Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-03
CONSPIRACY CASE
! McKiernan Too III to Appear and
 Bonds on All Renewed.

As was expected and intimated in the Democrat last evening the cases against Martin Brophy, Louis Strauss and r. II. McKiernan for common law conspiracy to defraud John T. Yates Camp, Woodmen of the World, of $2,O00 was not called in the city court today owing to the illness of MT McKiernan. The cases were con- tinued to one week from Monday by agreement of Prosecutor Meigs and Attorney Kennedy and Cassidy. conn- sel for MT McKielnan, and Attorney Russell, counsel for Mir BroDhy and Mr Strauss. Unless great change takes place in the condition of Mir McKiernan the casse will have to be put back when called one week from Monday for lie is very sick man. His physician, Dr McLinden. was on hand to testify that Mir McKiernan has not only rheN- matism but also bad sore throat and d fever.
 The Woodmen society is largely i represented in tOwn.. There are de- tectives and druggists and chemists | and accountants and actualies and at torneys, and while some of them seem to be very mysterious. others appear ] to be in very good humor. MT Jewell 1 the chairman of Sovereign finance committee. hailing from Omaha. Ne 1 braska. is always willing to tell what he knows about the alleged frauds l Friends of the accused men are not saying much except that when the i proper time comes they will be able to make it interesting for those who were instrumental in instigating this prosecution But Prosecutor Meigs ! says there is no escape for them.
 Mir Meigs was asked this question:
 Assuming that Dr Grady can tes- 1 tify that the man he examined for membership ill the Camp Yates was actually Frank Reynolds, how does your case standr
 And MT Meigs answered:
 "The case stands as it stands now. on solid ground. The accused are not charged with insuring q fictitious per son. They are charged with common l law conspiracy for which the maxi mum penalty Is five years in the state ] prison or q fine of $1,000, or both.' ~- |, But is it not a common thing for persons suffering from almost all the ills that flesh is heir to to be admitted ! to membership in such societies as the Red Men, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus. Foresters and Hibern- ians. and such like. aud those respOn- sible for their admission to the socie- ties never had thought of fraud when they proposed them:'
 Two wrongs never maGe a right was Mir Meigs' answer. "In some societies that know Of. and l pre- sume it is the same practically in most | all fraternal societies with an insur- { ance wing attached. that the proposer of anyone for membership assures the society that his candidate is in sound health. Therefore person who gets sickly friend into n society, even without any thought of defrauding it. actually commits q fraud and is gull ty of a crime against the state of Con 1 necticut.'
 The onus of the entire proceedings appears directed against MrIiiernan. no doubt on account of his name ap- bearing as the beneficiary in all of the documents upon which it. should ap- pear as such.
 The fact that it appears as "P. J.
 McKiernan," instead of r. II. Me- 1 Kiernan, will not cut any figure of consequence in the defense. unless il can be shown that he was not the par ! ty who wrote it. Of course If he can prove that he will be discharged. Why he should bother himself about such a paltry matter as q few thousand dol lars, involving such tremendous risk. is puzzling all who know him. There was no need for him to do anything | like this for he commanded first class salary from the Waterbury
 Buckle company. being first class die sinker and designer.
 All the accused underwent arrest this morning after the case YVES con. | tinued to one week from Monday only as a matter of form. however. just 10 | have the bonds renewed.