The New York herald., 1867-03-29
THE RAINFoRTH INSURANCE FRAUD.

Arrest Of Rainf0rth, the Alleged Life Insur-
| ance Swindlcr. in this City-The Plan Of the
Conspirators and How IL wns Revealed. &c.
twill be remembered that in the month Of February
last will purporEg to have been made and signed by
Richard Rainforth deceased was filed In the County
| Court, Chicago foy probate. Tho will duly
cuted and witnessed and contained three separate be-
quests-onc of 81 900 to Dr. Charles B. Kendall, Fuller
ton block; Of 81 600 to Timothy W. Fuller 1888
South Clark street, and the Of Rainforhs property
to Birdie the daughter of Timothy W. Fuller The will
provided for its own execution and named Kendall and
Fuller, the legatees, executors The will remained
on file till the 2lst Of Marchno measures having been
taken to prove IL until that dae-when rule Of court
was obtained to compel the executors to do So
When the demise Of Ranforth was made public
Miles Rainforth, his brother, went TO Chicago to
see how matters stood in his favor in the will
After having obtained an interview with Mr. N. F. Hee-
nan, the lawyer who had been employed draw up the
w with Mr. Fuller and several other gentlemen he was
led to believe by Of certain remarks that were let
fall during the conversation that ensued that either the
will purporng TO be his brothers. forgery that
his brother had come to his death by foul Inn
pressed with this doubt he made arrangements with
legal firm to investigate the subject After thorough
examination had been made Of the will by this firm they
s nsvs as opy na me @ good On
entirely effective Efforts were then made TO have the
will proved but proved unavaihng, until rule Of court
why they did not prove the wln On the morning OF
the 2rst Of March Messr Fuller and Kendall appeared
issued. and. in the absence Of Mr. seen.n u"0rs ~.
nounced the executorshp conferred bv the will. Miles
o m .neT n, s S ned Ito ask
his opinion the executors had nterfcred with the prop
srty. The petition was granted and the executors
placed In the witness boz TO .answer relative to their
stewardship OF the property OF the deceased and the cs.
cumstances and manner Of his death" DR. Kendall was
the first sxamned and on being asked 'swhen did
Richard Rainfor,h desn refused to answer although
the question was put several times Pcrsstng in his
fisaI 10 answer when the question asked by tho
Court no was committed to tho county Jail forcontempt
Fuller the second executor, was then placed the
stand and to the surprise OF present 10 tho
Is not dead he stl lives" He then testified that Rain
forth, Kendall and himself had matured . plan some
nine months previous 70 aefrana The Gtns 81 Louis
which he had effected policies on his own life for $4,000
The plan consisted n Ranforth assuming death, while
body resembling Ranforth for the inerment Of which
certificate Of burial would be issued in
the interesting In @u Of S',n sns
arrangement few days before Rainforth's
alleged death = he pretended n 70 feel Sn.s and
and pronounced the patient suffering from typhoid fever
Two days Afterwards by direction Of tho patient his
visit the sick man. Deceived by the simulated weak.
and suHerings during the Of hasty exami
had only about thrty-six hours live Tho same day
barber was procured, who shaved or Rainforhs mus
ache and whiskcrS An hour afterwards his will
signed n the1presence Of Keenan, the lawyer and
other Witnesses who called In for the purpose
While Fuller and Kendall were In the room the latter
sad Poor Dick dead The following day the BODY
presumed 10 have been confined and buried in Graveland
Cemetery Chicago Fuller moreover stated that he
not Of the fraud pacsed upon him until some time
aferward when, becoming suspicious, he was led TO be-
leve that all not right He afterwards learned that
letters had been received At Chicago from Rainforth
and his daughter Birdie dated late as
March 1s Fuller was then held for q further
hearing in $4,000, bail and DR.. Kendall was
arraigncd for fraud and held in Jail TO
Search Immediately made for Rainforth when
tho plot had been discovered; but clue TO his
Whereabouts obtained until last Saturday when Il
ascerained that he in this city. On The receipt
OF telegram TO that effect Monday morning by su-
perintendent Kennedy from the detective agency Of
William Tuitle Co., Chicago detectives Vaughan and
Nivcn detailed by him to find Rainforth. They
worked assiduousy all Saturday night, and after deal
OF difficulty, by means which are known 70 themselves
alone. they learned that he at the Dupont House,
corner Of Hudson and Laght streets They proceeded
10 the place At two o'clock on Sunday morning. and
there he discovered snugly cnsconced in bed. He
taken 10 Police Headquarters and delivered
the custody OF detective Kenny, Of Chicago who had
been sent 10 this city 10 convey the accused that city.
Ranforth was formerly quartcrmaster IN the army
DR.. Kendall an army surgeon and Mr.. Fuller q patent
right agent doing business in Chicago.