The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-01-04
Failure by Knights Of The Forest to Pay In.
surance Starts Investigation and Peculiar
Methods Are Revealed.

brought the matter TO the attention
OF The Star.
The letierheada Of the knights
Of the Forest bear the name Of
John p Cummius, grand knight
COMMANDER. John N. Kaufman,
grand knight recorder: @. S. Fen
wick. county empioye. grand
knight treasurer. and DR.. X. r.
Beckett grand medical examiner.
Or Beckett IN reply 10 a auea-
ton by The Star reporter. stated
that he had been asked hy Cum
mings. whom he had known az a
boy In Nebraska, to act as medical
examiner. and that he had consents
ed having served IN a similar ca
pacity for many orders He de-
clar~d that Cummings pat his name
down AA onn % the trustees. Dr.
Beckett r. now being sued by enc
Of the creditors.
Calls Recorder Ennbexzier.
John P. Cummings. on being
asked by q reporter az 10 his con-
nection with the order. stated that
be WIS one ~ the incorporators.
When his attention was called to
the taet that the order was not in
corporated. he stated that he had
given Kaufman. the grand re-
eorier. the money 20 file the ar
ticies. but that Kaufman had en-
bexFled the sum given him and
failed to send the necessary papers
10 Olympia.
Upon being Informed Of and
asked why the Martin claim was
not paid. Cumming stated that
Martin had refused tor pay his dues.
despite the fact that Martins fam
ny holds receipts showing a full
payment OF dues until Jan. I, 1907,
which was subsequent 10 Martins
death Mr. Cummings then stated
that Martin had been transferred to
membership in the knights OF the
Forest from the Industrial Acct
dent and Health Association" an
Insurance concern now bankrupt,
OF which Cummings IL the man.
ager and Kaufman was secretary
and treasurer.
CUMMINGS. on being asked II
there was any connection between
the Industrial Accident and Health
association and the Knights of the
Forest. stated there was not. He
said that the former was a mutual
association, like the Mutual Re-
serve OF New York. while the lat
ter was a fraternal organization,
like the Woodmen. When Mr..
Cummings attention. was called 10
the fact that both concerns have
the same officers and are both
bankrupt both having received
large sums and neither having paid
out any monax. he. laid the blame
on Kauffmaz.. - said has EN-.
8: :;:: Is; 7 - =
Kaufman. he said. w. |( "A
Portland. Cummings weakfe-
for starting or organizing life and
accident insurance concerns. which
for some reason have resulted dis.
/ astrously 10 the insured. led 20 HIS
/ leaving Idaho under somewhat pc.
culiar circumstances and prevented
his admission to the bar I'm this
state
His appearance as attorney for
the Industrial Health and Accident
association led to his being cited
T, into court.
Kaufman. who acter as secretary
/ OF both concerns, has disappeared.
He lived In Seattle some years ago.
In August 1904. he was arrested IN
FergusOn's place In the restricted
district, charged with attempting
10 sell silk stolen from the Leader.
and was found guilty by Judge
Gordon. but appealed his case. The
prosecuting attorneys office dis.
missed the case. many OF the gov.
ernment witnesses having left the
state.