Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-24
this direction that lies the probable
Sangamon county investigation.

this direction that lies the probable
Sangamon county investigation
Mcbride Makes Investigation.
j. F. Mcbride, who was supreme
tribune of the Fraternal Tribunes when
it was decided, following the discov-
cry of the loot, to go out OF business,
yesterday discussed results of the in
vestigation conducted on his own part.
He said:
81 am not permitted to speak freely,
for / have testified twice before the
Rock Island county grand jury, am still
under subpoena. and will testify there
again But our reserve fund is gone.
That much is clear. The question now
is: Who got It?
after the American Home Circle
came into our organization in Novem-
Der, 1908, the officers of our order, au-
thorized by a bylaw that permitted
the board of regents to I'LL vacancies
occurring between the biennial meet
ings of the supreme body, resigned
one at time, electing former officers
of the Home Circle in their places ex-
cept Mr.. Rexdale, who resigned as sec
rotary and was made vice president.
Condition of Death Claims.
I'VE had been told that the circle
had death claims unpaid amounting to
ST, 900 and had 5000 members. The
circle remained in our body until July
II, 1909, when it was found that its
death claims were by that time $780,
900 and that ours were $4,000, a total
of $125,O00 There was not enough
money to pay this and when some of
us looked for the reserve fund of $751;
900, which was held in trust by the
Chicago Title & Trust company. it was
gone.
1T was possible for this to be used,
under our bylaws, when the death
claims amounted to more than the II
assessments in any one year
The members of the circle then with
drew from our>organization and later
joined the Royal Benefit society of
D. G.
New Board Is Elected.
ga new board of regents was elected
with me at the head, p o. Norling of
Galva, H., as vice supreme tribune,
Robert Rexdale as secretary, NJ. H.
Sexton of Rock Island treasurer, and
DR.. Craig as medical examiner l be-
gan an investigation to see whether
the reserve fund had vanished. The
results of my inquiry and those that
it are now before the |
grand jury at Rock Island.
I'VE found that the order had been
robbed to such an extent that it could |
exist no longer and our board called
Meeting for March %, 1910, at which it
vas unanimously voted to go out of |
business. We advised the members to
insure in the Northern Life Insurance |
company of Illinois, a Rock Island /
company of which later became first |
nee president. There have been judg- |
nents granted against the defunct or
Ter of Fraternal Tribunes for $4,000
leath benefits, to satisfy which there
S no money"
Mr.. Mcbride would not disclose who
he suspected men are, but said they
we're widely enough known to interest
great many persons in event of their
Indictment. One is believed to have
.ot away with $4,000.
Reported "A Chicagoan; Denied.
One report had it that the widely
,nown Illinois politician who is accus-
d was former state official and at
resent a federal official of Chicago
Jpon this point Mr.. Mcbride said the
ederal official was not a Chicago man.
ut admitted he was an Illinoisan