The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-18

The Baltimore American of the 18th
gives the following theory of the crime:
Presuming that the mutilated remains of
the man found murdered in Pennsylvania
are really the remains Of w. s. Goss. and
that The crime was peTpetrated by Udder-
zook, or any one interested in the recovery
OF the large amount Of money issued upon
the llle OF W. 5. Goss, the motives prompt
ing TO the deed We're, possibly, somewhat
as iolloWs: Goss was reported to have
lost his life by burning in February, 1872,
seventeen months ago. If it be true, as
now believed by many, that this was
systematic fraud, and that the remains
found in the burning building were the re-
mains of some discarded subject of the
dIssecting table, or procured from grave
yard, then necessarily, Mr.. Goss had te-
dlous time of it hiding away all this time
somewhere out of the reach of the sharp.
eyed detectives of the insurance compa-
MES. 1t is believed that he had very lit
tie money when he was bulletined among
the dead, not by any means sufficient
to support him /; therefore, those most
deeply interested in keeping his great
secret must have had to furnish him
the means of support. 1t is said that his
drunken men are not good at keeping secrets
it is presumed that Udderzook was fright
ened at the prospect of Goss looming up
INTO real lille again, and thus exposing him
self, Udderzook and others to prosecution
for conspiracy and perjury, and so it was
determined to make way with his trouble
some friend. The considerations be-
fore his mind might have been, on one
hand, the avoidance of an unpleasant ex-
posure OF the fraud, and the consequent
loss of the profits which he might not un-
reasonably have expected to derive as his
share for securing the insurance money for
the widow ); and on the other hand, the
hope of forcing the payment of the insur-
ance upon Goss' life, if Goss were really
once dead beyond doubt.
The amount insured upon Goss' life
was $25, 900, divided among four COM
panies. The first policy was taken out
about four years before the alleged death Of
Mr.. Goss and was, no doubt an honest
transaction. The second policy effected in
the Continental company for $1,000 was
given in trade for picture received from
Mr.. Gross; the third policy for $1,000 in
the Knickerbocker company, as well
as the policy of $4,000 in the
Traveller, FISK against death from
accident, were both effected only very
short time before the alleged death. The
insurance agents say that these two last
policies were effected and the premiums
paid at time when Goss had evidently
very little money, and found it short time
before exceedingly difficult to meet the
premium upon the old policy in the Mu-
tual life insurance company, and their the
ory is that the money for the payment of
these premiums was furnished by rela-
tive who was in the conspiracy to defraud
the insurance companies.
Goss is believed to have been keeping
hid away in some obscure place not far
from Baltimore, awaiting the result of the
suit against the insurance companies. The
long delay is supposed to have disheartened
him, and it is also thought that he may
have threatened his co-consprators to
emerge from his concealment and let them
bear the responsibility or being of intem-
perate habits, he may have caused serious
apprehensions Of an exposure through his
imprudence.