Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-25
Fraudulent Attempt upon Insurance Com.
panies.
From the New York Post I

IRON the New ork Post. II
Alex. H. Petrie was arrested this Thurs
day. morning, by officer Keefe, one of the
chiefs aids, on warrant issued by Mayor
Wood. The prisoner Is charged with an at
tempt to defraud the Globe Mutual Insurance
Company Of this city. 1t appears that Pstrie
represented himself as the owner Of the steam
boat O. W. p. Gusts, at that time lying at
Washington city, D. c., and procured from
the company policy of insurance for $3.50
| for single trip of the steamboat from Wash
ington to New York
Petrie, it Is said. represented the steamer to
bs sesworthy In every particular, and that his
intention was 70 bring her TO this port for the
| purpose Of running her to some Of the ada
cent places. He also obtained policies of In.
sursnce in other companies to the amount of
| 81 500. Petrie, it is further stated, engaged
Capt. Van Baskirk to bring the vessel from
Washington, and he accordingly left this city
| for that purpose.
| On reaching w shington, Captain Van Bus
| kirk discovered that the stea mbt at was unit
| Tor Sea, being badly burned from her boilers
| forward, and three engineers were engaged
for three or four days in getting her in con.
dition for the trip. Previously to leaving,
however, Petrie, in an interview with the
captain, stated that he wished and directed
| him (the csptaiD) to run ths vessel ashore
| &C the moot advantageous point run
her high and dry, 30 as 10 save her boilers and
engine, which, he said he could purchase
| from the underwriters for little or nothing.
Captain Van Buskirk listened to the propo-
| sition Of Petite, and started on the trip, but
inste ad OF proceeding toNew York, as directed,
| run the steamer to Alexandra, some seven or
eight miles fIoln Washington, and made her
| fast to the wharf He then arted for this
| city, and gave informs alton of the transaction
to Lewis Gregory, President Of the Globe In.
surancs Co, who Immediately waited upon
! the Mayor, and obtained a warrant for the
/ arrest of Petrie.
trict Attorney Hal! about the case, and fnd-
| ing that the prisoner could not be legally held
by the ate courts, sent the papers TO the
! United States District Attorney, who will ex-
| anime the matter Immediately. No offence
having been committed, but merely an attempt
t. perpetrats a swindle, the District Attorney
| gave it his opinion that the State courts had
| 40 jurisdiction.
The following are the policies which had
been taken out by Petrie on the steamboat:
Globe Mutual Insurance Company, New
| York, dated August 8, 1855. SO, 500
| Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance
Company, New York Agency, August
| " lo''.'''''. .''...''....,..,.... I,UO0
| Sun Fire aud Marine Insurance CON-
| pany, OF Pennsylvania, New York
| Agency, August 6, l855............. 1000
I Total. ..s..................ST 500
| Among the papers in Petrie's possession was
| bill Of sale of the steamer from Charles c.
| Mills, for SIS 900. Ii was dated July Is, 1855,
| Mt Washington. The vessel was not in reality,
it is said, worth three thousand dollars.
| Tho prisoner is now confined liz the City
Hall. lie had been Stopping at Keyport for
some days past, and was arrested on the Kew.
port steamboat by Officer Keefe, who had been
| On the alert since the warrant was issued