The New York herald., 1870-01-19
RHmlRKADLE LIFE INSURANCE CASE.
The Story or Two Wlves--A strange Cnse Oh
Disputed Identity--Tw0 Claimants 90 Wsd'
owh0od and = Policy.

owh0od and = Policy.
(From the Cincinnati Commercial, Jan. ldl
On the 18TH Of December last package containing
t748 81 received In this cfty by the Unitod states
Hxpress Company. from thcr ofilce ~ LeAyenworti,
Kansas, directed ~ NrS Rh0la Johnston. Inere
was also note in the package directed 10 the agent
VI the express company In thus city requesting MIN
70 sce that Ars. Rhoda Johnston got the money anu
tnat she signed receipt Ter The same which was "
be returned TO Lcavenw0fth. ihs money was me
balance due TO Mrs Johnston on policy OF 5000
ISSUED by the Northwestern Mutual Lfe Insurance
Company, 0f Milwaukee, VIA, on the LIE VI Marcus
L. johnston VINO died IN this city last May.
day, requesting Mrs Rhoda Johnston To cal ar the
0llcc OF the United States Express Company as sue
was UNKNOWN and ges her package. Sae ssi.ed % M sGe
S0mer0y, the agent OF the Express Company AZ
Leayenw0rth, and also agent OF the northwestern
Mutual LIc Insurance Company. and also letters
from George Z. johnston, the BROTHER OF the oe-
ceased VINO resided In Kansas she was snare,
Ia tnis city not dounting her word mad however 10
require her, as the rules OF the Office dendnueu sue
Dc.ng stranger to be identified by some one known
Sac brought in some one from the local once OF
the Northwestern Mutual La.e Insurance company
OF ihls clty VINO mad paid her several months PREV,
0us 500 account Oh this policy. AID no Menined
ner and signed the receipt book III The express once
with her for tns package and SIZE tooK the money
Another Mira Rhoda Johnston. who also Claimed
to have been the WIFE Of Marcus L. J0lnston anu
mo said she held the policy OF 5000 IN inc NofL
western Mutual Lie Insurance Company, and
claimed to nave sent this policy to ner brotner-n-
INV. George b. JOHNSTON, III hoilnAS lUI CuucCtAuus
and 10 have received 500 account; but, falling
TO obtain the balance put tho Claim IN the nanu. "a
MAJOR blackburn, Prosecuting Attorney VI this
she also had letters In her possession from Mr..
Sonerby aud from Mr. George y. JohasLon, whom
sne claimed as her bT0ther-in-law. mr BLACKBURN
had been corresponding Tor months witn Ar. Som.
erby Iir. George II. Johnston and villa the home
ONCE of tho insurance company at aii.wauKec Dus
without any very satisfactory result until few days
ago, when the insurance company sent AIR. black
the receipt VI tDe express company ~ M.lwal-
L1a n pfaAsl mar far a - - X.
burn tnen inquired at the ONCE or tue express conn.,
pang IN this cty for the package, ami was told hat
The money had been received AID delivered " MIS-.
hhoda Johnston, and that they had ner receipt FOR
It. Mr. Blackburn then broughS his client to tae
olice to see she she was the person ar,n 90 waom aI
lis client was perhaps Imposing on him, and ne Was
at once told that she was not tiio person wao had
received the money. Mr.. Blackburn voucled lor hls
client, VINO, BY the way, was poor, simple 1gno.
rant woman, not capable oil concOctina any swinde
on the Insurance or express companies and who
evidently mad no hackers aiders abeJL0rs IN the
scncme. He knew ncr as Mrs. Khoda Johnston. Sho
had been 50 introduced 70 nm by respectable people
vino knew her, and with whom he was well ac-
qualnted He believing his client TO he Inc person
snc represented herself AZ. claimed tho money Snc
married Marcus L. Johnston eight years aap, and
han two children by nlm. Her husnand mad been
book oinder By trade had suffered lour years from
cancer oil the stomach had finally died Of tnat dis
ease III this city, and was oured here.
The agent OF the United states Express Company
In Lhis city lelt that no mistake had been made IN
giving out Lhis package or money, for ne WAS him
SOIL present when Vas given TO MIA Johnston, and
had at the time satisned himself thariL was all rignJ;
but the statement Of Major blackburn anu tins MRS.
kh0da No. z, and tue letters 5ne eanlpiteu showed
tnatssomerning was wrong; Dut where Inc error was
Of tho insurance company N tnS ciT VINO hal
identified tne No. ana requested them TO pro-
duce tue lazy. After several hours huntIny she
was found and brought to lie express once ana
confronted with NO. z Both CLAIMED l0ear names
were knoda johnston cosn were wives OF Mafcas h
tn.law IN Kansas named George T.. johnston.
They both knew him. und nc aad vls,tcd ut boSn their
houses III TINS city. NO. was married seventeen
years ago by BlsnOp simpson, ana mad seven chill
eren o. ner husband. and NO. WAS married eeht
years ago, New York city. by squire, and mad
Two children Dy her husband. NJ. sad lcr nus
band had never been away from her beyond lew
weeks at time, and SIX, seven ana eignr Years ago
he resioed villa nSr III Evansvi.,c, where no was
business. while No. said ne lived with her Tor years
IN New York ana mere. Bota nad he'd the pol,cy OF
81 0J0 the lie OF Marcus L. jonpstUn In TIE North
western MaCual Lie Insurance. Company, and bo.h
had seat 1t TO George e. Joauston " colect, No.
sending. IN addson. power o. attorney to collect
the money. No. caimed taat o. ,asiesinent te.
tween the two br0.ners, Marcus l.. and George
T., that, as Marcus could not pay the premium,
George L. 10 do SO, and receive one-hai OF TIE
policy for his advances and trouble No. received
$500 last spring, and IN Ocsooer tne $7+S VI. and
given up Tor $40 and ne ln.cres, making tne
81 lVoO all taat was due her; wae No. 2siys
ceived $3.50 last spring IRON George ~ J0lnstOn.
These women were questioned Separately and
apart and both tell STRAIGHTFORWARD stories. Iney
were told that one must be an nnpos Or, &C., and
told II they were lying what tue Consequence would
toned and crosse questioned and every effort made
10 have them cOntfadict themselves, but without
success Each one tells the story over and over cX
acIly the same each time.
During tne progress OF the investigation NO
showed . photograph OF Mr.. johnston. No. said
taae was HIM sure enough, aud produced 10Y
her soa the perfect image or the photographed face
T3ose engaged III eDaeavor1nX W uDr,sei tIa niys
tery admit that lhey never saw or neard OF such
mixed up case. Every LneOry advanced lS KNOCKED
over NY iacts Whlch can rot be got over. Az bOtl
claim George E. johnston as their Drotner-in-iaX NJ
both knew nlm, and he mas stopped nc their houses
IT was suggested Dy Mr. Henderson, tho agent OF tls
United btatcs Express Company, winch was agree.
to, that tue photographs Of the two women sn0uic
bo taken ana sent 10 Lie superintendent or the Elk
press Company At LeavenwOrtn, Kansas, who Isl u
see George h. Johnston aud ascertain his ur0ihe
had two wives, ana II not, which OF these womel
really ls his wife.
These photographs were sent or on Friday even
ing with tul particulars OF the cases. and ali parLse
are now waiting the answer from Leaveaw0rlh.
NAIL IRREGULARITIES.