The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-16
Officers Topeka Council X. and
L. of s. Into Court.
Fight to Prevent Charter Being
Cancelled.
lN0THER CHAPTER IN BATTLE
Conspiracy Charged Against
National Heads of Order.
Removed Plaintiffs From Office
in Capital Council.

Another chapter was added TO the
internal controversy in the Security
Benefit association. formerly the
knights and Ladies of Security, late
this afternoon when a suit was filed
in the Shawnee district court asking
that national officers of the organiza-
ton be enjoined from removing Off
GERS of Capital council No. 1, Topeka.
the orders largest chapter. or cancel
ling the charter of the council.
The petition, filed by l. NJ. Penwell,
C. c. Rogan. Opal Haney and E. d.
Knoll, president. vice-president, secre-
tary and financier Of the council. re-
spectively, also asks that the national
officers and other defendants named.
| be enjoined from interfering in any
way with the internal affairs of the
council; from suspending or otherwise
| interfering with the membership of
w. A. Voigt, former vice president,
and from Withholding from the <coun-
| Gil books and membership lists. In
addition to a restraining order against
revoking the charter of the chapter,
an order against distributing the mem
bership among other councils, is also
| asked.
Conspiracy Charged.
| J. M. Kirkpatrick, national presi-
dent; j. V. Abrahams, national secre-
4
+. M. Bonebrake, John NJ Doyle, II.
ID. McCliman and John w. Breyfogle,
executive COMMITTEE; c. B. Hypes, w.
| A. Caste, Edith Supple, Dora Candy
and the Central National bank are
named defendants in the suit.
Prior to December, 1919, Capital
Council No. l was a prosperous and
vigorous branch of the order, it is as
serted in the suit, and Is the associa-
tons largest chapter. During thai
L
tional officers and executive commit
tee, conspiring to destroy the useful
ness and control the council. attempt
ed to dictate to and overrule the coun-
Gil officers, and a majority of the
council
The national officers removed the
duly elected officers of the local coun-
ell, the petition said. and suspended
Voigt from membership. The national
officers and executive council then ap'
pointed as officers of the council
| Hypes, Casio, Edith Supple and Dors
| Candy, as president, vice-president
secretary and financier, and sliced tn
books and membership lists withhold
ling them from the elected officers, thu
plaintiffs, it is alleged. Several mann
bers( have been caused to stand sus
fpended thru this alleged action, &C
icording to the plaintiffs.
II Central National Involved.
III Ine central NATIONAL Dank Is f1du
F. G. defendant because the plaintiff
state, the defendants have forbidde
| | it to honor checks or drafts of tn
| elected financier E. d. Knoll.
| Thursday night, the petition furthe
recites. the council members, owing t
the fact the local officers had bee
| removed, followed the laws of the or
der and preferred charges agains
them and then reelected the plain
tiffs.
The petition also charges that 4
. order to control Topeka membership
perpetuate themselves in office, in
crease their salary and appropriat
funds of the national order, the ma
tional officers threatened to split u
the Capital council and organize othe
councils from the membership. tn
defendants have threatened to canoe
the charter of the chapter. it
claimed.
Local officers appointed. it is claimed
will attempt to occupy places whicl
the petition claims belongs to III
I plaintiffs unless enjoined. and 1t
, further claimed, withhold funds be
longing to the council in the Contra
National bank.
!. Late this afternoon attorneys 70
the plaintiffs were before the cour
asking for a temporary restraining or
der pending a hearing for the perma
e nent injunction.
|, E. D. McKeever attorney, filed tn
. petition for the plaintiffs.