The Washington times., 1905-02-26
Drake Denies Charges;
Davis Not III Accord
Accusations UnquaIifedIy False, Says Super
intendent of insuranCe-Attorneytor Soc
iety Disapproves Course of Clients.

the matter referred to in this affidavit
was absolutely and entirely without my
knowledge or assent The statement
that I threatened to interfere with the
society unless Mr., Niemeyer was made
manager IS false"
TO Truth N Charges.
In answer to other charges and as
sertions by the Royal Benefit Society,
Mr. Drake says:
I'm all of the letters of this Mr.. Pen
nington. and his agents, to the Com
missioners, myself, and to the insurance
departments of different States, SO far
as I have seen them, there is no single
allegation Of wrong-doing or intention
on my part, official personal, that
has one iota OF truth for its founda-
ton; nor has Mr.. Pennington or his
agents any reason for believing one Of
them to be true
Mr.. brakes Reply.
In his reply to the specific charges
against him Mr. Drake says:
II have seen the long lis of SPECIFIC
charges made by Mr. Pennington against
me- Want of time prevents my detailed
reply now. But, in general, say, as
10 each and every one Of them, and
whether expressly stated or by impli-
cation, charging any wrong doing, say
ing or intention, they are and each is alb
soIutely false.
II am quite ready to meet Mr.. Pen
ngton and his agents upon these or any
ether charges and, in such cast. the
motive and purposes of these charges
may appear.
This society complains that its busi-
ness has been damaged through my
action in writing to insurance commits
sioners of certain States In regard to
having refused it a license. The refusal
of license to the society was based prin-
cipally on the fact that it had not com
piled with the law in regard to having
| a representative form of government
and a lodge system with ritualistic form
| of work.
Contentious of Concern.
After considerable correspondence
/ and hearings on the question, the mat
ter was finally referred by the Commis-
sioners TO the Hon A. B. DuvaH, Cor
poration Counsel. It was contended
among other points by the Hon. Henry
+. Davis. attorney for the society. that
! II was entitled to q, permit to transact
business as a mater of course. and that
J 1t was a mere ministerial duty of the
| superintendent of insurance that was SO
strenuously eontended for by the so
| ciey, through It's attorney at that time
The society has made so many false
/ statements in its bill of complaint to YOU
| that 1t would seem hardly necessary 10
give categorical denials to all of them
! In the first place. il positively denies
| that II ever made application TO this de-
/ partment for license to carry on it's
business. Three such applications
| signed by DR.. c. w. Keyes as president
and d. f. Pennington as secretary are
| now on file in my office
/ Licensed by Assessor.
| ? In further denial of the statement
that they have never applied for license
have to state that this society was is
sued a license by the Assessor of the
District OF Columbia, for which it paid
the usual license fee, November IS, 1887
1T is hardly necessary to deny the al
legation that [ inveigled this society into
| applying to ne for a license, which il
did not require, when it is shown that
the society and its attorney have al
| ways considered that il required a
I license by applying for and receiving
one from the Assessor. and also making
| three separate and distinct applications
/ TO this department.
/ Commissioner Macfariand will present
the papers in the case to his coilea CUES
on the Board of Commissioners tomor-
row.