The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-03
.F|REMEN'S FUND
MUCH in vOLVED.
Stormy Meeting of Membership
Adjourns Without
Action.
MAY EMPLOY NEW LAWYER
Franck Says He Did Not Autho-
rize His Name on Red
wood Petition.
MAY EMPLOY NEW LAWYER

After a debate lasting more than an
hour, forty members of the Fireren's
Relief Association assembled In the
courtroom of the Hastings Court last
night decided that the meeting had
not been legally called, whereupon
those present adjourned without the
Formally of motion. One OF the
peculiar features OF the meeting was
that none OF the officers was present
and that the uniforms of hremen were
conspicuous by their absence.
Arthur Tignor. chairman of the COM
mittec appointed some time ago to
wind up the affairs of tho associa-
ton. presided. The committee re-
ported that under authority of
former meeting 1t had employed State
Senator Sands Gayle as counsel, and
had instituted a suit with the purpose
of closing UP the association and
making an equitable distribution Of
the fund. Captain John II. Redwood
and several others appeared as de-
PENDANTS and contested the suit. and
Judge ingram ruled that each men,
Der Of the association had an in
surable right vested in the fund, and
that 1t could not be distributed save
by unanimous consent.
John q. Gayle. brother OF Senator
Gayle, appeared in the absence of his
brother, and explained the proceed
ings already taken. saying that under
the circumstances he would not adj
wise an appeal to the Supreme Court,
as Judge Migrants decision seemed to
be we'll founded.
Mny Have to Die to Win.
The only suggestion he had to make
was for a voluntary liquidation by
1 81, rs, -, Inv Isy
court, stop all dues and assessments.
and let the fund be paid out in dealt,
benefits TO the first twenty or SO who
die, until the fund IS exhausted, those
who do not die until after the money
on hand. now about $4,000. is all
gone. losing their interest. regardless
of the number OF assessments and the
amount of dues they have paid in. a
member of the committee suggested
as another plan, reducing dues TO
cent a. year. and assessments to 2
cents. cutting death benefits from
$1,000 to 800 each. letting the fund
run along as far as it would go, the
compound interest being probably
nlent to all present members
Chairman Tignor was OF the opinion
that new lawyer should be Sc
cured. He thought that had the as
ISOLATION secured John A. Lamb, in
stead of Senator Gayle. the outcome
would have been otherwise. Mr..
Lamb. he said, had appeared for Red
wood and others, and knew how TO
handle them" He thought that even
now Mr.. Lamb might be able to get
the "kickers into line and that some
plan might be devised which would
secure unanimous approval and so
meet the objections of Judge Ingram.
Committee Still at Work.
The question of payment of April
dues was then reached, also tho pay
ment OF the assessment following the
death of Captain Atkinson, a member
of the association. II was here that
the point was raised that tho meeting
had not been legally called. nor the
members properly notified Amid
some confusion 1t was determined that
those present constituted only sort
of caucus. which could not legally
bind the body. and which had no right
and discharge it. Mr.. Tignor ruled
that that being the case, the commit
tee was still in power. and pract-
cally invited all others out SO that
he might confer with his fellow COM
mitteemen as TO the employment of
Mr.. Lamb and the institution OF fur
Their proceedings.
Captain Redwood was not pres
ent. nor was Louis Franck, whose
name appeared on the Redwood petit
ton protesting against the distribu-
tion of the fund. 1t was stated that