The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-29
SECESSIONISTS
 ALWAYS LOST
DECISIONS CITED AS WARNING IN SITUATION GROWING OUT OF
 POTH-CORCORANI INCIDENT
PARENT BODY IS UPHELD
Courts Sustain Constitutional Pro. visions of Companions of the
 Forest.

The Supreme Court of the State of New York has just rendered a decis- | ion which will be interesting to mem bers of the Companions of the Forest in this city. in view Of the recent controversy between Miss Annie M. Corcoran.. Of New Haven. former Su- preme chief companion of the order, and Mrs. Annie E. Poth, supreme the formers suspension. The dissen- sion in the fraterna1 body has led the supporters of Miss Corcoran in this State, and in the Elm City, to threat en cleavage from the supreme body, which action. according to Mrs. Poth. will be summarily dealt with by suit as in other similar cases.
 The case of Harrison circle, No. 250,
 Of New York city, against certain for
 mer members of the order, represented
 in the suit by Kate Huxley, for seces- sion from the circle in question in vio-
 lation of the constitution of the order
 was decided by Judge Gerard in fa-
 the. defendants, the majority of whom
 instituted a counter orga ton. the
 Lady Foresters of America, should
 transfer all books and paraphernalia.
 1ected for the payment of sick and
 death benefits, to the amount of $657 66
 be returned. with interest, within ten
 days.
 The judge in his decision found that
 the order exists by a charter of the
 State Of New York, which will knock
 out all theories or COnn0cC1Cuf 1nCOf-
 poration, and dfssipate any disposition
 on the part of Connecticut members
 to secede under the impression that
 the circles in this city are under State control
 Judge Gerard said verbally that if one member only remained loyal to
 the supreme body. the funds Of the
 member; that if all seeded, after talk ing a vote upon such action, the money would revert to the supreme circle.
 Secessionists from the supreme body have been rather numerous during the past year. A few disappointed office seekers and their followers had started Lady Foresters.'' Reports have been printed to the effect that the original body, the Compa nfons of the Forest of AT America, er & has v had It's charter revoked especial effort has been made by the officers of the maligned body to deny this accusation published In many culars stating the true state Of af- fairs. IF
 Tn every case where the ..Lady For the funds Of the parent organization from it, and in every case the verdict in the litigation has been against the seceders. This matter of looking after local circles was taken from the hands of Miss Annie M Corcoran by the executiye council and placed in the thfs fact formed one of tine sl,ases of contention between the two women. which resulted in Miss Coreoran's sus- pension.
 The first case decided was that of I Pride Of Philadelphia circle in that city. Tn turn the following decisions were given In favor of the supreme order; Ben Hur circle, of Boston, and Floral circle of Rochester N r., in which 99 voted to secede and 4s voted against secession. The 99 took the books, moneys and properties, but were ordered by the Supreme Court Of Rochester to return them to Floral circle.
 After twenty-four days in the courts City of Lynn circle, of Massa chusetts, was awarded $65S.1 by Judge Winslow of Cambridge.
 Judge Morschauer of the Supreme Court of New York handed down a de- cision in favor Of Terrace circle of Yonkers to recover $27080. All these have been returned to their res spective circles through Mrs Poth's efforts,