The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-01

as TO remain silent during the attacks of the hallu
cInation instead oftelling aloud, and with nncon
sciously hurried speech, the story of the Hood
visions passing before his eyes
FRAUDS UPON LIFE INSURANCE CoMPA-
MES.
The London Insurance Gazette for the nrasont
month, devotes ten columns to an exposition of a
series of frauds which have been practisad in
France upon several of the best English Life Com
panles. This exposition is in the form of a report
made to the companies by Mr.. Alfred Walden,
London Solicitor, who sent to France to ferret
out the perpetrators. The editor of the Gazette
says, "that neither the brilliant genius of Eugene
Sue, nor the wOndrous inventive powers of Alex.
ander Dumas, has yet produced anything equal to
the romantic truths contained in NJ Walden's ex-
traordinary report. We present our readers with
broad outline OF the story, regretting that the
want of space prevents a transfer of the whole re
port to our columns.
The life of Mathurin Tandeaud was insured in
four English companies (the "British Commercial"
"Gresham," "Achiles' and "National Alliance,")
for 2l5,O00 francs. His death occurred soon after
the insurances had been effected circumstance
which led to an investigation of the facts bv Mr.
Walden. This Mathurin Tandeaud was renresent-
ed to the companies in the endowment of robust
health and possessing good income. His death
was stated in the physican's certificate to have been
sudden and entirely unexpected. Mr. Walden as
certained beyond doubt that Tandeaud had been
IN the poorest circumstances, utterly unable to pav
one hundred and forty pounds year for premiums
and had died OF consumption from which he mad
long been suffering. The agent OF the English
companies at Limoges, in France, was NJ. Barraud
through him false certificates of health had been
obtained and it subsequently, appeared that he with
others were concerned in a system of fraudulentlv
obtaining policies from English companies on the
lives OF persons suffering from incurable diseases
tor the benefit of certain apparently respectable
persons who were implicated in the swinde-
Among these delinquens was a NJ Henri Des-
courieres, is stated to be one of the most nuen-
tlal men IN Limoges, and possessed of landed and
other property, and in every way above SUSPICION
NJ Barraud, the agent of the companies is half
brother to French Marquis upon whose estate
Tandeaud lived. The other conspirators were DR..
Mellhac, whose certificate assisted the plot, and
who has since committed suicide: NJ David an in
spector of the "Gresham;" M. Feval, agent of the
"Gresham" in Limoges and one Laporte, who
seems to have been the active in procuring the
various certificates.
Tandeaud was simply farm laborer, and had no
knowledge of the use which was being made of his
name. Mr.. Walden ascertained that there was a
subscription foot for the relief of the family of
this man, whose life insured for 2l5 900 francs
The same parties had insured in the "Gresham
one Louis Felix, beggar, for $4,000 francs. At
the time of the insurance Felix was 4 patient in the
hospital at Limoges; the poor wretch died within
forty days after the policy was issued, and the
II 900 were paid to Descourieres. They also insured
IN the 'Gresham" the life of one Antoine Voison,
a soldier discharged from his regiment for an in
durable disease. At the time of the insurance he
had been given over by the physicians and was
seeking admission into the hospital. Certificates of
robust health were obtained in his case by the sub
stitution of another person by David for the real
Nolson, the physician certifying not being in the
plot. There were policies also upon two or three
persons in Limoges, who were not expected to sur
vve the proceedings before the tribunal: each one
of these persons had incurable disorder. Two
policies were taken out, amounting tn 10000
francs, on the life of one BOurdarias Il hawker.
then suffering from cancer in the neck but he died
before the policies reached Limoges from London.
These frauds were successfully fastened upon the
parties mentioned, after trial of five DAYS dura-
tion. Descourieres and Barraud were each con-
demned to two years imprisonment, and Feval
and David severally to fifteen months. The four
policies on the life of Tandeaud were declared
void.
We cannot present our readers with the details
OF this romance of crime for have stated
We are in hopes that some of the insurance Jour
mails will publish Mr.. Walden's report in ec'euso,
that American companies may profit by the cxpe-
rience of their contemporaries the other side Of
the water Mr.. Walden, who defeated this gang O
thieves appears to have executed the trust repOsed
IN him with great tact, shreWdness, and an init
mate knowledge of what constitutes secret service.
His reputation, already well established from sue
cess in previous cases, has become the property as
it were of the life companies of London, and it is
proposed to present him suitable testimonial for
the sagaciy integrity and fearessness displayed in
ferretng out these stupendous trauds-Bostoa Post.
A DEFUNCT ELEPHANT.
