Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-27
ME MEYER'S DENIAL
Il
q +.
Answer to Charges Made by
Royal Benefit Society.
ALLEGED coLL1UsIoN
BEEN UNwARRANTED.
superintendent Drake, Against Whom
Charges Were Filed, Asks for
an Early Hearing.

One of the important develop
ments today in connection with the
charges preferred by the Royal Ben
eft Society against Superintendent
Thomas E. Drake of the District il
surance department was the denial
by Ernest F. Niemeyer, a former
employe of the society, of any coilu-
sion between himself and Superin-
tendent Drake, or of any improper
business agreement between the
two, as was intimated in the alleged
affidavit uurporting to have been
made by Henry ]. Green, which was
called to the attention of the Com
missioners several days ago. MIR.
Niemeyer, who lives in Brookland,
presented his denial to the Com
missioners in a written statement
shortly after noon today.
In addition to denying the statements al
legged to have been made by him. Mr.. Me
meyer declares that the afhdavit m1srepre-
sents his attitude in the matter lie also
propounds several questions concerning the
business history of the society, which are
considered suggestive
1t was expected that the Commissioners
would hold a board session today and de-
termine the question as to whether public
hearing will be granted on the Drake
charges, or whether the Commissioners Will
settle the matter from written statements
and affidavits. Up to a late hour this after
noon the Commissioners had not conferred
on the matter, and they will probably not
decide the question until late this evening
or tomorrow morning. Superintendent
Drake today in a communication requested
that the hearing of the charges against him
be had at the very earliest date practicable
He said that within day or two he will
submit his formal answer to the charges
of the Royal Benefit Society.
Mr.. Niemeyer's Statement.
The written statement of Ernest F. Me
meyer submitted to the Commissioners this
afternoon, as follows ~ sci
There appeared in the public press a
copy of an alleged affidavit, in connection
with the charges brought against the su-
perntendent of insurance, Mr.: Thomas E.
Drake, by the Royal Benefit. Society.
This alleged affidavit entirely misrepre-
SentS my attitude. 9i '.s
Having been connected with the ROYAL
Benefit Society from it's beginning, knowing
its methods of conducting the business and
kHOWinS the requirements OF the law under
which its charter was obtained, 1 did say
to one Henry ]. Greeniithat the society
would never be able to obtain license
from the insurance department of the Dis
trict of Columbia. ~ = -
I'm this connection the following may be
OF interest to you: i have stated that my
only desire was to have the members and
| representatives, not dummies on proxies to
the annual meeting, IN order that would
be enabled to lay before them the true con-
dition of the affairs of the society. 1 made
i. distinctly understood at that time, to
Green, that should the representatives of
the members desire me to remain with the
society and effect its reorganization L
would do so only upon condition that none
of those then in active management would
be retained, but that did not care wheth-
er | would be retained. At that time and
l several other occasions distinctly stated
that my only object and desire was to
have the true condition of affairs brought
before the members, in order that they
may take proper steps to safeguard the
interest of the society.
Asks Question.
You will note in the published COM
plants, there appears to be an extract of a
report of the examiner for the insurance
department of the state of Tennessee, made
in June or July, 1902. Why did they only
give out part of that report, and why did
they fail to state that the department of
Tennessee refused to renew the license of
the society after the examination, although
previous to 1902 licenses had been issued to
them? Why is it that the department of
Illinois steadfastly refused to furnish the
society with qualifying documents, although
on several occasions the society has en-
ployed an attorney to secure the same?
THE insurance department of Illinois
made an examination of the society on or
about June, 1898, and its subsequent action
was based upon the result of that investi-
cation.
Il gladly place myself at your disposal
and believe l can give you valuable in
formation based upon an intimate knowl-
edge of the society and its methods