The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-07
MAY BE BARRED.
Made to Insurance Commissioners
Young Against Bankers Union of
the World Company.

Facts in the hands of Insurance
Commissioner James r. Young, at
Raleigh. from the Winston Lodge.
World, has exposed a remarkable state
of rottenness which may result in the
company. of which E. C. Spinney, of
omaha, Neb., is president, being
Barred from doing business in North
lCarolina. About 20 lodges compose
the oraer IN this state. paying into
the treasury of the Supreme lodge
Iabout $4,000 annually and in this
Icity there about 80 members with
approximately 500, 900 of insurance.
lOther lodges Of more or less strength
ARE at Wilmington. Wilson. Fayette-
willie. Salisbury and other cities. At
a recent meeting Of the lodge in this
lcity it was unanimously decided to
suspend all loyalty to the supreme
body and the officers were instructed
to use every means possible to secure
a settlement of death claims out
standing in this city, which has
proven the means of exposing a man.
lmoth fraud of national note.
A letter received from Commissioner
Young says: There has recently been
made a very u~nfavorable examination
ldllu L III vi lHS p1Illo lIIdl liz
should not continue to do business in
North Carolina
From a representative Of the. lodge
I've learn that at an early date Com
missioner Young will make a report
on the Bankers Union of the world,
which will result in the withdrawal
tof every lodge in the state from the
Supreme Lodge.
We also secured these facts:
Tho Winston Tn5oo No g1S p t..
wv. was organized about two a
ago. It's membership had grown
steadily until recently. and the men,
beers responded with their assessments
Regularly.
On July 1, 1902 one of the members.
D. L. Bowen, died of typhoid fever.
He was in good standing and his as
easements full paid. Proofs of death
lwere properly and legally filled out
land forwarded. The Supreme office
acknowledged receipt of proofs and
promised settlement. Repeated let
tiers from the WINSTON Lodge failed to
bring any result. ave a promise OF
settlement at some future date. The
state deputy, r. B. Hines, was in
formed Of the failure of the Supreme
Lodge to settle claims as per contract
and he has recently resigned on ac-
count of same. The claim was pressed
land the Supreme lodge made bold to
SAY the claim is not yet due"
h was in December. Under threat
lof law the Supreme office offered to
lpay the amount called for by policy
land a sight draft was drawn. In reply
Ito a telegram the following was re-
Iceived: Bowen claim approved to-
day for s.. Draft goes tomorrow"
No draft came, and later a letter
Icame stating that a sight draft would
Ibe promptly honored. Draft was made
but not honored. Over six months
latter the death of the insured, the
beneficiary was forced to accept d
compromise.
E. L. Reed, another member of
the order in good standing, died No
|vember 2. 1902. holding a policy for
Isl, 900.
In thi case the correspondence has
lbeen Of the most unsatisfactory ma
Iture. All along the Supreme office
has given evasive and misleading an
Iswers to all inquiries of the secretary
lof the local lodge.
While this claim is a just one the
lodge here has but little hope of Sc
touring settlement. The Winston
members feel that they have been
lduped to a considerable extent.
1t is highly probable that the insur-
lance commissioner will take action
lin the matter and prohibit the order
from carrying on nefarious business III
this state-Winston Journal March
I29th.