Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-06-27
MRS. v. c. STORY
|. UNDER INDICTMENT
Famous American Clubwoman
Accused of Diverting Funds
Obtained for Soldiers Kits

New York, June 26-Mrs. William Cum
ming Story. formerly director general of
the Daughters Of the American Revolu-
ton and known to womens clubs
throughout the country. was arrested
here late to-day on indictment charging
her with grand larceny. petty larceny
and conspiracy in connection with the af-
fairs of the National Emergency Relief
society Of which she is president. She
was paroled In the custody Of her coun-
sci until tomorrow afternoon when she
will be arraigned and bail will be fixed.
Indicted with Mrs. Story were her sons,
Allen. an army lieutenant. stationed at
Aberdeen. Md, and Sterling, who Is now
in the government service at Washing
ton. They are charged with having par
ticipated with their mother in a profiteer-
ing scheme whereby money contributed
for comfort kits for United States SOL
diers was diverted to the pockets Of a
solicitor.
The indictments charge that Mrs.
Story arranged with William Garland
Brown. the solicitor. for him to receive
half the funds collected by the society
and that he gave Sterling Story one
Nth of his so per cent. This second
division, 1t ia alleged, compensated
Sterling for his part In negotiating
Browns arrangement with his mother.
The assistant district attorney who
has charge Of the inquiry declared there
was no way of checking up the contri-
buttons made and the use to which they
were ultimately put Consequently, he
| said, the aggregate amount believed to
| have been misused could not be verified
Mrs. Story, the prosecuting authorities
declare, never was elected president OF
| the Relief society, but took the office
arbitrarily. As matter of fact, they
| say the manner in which the society It.
| self was Incorporated was grossly irreg
ular."
Several prominent members have with.
| drawn and insisted that their names bt
| no longer used on its stationery, It IL
said. Among those reported to have
withdrawn are Rear Admiral Bradley
| A. Fiske and Mrs. Simon Baruch. wife
| Of a wealthy New York physician.
| Mrs. Story subjected herself to prose
cution, 1t was declared, because sh,
falsely represented that her society pait
| no commissions to solicitors, and thu
obtained a small part Of the proceeds
from the hero land bazaar in which man,
accredited war relief organizations par
| ticipated.
The alleged payment Of $40 commits
sion to Allen Story for services in leas
ing an uptown property for the societ,
constituted an additional cause for CRANE
Jury action, 1t was asserted. Subscrip
ton soliciting blanks made no mention
of the intention to use part of the none,
for the leasing of a house as a soldiers
recreation center, It was explained.
Mrs. A. T. Baldwin. wife Of New
York lamp manufacturer. who. it is de
oil ~nA
society by faction favorable to Mrs
Story. was the chief witness during tn,
grand jury sitting.
Through her counsel tonight Mrs
Story termed the charges made agains
her and her sons the result of "a dis
gruntlement on the part of the treasure
Of the society (Afrs. Baldwin,. who wa
removed from Office by vote of the organi
cation"