Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-11-13
CALL FOR RIGID INVESTIGATION
AND SPECIAL AUDiT.-JOHN
MITCHELL'S STATEMENTS TRUE

Staunton Va. Nov. "a circular
letter has been received here by
members of the Order of Knights of
Pythias. 1t has created a sensation
and is in line with the opinion pre-
viously expressed here concerning
the exposures made by Past Grand
Chancellor John Mitchell, Jr., rela-
tive to the actions of Attorney w.
III. c. Brown, Attorney J. r. Pollard
and Grand Chancellor w. B. F. Crow
ell. 1t confirms what Mr.. Mitchell
has claimed all along. Advices re-
ceived here state that the auditors
of the Bureau of Insurance of Vir-
ginia have completed careful ex-
animation or the books and accounts
of the Grand Lodge. Knights of
q Pythians of Virginia and the, Grand
Court. Order of Calanthe and they
openly stated that John Mitchell was
right and they found conditions just
as he reported them to be.
THE CAUSE
This is taken ITO be the cause Of
the issuance OF the circular letter
addressed to Chancellor. Command
ers Officers and members of subor-
dinate lodges. being signed by the
Norfolk Chapter Past Chancellor,
Throman Clark President; w. l..
Custis. Secretary and by the Tide
water Council of Past Chancellors,
Knights of Pythias F. E. Puryear,
President: Eugene West, Secretary.
The latter two are Grand Vice Chan
cellor and Grand Keeper Of Records
and Seal of the Grand Lodge K. of
p. Of Virginia respectively and the
two organizations virtually control
the Grand Lodge. K of p. OF Vir-
ginia from the fact hat Staunton
has practically taken similar action.
THE LAST RESORT
Relative to the use Of the public
press. Mr. Mitchell was averse to re.
sorting to this heroic treatmeni and
he made strenuous efforts to avoid
it This circular is virtually the es-
sence OF the letter sent to Grand,
Chancellor w. B. F. Crowell by Sir
w p Brown of Richmond calling
upon him 90 remove both w H. G..
Brown and !. r Pollard from office.
Mr.. Mitchell tried to get a hearing
here before the Grand Lodge but
Prown Crowell.. Pollard and Com
nanv r~evented it and bv resolution
decided to discipline any member Of
the Grand Lodge, who would go to
hear him speak.
FORCED TO co OUTSIDE
Mr.. Mitchell answered this with
10 AoA ho4 he
big mouth and a big newspaper.
How we'll he has used both js shown
bv tha present dav DEVELOPMENTS
Mr.. Mitchell went to Portsmouth on
a Tuesday night during the sessions
Of the Grand Lodge there in 1925
and ~anuested Of Str Crowe,I that a
comr'ittee be anDointed from the
crsnd Lodge and the Grand Court
to adjust matters between himself
and both OF the bodies He agreed
fhat this won'd he done and then
instead NJ sendinp the committee
named w. TT. G. Brown to handle
the matter for both organizations.
BUREAU OF INSURANCE ACTIVE
Tho rnnrdc show that w. Fl. G.
Brown ent 800 On for IeoaI sorvices
ot ore time and that $4,000 was
dr"r'- out ~ the Crand Court treas
NV OF another tiun The Bureau
~ Ine"rance's auditors renort that
these fonros are corrpcf Thev
vent '~ NorfoIk end Pnrtemorth and
this woe aFter thew had examined
tho rocordr In Richmond. Thev
fonnd ont that the actual amount Of
n1opev turned over bv The rncnivers
NJ tho Grand Todoo V NJ p NJ
T'~oir'o wos soO 7oodal Twenty
Tho"""-d covnn I~ndred and Nine
ty-nine Dollars and Forty six cents,