Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-04
IH[ RED GROSS WRECK
Committee Sent to Waverly to
Investigate Find Deplorable
State Of Affairs.
Potter Said to Be Responsible
for the Wreck Of the
Order.
Second Shortage OF $500 Dis.
covered-Spinney's Alleged
Crooked Work.
snecial to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Waterloo, April 4.-Rev. Frank L.
Loveland and Attorney c. Nichols and
M. ]. Tobin, of Vinton, the committee
from the Vinton Red Cross lodge. APP
pointed to act in investigating with
full power to act in the trouble in the
order, were in the city last night nav
ing returned from their trip to WaVer-
ly. the Headquarters of the order, ana
to Des Moines to interview State Audi
tor Merriam.
1--WE feel very we'll satisfied with our
trip" said the clergyman of the party
figuratiyely, "the rose between Two
no ms" 1--WE have fourd the "hole
business rotten to the core, but we pro-
pose to fight for our rights ana pelleVe
we shall have protection. Monstrous
sinners have sat in high places IN the
ORDER" energetically spoke MI. Love
land, but" and this with slgnlncahe
nod of the the head, they shail ail pe
unseated and the members OF 'ne neu
Cross will get their dues II there De
ANYTHING In law and justice TO protect
u.s."
Mr.. Nichols spoke freely of the trou-
bles which evidently A. M. Potter mas
brought to the members OF the order.
He stated they had succeeded IN nav
ing between $4,000 and $1,000 IN the
possession of the Waverly headquart-
ers protected by injunction, and hao
learned many things of interest at Des
Moines, which will aid them In securing
their rights. Mr.. Nichols stated that so
far as their Investigation had aevei-
oped the officers of the Red Cross hao
deliberately wrecked the order and I'm
poverished it's membership. II was
learned. he said, that when Mr.. Potter,
the originator of the order, had le1t the
same, he was asked by e. z. Spinney,
pra.iden, of the Bankers Union OF
Omaha. to become vice president OF ms
company at salary OF $500 month.
This offer was accepted several months
ago by Mr.. Potter. While Potter WORK
ed for the Bankers Union he succeeded
In getting all the deputies who had
formerly worked for him for the Reo
Cross. except one, to Join him with tne
new company with which he was allied.
Mr. Nichols says the first shortage OF
"a hO0 found in Potter's accounts with
the Red Cross and which was paid pack
| by him was followed by second snort
age Of SIS, 700 found by the examination
of the Red Cross books by an examiner
| from Minnesota. Instead OF an exam
liner from this state making the search
| CT figures asked for by the state auol-
tor at nominal expense. the Mlnne-
sofa man was paid $3.50 for six days
work.
| q. C. Spinney, 1t is said, does not
IEaye good reputation In insurance
business in Iowa. He formerly posed
as specialist claiming to cure chrome
and other diseases. After working
what people believed was one of the
biggest gratis in the country Spinney
| turned his attention to the insurance
business being located for a time at
DUBUQUE and at Des Motnes. He is
shrewd man and one of the gentle
men who had been fieeced by him be-
| fore says he is not surprised now TO
hear of his gobbling up the Red Cross.
body and boots. so quietly that the
transaction had all but been done be-
| fore the members caught onto the
Il
game.
M. o. Tuttle, of Mason City, who is
member OF the Red Cross and formVly
| did some work as a deputy in the order.
lis in the city. He said yesterday that
the injunction case at Waverly would
be heard on April Is before Judge Kelly.
+ Mr.. Tuttle characterizes the selling
out Of the Red Cross as one of the bold
est steals of the time. The transfer
which took place in February was most
adroitly done. The February assess
ment was turned over to Dr. Spinney's
company and an effort made to collect
1.-The March assessment, so it is said.
Mr.. futile believes the other officers
must be implicated besides the former
| president Mr. Potter. The assessments
must go thru the hands of the secretary
and into the keeping of the treasurer.
How the transfer could be made with
out these officers finding 1t out passes
understanding.
1t is the intention of the Red Cross
lodges to fight the selling Of themselves
out, to the bitter end. The Vinton lodge
has over 20 members. Usage over 200,
Waterloo 100 and Mason City about the
same number. The plan is to have each
of these lodges represented by its best
attorney and make the prosecution of
the claims of the members a united one.
| FAREWELL TO WENNERSTRUM.
4 - IL