The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-18

CONSPIRACY TO CHEAT INSURANCE CoMp ANIKs.-
Sanford G. Gardner and D. w. Belyea, are in
custody in this city, on charge of conspiracy to
cheat insurance companies The frss charge m de
against them was for a conspiracy to cheat the
Union Mutual Life Insurance Company Of this city
out of$5,000 The following are the circumstances
ofthe case :-Belyss, who has acted as an insur-
that one BURY, residing at Hammond's Point, New
York, desired to obtain an insurance on his life for
$4,000. The usual physical examination Of person
represented to the company TO be Bury was made.
and the policy granted. This was last spring. A.
month or two ago the company received notice that
BURY had been drowned at Hammond's Point. 1t
was also stated to the company that Bury was in
fueptially connected, and thut prompt payment
Of the policy would favorably affect the standing Of
the company. The company wrote for the usual
proofs Of death, and received in reply the affidavit
of physician that he had examined the body
after it was taken from the water, and of a clergy
man that he attended the funeral. This appeared
to be satisfactory, and the company were about to
pay the money, when on accidental crcu netanco
brought to light the fact that the alleged BURY
was no other than Gardner. that he was alive and
well in Vermont, and that the physician and clergy
man, whose names were appended in the affidavits,
were fictitious persons. complaint was therefore
made in the police court in this city, and Beyea was
arrested in his Office State street, by officer Edward
J. Jones, and Gardner, by officer John Harrington,
in Vermont They taken before the police
court, whore they waived an examination, and were
committed to Jail in default Of bail in 600 each.
~ wac Uub ouOIb tiWo ultCr tntS ln2t an agenE
OF the United States Insurance Company Of North.
crn New York, made his appearance in this city,,
to look after certain suspicious matters and here no
learned for the frat time, of the arrest Of Belyea
and Gardner, and also discovered that the Company
had been cheated out of $1,000 by them, in tho
following manner :-Belyea represented to the
Company that Gardner had house in Sandwich,
Mass, which he wished 70 get insured, and tho
received information from the parties that IL had
been burned down, and that as Mr.. Gardner was an
influential parsonage in Sandwich, IL would be cood
policy to pay the loss promptly. The Comnanw
wrote for proof Of the loss, and received in rani
the afidavits of four justices Of the peace of apy
wich, that the house had boen burned down Th;.
was doomed sufficient, aod the mOnev vas na;5
over. 1t now appears that there ia ne such haprs.
in Sandwich ms that insured in the name NJ G.rJn.
and thst there are no snch Justices of tbe roosa;
Sandwich or In Massachusetts AZ those annarJ"% -
the afidavits. Such are the facts in XII 80. ~
daring fraud. District Attorney Park Il in yos9o
sion Of letter. between the parties, fuilv sho;r.
that they were engaged in guilty consp;racv. M
also showing that one Of them hadobtaired I;or,s
share Of tho proceeds Of their guilt The otha.
threatened an exposure, but was promptlv onstod
BY the assertion, that he dare not do IL. Gardre,
was formerly connected with mercantile frw =,
this city, but was prosecuted by his partner. snr
forgery, and indicted by the grand iurv IN.
matter was however settled without trial In tho
Municipal Court this morning, Belyea and 3ardrss
were arranged on the two indictments - Rsi.ss
plead n0io confendr'c Gardner not ouiltv Tks.
we're ordered TO give bail in $65OO and IN 5efsmE
were trAndsd 70 Jail -Bo,fon Traveller. Srss IA