HE REFUSES TO BECOME Observation-Disclosures OF
THE sAYANs
correspondent of the Boston Bee and Alias re
Gently visited the grave of the elephant Columbus.
in Berkshire county, Massachusetts,. He gives the
following account of the death and posthumous ad-
ventures of the lar-tamed animal:
ga few years since, while making a professional
and pedestrian tour through this section of the
State, Columbus in crossing a bridge at North
Adams, had the misfortune to fall through, which
accident seriously abridged his existence and it is
likely to prove more weightv matter to the trea-
sury OF the town than did the quadrupd to the
bridge
"The proprietors of this valuable, and since the
casualty, in double sense, truncated repository of
ivory, made claim upon the town for remunera-
tion for their loss, which was not allowed, where
upon a suit commenced, and we believe it is
still IN court. The animal having injured his fore
feet severely by the fall, was obliged to pause but
after brief interval he appeared to rally and bis
Keeper thinking that he had sustained no serious
injury, continued bis journey. On reaching this
town it became evident that the noble beast had re-
ceived some internal detriment and being anxious
to get him into some comfortable place, permission
was obtained to use unoccupied shed adjoining a
farm house; into this Columbus was driven never to
go forth alive.
'Soon after entering the building he threw him
self down as if in despair, and entreaties or ex-
ertiOns of his keeper could induce him to make any
effort to rise; he seemed to act as though his davs
groans and cries could be heard at an immense dis
tance notwithstanding the severity of his anguish
he appeared resigned, and quite gentle towards
his attendant Hundreds came to visit the dying
monarch from miles around; but no human aid could
save him or afford him any temporary relief; the
king of terrors only could relieve the king of beasts
His remains were presented to William College.
and were duly accepted by the trustees, who intend
ed, after the flesh had been thoroughly decompOsed
to have the skeleton properly set up and deposited
in their museum of natural history. This yet re-
mains to be done; the process of dissolution seems
to progress slowly; the dryness of the climate is
untavorable for accelerating such climax. We
are informed that, from time to time, semi official
committees have repaTe ed to the mound for the pur-
pose OF examining the relics, and if feasible, of ex
huming the bones; but, on dispaciDg the earth
until the corpse was reached the flesh was found to
be of the consistency of india rubber, while the
effiuvum offensive that they deemed it in
expedient TO proceed with their Investigations and
rapidly covering the oFiice which had been made,
the committees have beat hasty retreat. reported
progress, and have begged for further time before
submitting final re ort."
DrsGRACEFUL SCENE IN A CHURcH.-On SUNDAY
another disturbance took place in the Parish Church
of st. George-in-the-East, of which the Rev. BRYAN
King is rector. For some time past as j. we'll
known feeling of dissatisfaction had existed
among the parishoners in consequence of the Trac-
tartan practices sanctioned by the rector; and for
several Sundays lately number of persons have
regularly DlSSeQ ana nOOted MN and his curatp.
both going In and leaving the church with his chOr
listers on Sunday afternoon When the service was
finished and the choristers were leaving the church
they met some persons in the lobby with their hats
on, and, on passing them to go into the vestry to
unrobe, they attempted to knock their hats Off
One OF the choristers then struck some person. when
a fearful disturbance took place The crowd at
tempted to pull the choriSteTs surplices of; many
blows were exchanged between the infuriated par
ties; hats knocked off, groans, hoolings and
W hn narH. PTIas Df 'lrr4, 4ha
ties, ''Go to Rome, "Poice," were raised, and
fearful confusion took place. Mr. Church-warden
Thompson, who entered the building at this time,
insisted on the rector Immediately ordering his
cnoristers to retire into the vestry which was
done. When the rector and his choristcrs left to
ening groans, yells, &c, which continued until
they took shelter in the rectory.-Ndacdester
Engtdnd( Guardian, Aug. -.
SwISDLISG ON a LARGE SCALE.--Remarkable de-
velopments in fnanciering have been made in Pitts
burgh in the of Judicial investigation into
certain fraudulent transactions connected with the
Monongahela Valley Bank. Warrants were issued
a few days since for the arrest of Stephen d. Dill
laye, noted Democratic politician. of this city
and 5. g. Langdon, also of New York to answer
charge of forgery and conspiracy. The offence
charged is that Dillaye and Lanrdnn presented
forged certificates of deposit on the American Ex-
change Bank of this CITY, to the amount of S27 800
In exchange for stock Of the Monongahela Valley
Bank at the time that institution began operations
The Directors sent Commissioners to New York TO
investigate the circumstances of the fraud and on
their return to Pittsburgh the warrants of arrests
We're issued. LangdOn secured by the Pitts
burgh officers, and now under arrest in that CITY
Dlaye, beng out of town, has not yet been arres-
yea. Inc details OF the fraud form very curious
history. Mr.. }. Tyler Hodges is one of the parties
who fgure n connection with this expose of the af
fairs of the Bank