The union Democrat., 1870-02-19
Ghs lnion qemotrat.
strange Case OF Dispnied Idenii,y-Two
Claimant. to sSidow hood nnd a Policy

On the 18Th of December last, n package
c"ntainiag SI4S 81 was received IN thus city
by the United States Express Compay. from
TIER once In Leavenworth, Kansas, directed
to Mrs. kaoda johnson. There was also a
note IN the package directed to the agent Of
the Express Company in this city requesting
him TO see that Mrs. Rhoda Johnson got the
money, aud that she signed receip. for the
same, which was to be returned to Leaveh-
worth. This money was the balance due to
Mrs. johnson on policy of 81, COO. issued BY
the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
Company, of Milwaukee Wisconsin, on the
lite OF Marcus l.. Johnston who died in this
city last May.
A notice was put in the postofiice on the same
day. requesting Mrs. Rhoda Johnston to call
at the office of the United States Express Com
pany, as she was unknown. and get her pack
age. She called the next day, the 10th, and
exhibited letters from Mr. Somerby, the agent
OF the Express Company ut Levenworth and
also the agent of the Northwestern Mutual
L'ie Insurance Company, and also letters
from George Il. Johnston, the brother of the
deceased, who resided in Kansas. She was
sharp. shrewd, keen woman, and the
agent OF the company in this city, not doubt
Ing her word, bad, however, to require her,
as the rules of the Office demanded, she being
stranger, TO be identified by some one known
to the Office.
She brought in some one from the local Of
fice Of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
ance Company Of this city who had paid her
several months previous 5000 on account Of
this policy, and he identified her and signed
the receipt book in the Express Office with her
foe this package, and she took the money
away with her.
Another Mrs. Rhoda Johnston, who also
claimed to have been the wife of Marcus l..
Johnston, and who said she held the policy of
$1,000 in the Northwestern Mutual Life In
surance company, and claimed to have cent
this policy to her brother in-law, George f.
Johnston, in Kansas, for collection. and to
have received $3.50 on account; but, failing to
obtain the balance, put the claim in the hands
of Major Black burn, Prosecuting Attorney of
this county several months ago.
She also had letters in her possession from
Mr. Somerby and George +. Johnston, whom
she claimed as her brother-in-law. Mr.. Black
burn had been corresponding for months with
Mr.. Somerhv, George E. Johnston and with
the home Office of the Insurance Company at
Milwaukee, but without any very satisfacto-
ry result until a few months ago, when the
Insurance Company sent Mr.. Blackburn the
receipt of the Express Company at Miwau-
kee, dated October IL, for the S74S 9l. Mr..
blackburn then inquired at the Office of the
EXPRESS Company in this city for the package
and was told that the money had been receiv-
ed and delivered to Mrs. Rhoda Johnston,
and that they had her receipt for it. Mr.
Blackburn then brought his client to the of
flee TO see If she was the person to whom the
money had been paid he fearing that his eli
fnt was perhaps imposing on him, and he
was at once told that she was not the person
who had received the money. Mr.. Black
burn vouched for his client, who, by the wav,
was poor, simple, ignorant woman. not ca
pable of concocting any swindle on the insur
ance or express companies, and who evidently
had no hackers or abetters in the scheme.
He knew her rs Mrs. Rhoda Johnston. She
Lad been so introduced 20 him by respectable
people who knew her, and with whom he was
we'll acquainted. Ee, believing his client to
be the person she represented herselfas, claim
ed the money. She knew of no otter Mrs.
Rhoda Johnston. She had married Marcus
j.. Johnston eight years ago, and had two
children by him. Her husband had been a
hook-binder by trade had suffered four years
from cancer of the stomach, had finally died
of that disease in this city, and was buried
here.
The agent Of the United States Express
Company in this city felt that no mistake had
been made in giving out this package of mGn-
ey, for he was present when it was given to
Mrs. Johnston, and had at the time satisfied
himself that it was oil right; but the state
ment Of Maj. Blackburn and this Mrs. Rho6a
No. ., and the letters she exhibited, showed
that something was wrong; but where the er-
ror was, was not so plain. lie at once called
on tho agents of the insurance company in
thiscity, who had identified the No. l, and
requested them to produce the lady. After
severel hours hunting she was found and
brought to the Express office and confronted
with No. >. Both claimed their names were
Rhoda Johnston; both were wives of Marcus
l.. Johnston, deceased both had brother-ir-
law i'll Kansas named George f. Jnhnston.
They both knew him, and he had visited at
both their houses in this city. No. was
married IL years ago by Bishop Simpson, and
had seven children by her husband, and No.
was married eight years ago. near the city
OF New York. by Justice of the peace. end
had two children by her husband. No.
said her husband had never been away from
her beyond few weeks at u time, and six,
seven and eight years ago he resided with her
in Evansville, where he was in business,
while No. > said he lived with her for years
in New York and here. Both had held the
policy of 1000 on the life of Marcus L. John
ston in the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
auce Company, and both had sent to George
F.. Johnston to collect, No. sends in addi-
tion power of attorney to collect the money
No. claimed that by agreement between the
two brothers, Marcus l.. and George E., that
"a Marcus could not pay the premium. George
T.. was to do SO, and receive one half Of the
policy for his advances end trouble No. |
received 5000 last spring, and in October the
$74S 9l and note givin up for $40 and
some interest. making the 81. 600, all that was
due her: while No. . says she received $3.50
last spring from George E. Johnston.
These women were questioned separately
and apart, and both tell straightforward sto-
ries. They were told that one must be an
imcostor, ETC., and told if they were lying
what the consequence wouldb be. But neither
fiiuched an iota. They were questioned and
and every effort made to
have them contradict themselves, but without
srccess. Each one tells the story over and
over exactly the same each time.
During the progress Of the investigation,