The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-06
LONG LITIGATION
FINALLY ENDED
Court Settles Affairs Of
Beneficial Society.
LASTED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS
Three Persons and Trust Company Par
ticipate in the Division of
the Proceeds.

The litigation involving a settlement
of the affairs of the defunct Washing
ton Beneficial Endowment Association
which has been pending in the local
courts for more than fifteen years has
been finally settled by a decree signed
by Justice Gould presiding in Equity
Court No. .
The association for a long time sue
cessfully carried on a life insurance
business in the District When it was
about to close out its affairs a thousand
or more claimants made demands on Il
for benefits alleged 10 be due them. Ac-
cOrding TO the final decree in the cause.
only four of the claimants will partici-
pate in the distribution of the assets
Of the association.
The litigation was taken on appeal
from the District Supreme Court 10 the
Court Of Appeals. and then to the Unit
ed States Supreme Court. The decree
Of Justice Cox of the District court was
affirmed both by the Court OF Appeals
and By the United States Supreme Court
and the case. remanded for settlement
according to the decree of the trial
court.
Referred to Auditor.
Justice Cox. when he announced his
decision in the matter referred the ac-
counts of the association TO the Auditor
of the District Supreme Court for a re-
port as TO the interests of the different
claimants
\ few days after the report of Audi
tor Payne was filed in the Office of the
clerk OF the District Supreme Court 1t
Gnaccountably disappeared from the
mes No one connected with the Office
knew what became OF the report fur
ther than that some person asked Der
mission to inspect the document. and IL
mas not been seen since. Fortunately
Ter the litigation. ATTORNEY Thomas "a
REDS. one OF the attorneys connected
with the litigation Rad a COPY of the
Aloltor report. This was authenti-
Sateo Dy me Aualtor, ana was used in
place OF the original document
III 1877 the Washington Beneficial En-
oOWment Association made a convey
since OF It's real estate TO the CONNER
S SI'- AIllance Association OF New York.
ii-@ conveyance was made by Law
renee Gardner. the president Of the En-
coWment association. Soon after tbe
iaiter organization began PROCEEDINGS
against the Commercial Alliance Assoc
cation 70 have the conveyance set
Many Suits Filed.
Fr.or to this. Henrietta Ann Stuart.
widow of Charles Stuart. began suit
AGAINST the Washington Beneficial El.-
COW nlent Association TO recover 500.
due on life policy on her husband In
1es4 she obtained judgment in her favor
II the District Supreme Court. A great
many other suits OF a similar nature
were then begun against the assocIa-
lion which resulted in the affairs OF
the association being referred TO the
auditor OF the court Tor a report.
Exceptions were taken TO the report
Of the AUcitor, and, as stated, the mat
ter was t.ken on appeal through the
District courts and 10 the United States
SUPP enc Court
According TO the decree signed by
justice Gould the persons who Win
benefit by a distribution OF the assets
81 the association and the amounts
Trey VIII receive are Mrs. Henry Ann
stuart. wiCow Of Charles Stuart. s.. g-5:
Howard L. Morrison. $3.I50, Mary 81
CsssIn, f2.Z3i. and the NI ginia Trust
Company. S563. The four claims which
VIII share IN the division of the fund
IN the hands OF the receivers represent
Tie first death claims for which The
endowment company was liable
Avg- stuart was represented by Atto--
ncys Padsett and Forrest and Henry L.
Davis the Endowment Association By
Attorney 4 A LipscOmb. the Corr
l,ercial Alliance Association by AttJI
uey Thomas NJ. Fields. Mr.. Morrison by
Z tOrney Conway Robinson, and Mrs
C;-asin by Attorneys Gordon & Gordon