Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

27$ JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
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Statement of J. C. Green: That in a letter written by Mrs. Ella
Wilson to William Plowwright, Secretary of New Hope Lodge, Mrs.
Wilson stated in part as follows: "I see by your letter and Paris' receipts
that Paris is not in good standing, but as soon as he becomes
beneficiary we will expect his sick benefits."
The statement of Paris Wilson in account with New Hope Lodge
from January 22d, 1901, to January 1st, 1910, prepared by J. P. Gil-
lam, Secretary, on November 24th, 1910, when analyzed, shows that
during that period Paris Wilson was beneficiary from September 21,
'01, to April 3, '02, not beneficiary from April 4, '02, to December 26,
'02, beneficiary to April 2, '03, not beneficiary from April 3, '03, to
August 4, '03, beneficiary to April 2, '04, not beneficiary from April 3,
'o4, to September 4, '04, beneficiary to April 2, '05, not beneficiary from
April 3, '05, to September 4, '05, beneficiary from September 4. '05, to
April 2, '07, not beneficiary from April 3, '07, to August 4, '07, benefi-
ciary to September 30, '08, not beneficiary from October 1, '08, to
February 10, '09, beneficiary to September 30, '10.
The foregoing comprises the testimony on the part of the defense.
In rebuttal on the part of the claimant:
Mrs. Wilson states with reference to the letter referred to that
Paris Wilson did not have this paralytic stroke immediately, but did
have it on the same day, and that she does not think that the letter
had anything to do with it; that John Wilson is a half-brother of her
husband and that there is bad feeling between the families; he and
his two sons, who also file affidavits in this case, Frank and Glynn,
do not visit or speak to us, and that concerning the affidavit of B. A.
Ellsworth, mail carrier, that he did not pass our house and did not see
my husband often; that he is very angry at me for I, as mayoress of
Hunnewell, had him arrested and fined for playing cards in violation
of our laws.
I. E. Wittum also states that he has heard the affidavit of B. A.
Ellsworth and F. D. May read as to what he said to them and states
that I did not state to them that Paris Wilson was, during the period
from January 1 to October 9, 1908, able to do his work and attend to
his business as well as any ordinary farmer of his age. I made no
statements to them that in any way contradicts the statement I have
sworn to in my original affidavit.
OPINION.
The evidence on the part of the claimant in this case fails to fix
with any definiteness (with one exception) the dates of either of the
strokes of the said Paris Wilson occurring in 1907 and 1908. And with-