The Washington times., 1902-09-07
THE HINSEY CASE.

BY a vote of III to 12 the Supreme
Lodge, Knights of Pythias, decided to
suspend John A. Hinsey pending de-
cision in the cases against him in the
lower courts of the order. Hinsey was
formerly president of the board of con-
troll, and is an ex-imperial prince OF
the Knights of Khorassan. While on
the board of control he was charged
with methods which led to the treasury
of the order losing s61S,0o0. A special
session of the Supreme Lodge was con-
vened in Chicago last year to consider
his case and the facts were published
extensively at the time.
The case was brought up Immediately
after the supreme lodge came to order
by Supreme Representative James e.
Watson. member OF Congress from Indi-
ana, who moved lengthy resolution re-
viewing Hinsey's case and asking for
his expulsion. This resulted in battle
of words, which lasted, with an inter-
cession of couple of hours. until near
ly O'Clock. Several amendments were
put, but failed of adoption, with the
exception of one, which substituted sus-
pension for expulsion, and was en-
bodied in the original motion, which
was carried.
Following is the text:
Whereas, the Supreme Lodge, knights
OF Pythias, in convention assembled.
July 10. 1901, passed resolution direct
ing the supreme chancellor and board
Of control to prefer charges against
4,-;1
mails OF the order all persons then or
ment Rank for any and all violations Of
their obligations. and for any and all
offenses under the laws of the order,
and
Whereas, said resolution was direct
ed against John A. Hinsey, among others,
and
Whereas, in pursuance of said reso-
luton, the supreme chancellor and
board of control caused such charges
to be preferred in the grand tribunal,
knights of Pythias, domain of Illinois,
against John A. Hinsey, former MEM
her of the Supreme Lodge, and who is
under the laws of the order. and with
the permission of the Supreme Lodge,
entitled to admission and to seat In
the Supreme Lodge, against Hinsey
which would constitute violation OF
his Pythian obligations and with viola
tions of the principles of the order. and
Whereas, said charges have been
filed and after said Hinsey had filed his
plea of not guilty thereto, and when
the same were about to be tried by said
tribunal, the said Hinsey did, on June
10, 1902, sign, swear to and file in the
circuit court of Cook county, Illinois,
a certain bill in equity praying Tor
and causing to issue an order OF said
court enjoining and prohibiting said
tribunal from trying said Hinsey on said
charges, and :.
..Whereas. -~in said sworn bill said
Einsey attacks and scandalizes the SUI
preme chancellor. the supreme vice
chancellor, and many others in using
the following language, That at said
special convention of the Supreme Lodge
at Chicago on July 3, 1901, the said Og-
den H. Fethers presented to the Supreme
Lodge a certain false and fradu-
lent report and, again, that said
Tracy R. Bangs, NJ. G. Jeffris, and Carlos
s. Hardy, acting with and supporting
said Ogden H. Fethers, prepared and
presented to the said Supreme Lodge
said false, fictitious, and fraudulent re-
port and, again, that the said charges
so preferred in the Grand Tribunal of
Illinois are all the result of combina
tion and conspiracy existing between
ogden H. Fethers, Tracy r. Bangs, NJ. 6.
Jeffris. and Carlos S. Hardy and, |
whereas, said act in filing said bill by
said Hinsey is in violation of section 309
of the supreme statutes; and, whereas,
in preferring said charge and in prose- |
cutting the same the persons named in |
said bill were acting under the express
direction of the Supreme Lodge, all of
which was well known to said John
Hipsey; and, whereas. said John A. Hin |
sey is, by reason of said acts, not fit 10 |
sit in the convention of the Supreme |
Lodge, now, therefore. be it
"Resolved, BY the Supreme Lodge, |
knights of Pythias, that the said John |
A. Hfnsey be and he is hereby suspend |
ed from the Supreme Lodge, Knights of
Pythias, until the charges against him |
shall have been disposed Of"
Under the order Of the Supreme Trib- |
unaI Hinsey's case was remanded to the |
Grand Tribunal of Illinois, with direc- |
lions to try the case upon its merits, |
and. If found guilty of the charges, to |
expel him from the order, and the case
now rests with that tribunal.
In addition to Representative Wat
son many others. including Supreme
vice Chancellor Bangs, c.. F. Linde, of |
and Supreme Chancellor
Fethers, spoke in favor of Hinsey's sus-
The case OF the accused was
principally by Representa-
five John c. Burns, of Mansfield Ohio,
and Representative B. 1. Salinger. Of