers for
reelection for the coming term Al
| the time several on1nfQd =
ened to take the matter into the courts
| but found that such move would avail
! them nothing and decided to abandon
| that course.
| by large number of colored people
| represented at the meeting when the
! teachers committee report was adopted
| by delegation OF colored men. Soon
| after he voted for the report an agfta-
l ton was started by some colored people
| to attack the validity of the boards ac-
ton on the ground that Williams was
not a resident of the city. At the time
| city limits. as he claimed. temporarily
| That move, however, was given up
| Williams now lives at Tenth and Wash
ington streets in the city limits.
Marshal Fred StOnestreet, of the city
| court, said this morning that it was
intended to keep the matter quiet. Mr.
Williams asked that the case be post
| poned 80 days." said Mr.. Stonestreet
| ArrdHSeIleHts are uHoeT Way now IOl
| a settlement of the affair. Williams
| claims that he sent the money and thai
if there were any regularities they
were at the other end of the line. He Is
now endeavoring to secure proofs of his
| assertion and the matter will be adjust.
| ed. Many people think that this whole
| affair is the OutgrOwth of the trouble
over the dismissal of the married color.
| ed teachers
A. M. Thomas, the co1ored lawyer who
| SwOre to the complaint said this morn.
ing: This is simply a lodge affair. II
was not brought for publicity. The dis
m:ssal of the colored teachers has moth
ing to do with it. The lodge lost the
money and could not afford to lose i
and simply brought this case
| Williams could not be found THU
morning to give his version of the con
trOVerSy