Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-08-18

A FUNERAL INTERRUPTED BY AN INSURANCE
AGENT On Tuesday afternoon peculiar and
somewhat startling episode occurred at q fune-
raj ceremony in Allegheny, opposite Pittsburg,
"a. A hearse, followed by long line Of car
riapes, had drawn up in front of dwelling. -
The house was filled with friends who had
gathered to pay the last tribute Of respect to
he memory of the departed. Everything was
10 readiness for the commencement OF the ser
vices, when suddenly an unexpected and some
what mysterious interruption lntertered with
he exercises. The interruption was caused by
he entrance Of an officer, clothed with legal
authority, who announced that the funeral
conld not proceed until an inquest had been
held on the remains. Such q strange occur
renee naturally caused intense excitement and
required an explanation, which was given as
follows About year ago policies IN three
insurance companies, to the amount OF S2I,-
900, were taken out on the lite OF Conrad Cor.
bach, residing at No. l26 Ohio street, allie
ghany, whose remains were about to be inter
red. Conrad, so far as known, was in sound
health and stout, and about forty years Of
age. He was q cotton-spinner by trade He
was living with his second wife. The policies
were all taken out in Eastern companies, and
were for $4,000, $1,000 and $4,000 respee-
lively.
About a month and half ago he was
taken suddenly sick, when physician was can
ed in who prescribed for him. de recovered,
but subsequently had one or two attacks, the
last of which put and end to his life Saturday
evening or Sunday morning. In the meantime,
a rumor, faint at first, but growing as only u
rumor or falsohood can grow, got atioat that
something was wrong The rumor seem
ed 10 be based on the allegation that as the
premiums on the policies amounted to nearly
- 300 per year, it was Impossible ior the de
ceased to pay the same from his limited earn
inps, from which 1t was argued that some Der,
son interested had advanced the amount and
eventually aided In getting him out OF the way
# was asserted that Conrad never had pala the
money himself, an acquaintance ana one OF the
supposed interested party having gwen ms
,Leck for the greater part. Another point al
Ieged was that :he deceased had been visited
nv the insurance agent few days subsequent
IN his death, when he stated he knew nothing
abont any insurance outside the $1,000 policy;
that the others, II obtained at all, We're secured
by some surreptltiOus means, or by substltu
ton OF some other person Tor hlm.
The affair gained such notOriety in the
neiphboIhood that the agents Of the several
companies 10 which the deceased had been in
,ured thought the interests OF the family hs
we'll as their own demanded that tull lnvesti-
cation be made. The funeral had been arrang-
ed 10 come off at o'clock, and it was expected
that the whole matter could be settled in few
minutes, but unfortunately they were SO long
10 deciding that the ceremonies had to be in,
.-rrupted. Alderman Donaldson impanneed
a Jury, anu the inquest was proceeded with.
The inquest revealed 2othIng criminal, how
ever, and the verdict was rendered that the
deceased died from natural causes. Whle the
inquest was being held, the crowd OF spectators
almost bockadcd, and as rumors of the pro-
reedinps inside were whispered around, the
excitement became intense. As the jury yaca-
ted The room, the family of the deceased, en-
teriRq, gathered around the bier, and unable
onger to control their feeling, manifested their
intense grief in passionate sobs and tears
PItNIurO Gazette.