The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-20
FIGHT IS AVERTED
Near Personal Encounter Be-
tween Observation-Disclosures.
StenOgrapher Interfered ana
Saved Day, Says President.
ABRAHAMS DENIES COMBAT
Charges and COunter-Charges
by Lodge Officers.
Mailing of Newspapers Said to
Have Aroused Row.

Feeling in the fight for control of
the offices of the knights and Ladles
of Security has become so bitter ana
intense that personal encounter be-
tween W. B. kirkpatrick, president;
and J. v. Abrahams, secretary, OF the
national order, was Friday afternoon
averted only by Abrahams' stenog-
rapher. That was the statement to-
day of President Kirkpatrick, who
claimed that Abrahams would nave
attacked him in the secretary's office
in Security building had not Miss LII
liam Natsen interfered. Abrahams en-
phaticaIly denied the statement.
For weeks charges and counter
charges have been made by the off,
GERS of the big fraternal order Fac
tional feeling is said to have become
more intense this week when Presl-
dent kirkpatrick went into the su-
preme court with petition for WITT
of mandamus against Abrahams anu
his associates. The row, it is claimed
nearly terminated in a personal en-
counter by the two head officers OF
the society when President kirkpat-
rick visited Abra hams office
Stenographer to Rescue.
Kirkpatrick admitted today that
fight was averted only by Miss Nat
sens interference and failure of Abra-
hams to make good a threat
Since the filing of the suit in the
supreme court, President k1rkpatrlck
is said to have purchased copies OF
newspapers containing stories of the
suit. These papers, it is reported,
were sent to members and officers OF
the society. Other papers, containing
statements of the defeat of the pres
ent head of the society by James M.
frIrY ioIx n
been mailed from the offices of Abra-
hams and his associates. All of these
actions are said to have tended to
wreck such harmony as remained.
Kirkpatrick's Story.
II went to Abrahams's office to get
some papers," said President Kirk
patrick today, in relating the incident
of the recent disturbance. They were
papers 1 had been trying to get for
some time-papers to which l was en-
titIed-and l made a written demand
for them.
II suppose you want to publish
them, just like you have done every
thing else was Abrahams's remark.
l told him [ certainly intended to
him either. I told him about some
of the things he and his crowd have
done in this fight
1t was at this juncture, kirkpatrick
declares, that Abrahams jumped from
his chair.
You repeat that statement"
Kirk patrick quoted Abrahams as say
ing, and l will forget your age"
Kirkpatrick is 70 years old. Ac-
cording to his statement today, how
ever. he didn't bulge an inch.
Il do repeat it-with emphasis -
Kirkpatrick said.
1t was when an encounter seemed
imminent that Miss Lillian Natsen,
stenographer to Secretary Abrahams,
interfered.
Virtually the entire story was de-
MED today by Abrahams.
Never Threatened, Says Abrahams.
I'VE just popped off like we do
every once in awhile said the ma
tional secretary of the order. There
wasn't any evidence of a fight. I
never threatened the old man, never
made a move to. strike and wouldn t
think of such a thing. 1t would be
a bad move from political stand
point and l don't think l could SO far
forget myself under any circum-
stances. l suppose the old man really
wanted me to hit him so that he could
win some sympathy. That seems to
be what he is looking for