Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-24
From the New York Evening Post,
Fraudulent Attempt upon Insurance Com
nauIpe.

Alexander II. Pctrie was arrested in New York,
yesterday morning, on a warrant issued by Mayor
Wood. The prisoner is charged with nm attempt
to defraud the Globe Mutual Insurance Company OF
this city. 1t appears that Petrie represented him
self as the owner Of the steamboat q. W. Il. Gus
tis, at that time lying at Washington City, D. g.,
and procured from the company policy of in.
-urance for $500 for single, trip Of the steam.
boat from Washington TO New York.
Petric, Il is said, represented the steamer TO be
worthy In every par ticular, and that il his
Intention TO bring her 90 this port for the purpose
of running her 90 some Of the adjacent places.
lie also obtained policies of insurance in other
companies TO the amount Of seven thousand five
hundred dollars. Pctrie, it is further stated, en-
gagged Captain Van Buskirk to bring the vessel
f,om Washington.
GA reaching Washington, Captain Van Buskrk
discovered that the steamboat was unfit for sea,
Lring badly burned from her boilers forward, and
three engineers were engaged for three four
DAYS in getting her in condition for the trip. Pre-
viously 10 leaving however Petric, in nm inter
view with the captan, stated that he wished and
directed him (thc captain TO run the vessel ashore
az the most advantageous point-to run her high
and dry, 80 as to save her boilers and engine
which, he said, he could purchase from the under
writers for little or nothing.
Captain Van Buskirk listened 10 the proposition
Of Petite, aud started on the trip, but instead OF
proceeding TO New York, as directed, run the
steamer 10 Alexandria, some seven or eight miles
from Washington, and made her fast TO the wharf
lie then started for this city and gave information
Of the transaction 10 Lewis Gregory, President Of
the Globe Insurance Company, who Immediately
waited upon the Mayor, and obtaineda warrant for
the arrest of Petrie.
Mayor Wood had consultation With District
Attorney Hall about the case and finding that the
prisoner could not be legally held by the State
courts, sent the papers to the United States Dis
trict Attorney, who will examine the matter i'm.
mediatcy. No offence having been committed
but merely an attempt 10 perpetrRte swindle the
District Attorney gave il as his opinion that the
State courts had no jurisdiction.
The following are the policies which had been
taken ont by Petrie on the steamboat
Globe Mutual Insurance Company New
York. dated August s, 1855 $500
Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Com.
pany, New York agency, August g.
1855 1000
san Fire and Marine Insurance Company
Of Pennsylvania New York agency,
August 8, 1855 1000
Total $1,000
Among the papers in Petries possession was a
bill OF sale OF the steamer from Charles G.. Mile,
for $4,000. II was dated July ~, 1850, ut Washing
ton. The vessel was not IN reality il Is said worth
three thousand dollars.
The prisoner Is now confined in the City Hall.
He bad been stopping at Keyrort for some days
past, and was arrested on the KeypDrt steamboat
by officer Keefe, who had been on the alert since
the warran. was sued.