The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-30
DAWSON TAKES HAND.
Brings Action to Annual Charter Of
Warning Missionary Society.

Attorney General John Dawson has
dipped into the row between the wom-
en- of the two missionary societies of
the Methodist Episcopal church. He
has filed petition in quo warranto
in the supreme court to revoke the
state charters of both societies. He
alleges that both were formed fraud
ulently'' for the sole purpose of secur-
ing the behest of Mrs. Fannie Murray,
deceased. The officers of the two So
cieties declare that the attorney gen
erals allegations are false and that
they will fight the suit.
The two societies differ but slightly
in name. One is called the Woman's
Home Missionary society of the Meth
odiSt Episcopal church of the Kansas
conference and the other is called the
WOmanS Home Missionary society of
the Kansas conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. The petition to
dissolve the two societies narrates the
following:
THAT both of the defendant corpora
tions were organized fraudulently to de-
prtve the well known and reputable un-
Incorporated society of it's official name
trust created in its behalf by the afore-
said Mrs Fannie Murray, deceased, and
plaintiff says that some of the incor-
porators, to wit, Mrs. E. l.. Barnes, Mrs. Il.
N. Lynch, and Mrs. e. l.. knostman par
ticipated in organizing the defendant
CORPORATIONS innocently and by mistake
and have ceased to have any relations
thereto and have severed their connec-
ton herewith But the said defendant
fully appropriated the official name and
title of the well known unincorporated
wrongfully and unlawfully received and
converted to their own uses the funds be-
longing to said unincorporated society as
herein set forth and that the continued
use by the defendant corporations of the
official name and title of the unincor-
porated society deprives the said unincor-
porated society of full and free exercise
of it's rights and privileges and misleads
the public who contrlbnte to the t .l
church
This controversy was given the air
at the recent Wichita meeting of The |
societies where one of the |
societies sued the other for $50, GOO |
for libel. The societies were organized I
three years ago at about the same
time and for the same purpose. The |
attorney generals petition sets forth /
the particulars of the quarrel of the |
societies in their efforts to get con- T
troll of the Mrs Murray behest as fol-
The said Mrs Carrie 2. Cope, Mrs. e.
T. Barnes; Mrs F. n Lynch, Mrs
the defendant company, The |
Woman's Home Missionary Society of /
the Methodist Episcopal church of the |
Kansas Conference, as a corporation for |
the purpose of securing the funds so given |
as aforesaid by Mrs. Fannie Murray to |
the unincorporated society above de-
IN furtherance of the purpose of Sc
Mrs. Fannie Murray. the said Mrs. Carrie |
E. Cope. Mrs George .. Smith, Mrs. r. |
e. l.. Knostman organized another cor |
poration with a slightly different name. I
The Woman's Home Missionary Society |
of the Kansas Conference of the Meth |
odist Episcopal church.
1.-THE incorpo-stors acting boards OF
directors of both defendant corporations |
lam ov71 Cfiac for n
proceeds of said trust of the said Mrs. |
Fannie Murray. deceased and the trustee /
the sum of four thousand five hundred I
dollars. which sum said corporations
have ever since held and now hold
By reason of all the foregoing the de- /
PENDANTS have perverted. misused and |
abused the corporate privileges of the |
state of Kansas and obtained their cor
pOrate charters by error mistake and de-
ception and have no lawful right to enjoy /
a corporate existence, and a receiver or /
this honorable court ought to be appoint |
ed to take charge of their assets and /
property to hold and dispose of the same
as the court shall direct.
Wherefore, plaintiff prays for a decree |
forfeiting the charters of the defendant |
exercise thereof, and for the reinvest- /
ment by the state of Kansas of all the /
fore granted to defendants and for re- |
ceiver to take charge of and safely keep. |
subject to the order of the court. all the /
The Women Deny.
Mrs. Carrie Cope and Mrs. W. j. +
Oliver, officials in the Women's Home /
society of the Methodist |
church of the Kansas con- I
ference, deny all and singular the |
of the attorney general as
follows:
"Of course, those statements are with /
out foundation. and we will not hesitate
to make our defense when the case !
comes before the court.
I'm the first place we did not ineor- /
GOctatU n
securing wrongfully the estate of Mrs. |
Fannie Murray. It was. done solely for |
the purpose of meeting the requirements /
of the administrator of the estate and /
the requirements which were set forth in |
the will of Mrs. Murray. The incor- |
was done upon the advice of |
the Murray administrator, who is q COM
petent lawyer, and also Of the national |
missionary society. The money and the |
interest received from it all has and is |
being used properly and 1t will be an |
easy matter for US to prove it