The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-01-18
A SHAM DEATH.
ingenious Attempt to Realize $4,000
ON Life Insurance.


DR.. Smith Richardson, Mr.. B. NJ. Batch
elder, aud Mr.. Abbott-concected a rather
extensive swindle on three New York life
Insurance companies. Dr. Richardson was
the medical examiner, and Abbott the
agent for said companies. A bogus appli-
cation was made for the insurance for $I0,-
600 in, and So, 600 each in, all of
New York, under the name of W. L. Nc
Fadden, fictitious parsonage, and policies
issued by Abbott A brother Of Mr. Smith
Richardson (Frauk,) living two miles be-
low Lebanon, on the Cincinnati pike, is ia
ken into the conspiracy. Abbott-who, by
the way, is mayor of Eaton, aud church
class leader-goes down to Lebanon; wears
a handkerchief around his neck. covering
his mouth and the lower part of his face, as
sort Of disguise complains of feeling
very sick, and very much fatigued with his
long journey from St Louis Arriving at
Frank Richardson's house about p. m.,
the brothers are awaiting him. Frank S
wife-innocent, no doubt, of all knowledge
of the transaction-having been previously
sent to her fathers, in order that the coast
may be clear, all things are now ready
About IA o'clock p. M, Frank calls in
great haste upon the undertakers at Leb-
anon for a burial casket-a gentleman had
just died at his house of cholera He also
goes TO the telegraph Office and sends this
dispatch to Eaton, Ia care Of Batchelder:
"Mrs Sarah McFadden:
Your husband, w. Il. McFadden, died
here this morning. Answer"
No metallic coffin being procurable.
Frank was forced to be content with wood
en- one. He went to dry goods house and
got the necessary materials to cover it al
so, to tie drug store and purchased a sup
ply Of chloride of lime (choiera is infectious
you know y and taking the coffin he left
for home, telling the undertakers that he
would be responsible for their bill. The
sad scenes attending the laying out of the
body, and Its lnveSture in the hahiIiments
Of the tomb may be imagined Early the
next morning the ncighbors were called in
to help load the coffin into the spring wa
gon, which had been borrowed the day be
fore for the purpose. It was remarked by
the neighbors that the coffin lid was surely
screwed down, and they had not the mourn
full pleasure Of looking upon the remains.
Chloride Of lime was sprinkled freely about
the premises, and the cholera was talked
about so that they were not over anxious
to see the damp, unpleasant body" The
wagon loaded. the funeral cortege started
off. The character Of the Richardson's was
what did their business. They were known
by every man, woman and child in the vi
cinity as petty thieves, all (there are four
brothers:l If they had borne good eharac-
ters their little scheme would undoubtedly
have been successful.
The neighbors who had been called in be-
gan to speak to each other about the ATTAIN
directly after Frank and his coffin h,,, de-
parted, and the more they talked about it
the more they didn't Ike it. They came to
Lebanon, and the thing began to get warm.
The result was the sending of DR.. Henry
White. our efficient coroner in pursuit OF
the coffin to Carlisle station, whittier Frank
said he intended to take the body for ship
ment to Eaton. The ''coroner's quest
vainly rode to Carlisle; 10 body could be
found, nor tidings heard from it. Suspic-
ions deepen into certainty. 4 terrible
deed lad been perpctrated in our midst
! Let the investigation pl oceed speedily.
Officers were dispatched TO Eaton, and
| Richardson's premises, below Lebanon
were searched by an eager crowd. Dis
patches from Eaton disclosed the fact thai
no man by the name of w. Z. McFadder
/ lived at that place or IN Its vicinity; al
though, to complicate matters, woman
going by the name of McFadden did live
| there some weeks ago, bat it is not nov
known where she mas gone
At Winchester, this side of Eaton, Frank
and his inevitable coffin turn up; hearst
from Eaton meets the body, and following
the hearse, IN carriage, two women a!
m0Urncrs, closely veiled; they proceed L
Eaton III a solemn mood, BETTING the occa
sion, and about midnight, (the hour tba
! ghosts are out) all that is mortal Of W. L
McEadden is consigned to the bosom 0
mother earth. I'VE buried him darby q
dead Of night" DIR. Richardson had takel
the precaution, in order that his dear trienC
Mae might have the benefit Of the clergy
OF requesting his minister Il think the Doe
tor belonged to the Methodist Episcopa
| Church, and know he was,in good stand
lng,) to attend at the church yard, and de
liver short discourse upon the uncertaint,
Of life, &c, at the time of burial.
How solemn and interesting the scene
The time, midnight Of Decemer %, 1866
the place, the quiet church YARD adjoinin;
the pleasant village of Eaton; the occasion
the burial from sight Of one who but tn
short space CT one day Lc!ure lived am
moved and had his being.
Early he ncxt morning, our cnterprisin
1 d
rested the actors in this farce, secured tn
services OF the sexton who had performct
the midnight burial, to disinter the remains
The old fellow was somewhat shaky abou
it. He had had the cholera orct, yit b.
was afeard the blum thing smelled power
fully last night, and he guessed it was poot,
rotten" but a sizeable greenhack was to-
much for him, and he set vigorously t.
work. 1t was fearful and a wonderful
time. As Artemus Ward would say
"1 on may have noticed that it always is
The coffin was reached, raised, and 10 /
acas empty.
Just here, for the sake of continuity, le
me say that DR.. Richardson has since ad
mittej that the coffin was filled with broom
corn Seed In sacks; that he himself disin
tered the coffin after it was regularly bur
led between midnight and morning-tool
out the sacks of seed, broke the upper hal
Of the coffin id-after the manner of tn
Observation-Disclosures doctor no doubt
knew just how this was done, having snatch
ed scores in his time, though yet youn
man)-and emptied the contents of th
sacks in creek near by, where part of tn
seeds still float, and may be seen by curiou
Eatonians, if they will take the trouble t
look. He then filed up the grave, and