New-York tribune., 1909-12-23
PHYSICIANS CAUGHT
M.LNT BLED FOR SO.
HOichLIss Put m Charge of
FraforRai Society.

Albany. De-. ss-That scores q physi.
ciens iu various parts OF Tho country have
contributed So each for a benefit certia-
cote in tho knights Of Modern Chivslrs. 4"
with sn additional s. - = zee for the title
Of CITY Ccurt Escularius. or an plain
terms medical examiner. developed TO-DAY
whon an ~reer WIS secured from supreme
Court Justice Chester placing superin-
tendent Hotchkiss. of the State Insurance
Department. in charge ~ tho affairs Of the
organization.
The knights 81 Modern ChivalrA-. n fra
tornEl beneficiary socisty. with hesdauar-
tors in Aihsnv. vas organized last June
hy n. Napoleon Hicks. According 20 a
report of recent examination by the In
sUrance Department. although S6,sss has
henn paid in elmosi wholly hy physicians,
since that time ana no insurance benefits
have heon paid 20 mernbcrs. the societs
hes only sloe g m - treasury. with ap-
rHreut ne olitics - Slsos o2.
Tho cheek stubs indicate" said super
intendem liotchkiss tonight, that IA
spite of ITO fact that the organization
osns for the payment - month OF slsi
o. supreme record keeper, sies 10 = su-
pYems hanker and SloQ 10 supreme or
stnizer more than half ~ TIE money
disbursed has spparcnuv hecn paid 10 \.
Napoleon Hicks. who Is the chief jus
tict' OF tho society. Al tho time az the
sNsmins ton. which was ordered on Decem-
her ~ the society had 2sS members. with
$50 eeo ~ insurance i'm force. an of wh'ca
are with four exceptions, in tne Escula-
plan class.
CumrlaiEt having been made a. 60 the
feil,.r. % si,c society To meet an accident
claim. The Insure ace Department called for
statement. Chief Justice" Hicks replied
thst tho society was no, liable FOR the paw
mont ~ sny benefit either life OF accident
during tho first year of membership. Ply
sicians became interested On the alleged
representation that lodges were 70 "e
formed an various cities ana villages Snd
that they were 60 be appointed medical eN-
sminors.
40 lodges have been formed said Su-
perlmts ndent Hotchkiss tonight. and ;he
society ~ this time is practically nothing
more than an assessment association. whose
members have parted with their money and
become Iable 20 assessments without hsF-
Inc secured any benefits or neing lkels Co
secure amy"
Superintendent Hotchkiss SAYS hat the
society used misleading promotion htcra-
ture oy making rsfereuce o. the National
Surety Company and the Farmers Loan
End Trust Company ~ New York in
manner which might lead 90 The belief that
tley we've in some WAY hack % TIRE or
ssnization.
The fsci is." saas MI Hotchk,ss, that
she National Surety Company had merely
liyen = bond which made 60 liable 20 The
Knights ~ Modern Chivslry ia certain con-
tiugoncics. provided such society deposited
its funds in the Farmers Loan and Trust
'ompsuy. and the records show that the
list mentioned company not only refused
a. accept such deposit. but on Septeml'er
lo, 1919. warned tire society 20 cease using
its financial statement or name
Superintendent llotchkiss viii ask fhs
Legislature foI authority to refuse 90 issue
licenses tD organizations when in his judg-
menf ~ucn octiou should ne taken. Under
existing law this cannot be done.