The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-29

MRS. STORY, FORMER PRESIDENT
GENERAL OF ID. A. r..
INDICTED.
Action Caused by Activities of Nation.
al Emergency Relief Society In New
York.

can Revolution, was arrested here
late today on indictments charging
her with grand larceny. petty larceny
and conspiracy in connection with the
affairs of the National Emergency Re.
lief Society, of which she is presi-
dent.
Mrs. Story was paroled in the GUS
tody of her counsel until tomorrow
afternoon when she will be arraigned
and bail will be fixed.
Indicted with Mrs. Story were her
two sons, Allen, an army Lieutenant
stationed at Aberdeen, Md, and Sterl-
ing, who is now in the government
ser, ice in Washington. They are
charged with having participated with
their mother in profiteering whereby
money obtained for comfort kits for
for United States soldiers was divert
ed to the pockets of a solicitor.
The indictments charge that Mrs.
Story arranged with William Garland
Brown, the solicitor, for him to re-
ceive half the funds collected by the
society and that he gave Sterling
Story One-fifth of his so per cent. This
second division, 1t is alleged, compen-
stated Sterling for his part in nego-
t;ating Browns arrangements with his
mother
The assistant district attorney who
has charge of the inquiry declared
there was no way of checking up the
contributions made and the use to
which they were ultimately put. Con-
sequently he said the aggregate
amount believed to have been missed
could not be verified.
Mrs Story, the prosecuting authori-
ties declare, never was actually elect
ed president of the Relief Society, but
took that office arbitrarily. AS a mat
ter of fact they say, the manner in
which the society itself was incor-
porated was grossly irregular"
Several prominent members have
withdrawn and insisted that their
names be no longer used on it's sta
tionery it is said. Among them a,
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, and
Mrs. Simon Baruch. wife of wealthy
New York physician.
Mrs Story subjected herself to pros
ecution. it was declared, because she
falsely represented that her society
paid no commissions to solicitors, and
thus obtained a small part of the pro-
ceeds from the Hero Land Bazaar in
which many accredited war relief or
ganizations participated.
The alleged payment Of $50 COM
mission to Allen Story for services in
leasing an uptown property for the
society constituted an additional cause
for grand jury action. it was assert.
ed. Subscription soliciting blanks
made no mention of the intention to
nse part of the money for the leasing
OF a house as a soldiers recreation
center, it was explained.
Mrs. A. T. Baldwin, wife of a New
York lamp manufacturer, who it is
declared, was deposed as treasurer of
the society by a faction favorable to
| Mrs. Story, was the chief witness dur
ing the grand jury sitting.
Through her counsel tonight Mrs.
Story termed the charges made
against her and her sons the result OF
disgruntlement on the part of the
treasurer of the society (Mrs. Bald
VIM who was removed from office by
vote of the organization
The lawyer said that Mrs. Story
had no knowledge of the society's fin
ancial transactions other than that
gained during the official investiga-
ton. Ho added that she believed i'm
plicitly that the part played by her
sons in the relief work was Gin all
respects proper and regular"
Regarding the hero land" funds,
and check in Mrs. Story's posses
sion when the official inquiry was be-
gun the attorney said:
"All I know is that Mrs. Story did
not get the money. The check came
into her hands when the treasurer was
not performing the functions of her
office. Mrs. Baldwin tied up the whole
society, with the assistance Of the dis
trict attorney"
The National Emergency Relief So
ciety has had a stormy career. ac-
cOrding to the district attorney I'll
was irregularly Incorporated, he said
and Mrs Story arbitrarily assumed"