The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-16
THE BOGUS CORPSE CASE.
Dr.. Uhling Convicted of Attempting to
Defraud an Insurance Company.
BEFORE Recorder Haekart

Before Recorder Hackett.
In the Court OF General Sessions vest erday
recorder Hackett presiding, ''Dr." Ernest Oh
ing, who Is Jointly indicted with Louisa Germs
and Charles Fink, the undertaken, for attempt
Ing TO obtain from the Merchants Life Insurance
Company $4,000 by fraudulent pretences, was
placed at the bar for trial. Assistant District
Attorney Lyons represented the people and Mr.
Orlando Stewart defended the accused. This Is
known as the ''cofin case" the leading facts OF
which have already appeared in the HERALD Mr..
Lyon In opening detailed all the lacts the prosecu-
non expected 70 establish. He hoped to be able
70 show that in April DR.. Uning went to che once
81 the Insurance Company with proofs OF the
aeatn OF Louisa Germs, giving particulars OF the
d1sease With which she died. There were some
suspicious circumstances attending the matter
which resulted in the exhumation OF the coffn,
which was lound to contain bricks fastened in very
aicely py laths.
THE TESTIMONY.
The first witness called was Gottlieb BoNett, the
agent or the Merchants Life Insurance Company,
who stated that IN April, 1873, the prisoner called
upon him for the purpose OF making an application
for joint insurance OF mis- ana Louisa Germs life
for the sum OF $1,000 that on the 18th OF June
1S73, the policy was Issued Tor this amount
James A. Taber the Secretary OF the company,
testified that the policy in question issued lor
$4,000 in June, 1878; that proofs OF loss FUR
nshed TO the company by Mr.. Bollett on the eth OF
April OF this year.
Mr.. Bolett was recalled and testified that the
prisoner reported to MN the death OF Louisa Germs
anu IN dong 50 cried bitterly He stated that
Louisa became III in December, and that from that
iine TIL her death, which occurred the 18th oil
March, he and three consulting physicians at
tended her. He tine wituessl went to one OF tne
doctors. and upon Unllng hearing ol IT, said =
what the devil did you run To him for; those lel-
lows 1.-THE doctors are loaiers and they are Jealous
afn19 a uti
and the proof Of Foss, which were prepared by Mr..
Bohett, VINO was notary, were read in evidence.
Benjamin F. Beekman, President OF the COMPANY
testified tuat on tue stu OF Aprii Mr. Bollett pre-
senfed the proof OF loss made by Dr. UhIng, and
IA couple vi days afterwards tie saw the prisoner
lt the Coroners' Office Uhing stated that Louisa
Germs was dead and that he Intended to marry
ner that Sne became SICK ana lie nad her taken 10
as house and had three consulting physicians;
that she died ana was buried IN Union Cemetery,
l. l.; that Maria lvaney and himself laid her out,
and Charles FINK acted as undertaken, VINO put
her N the coffin.
John Dlxon, grave digger at the Union Gene
terry, testified that remembered ..tuneral"
when the prisoner, another man THE undertakerJ
ana woman were present that ne TOOK conn
out OF the hearse and buried it, ana about week
afterwards took 1t out OF the grave in the presence
VI AR. Iaber, VINO conveyed 1t 70 New York.
;, Joseph \. herrlgan, the examining physician OF
Tie company, testified that Louisa Germs was
Drought 10 the Office 81 the Merchants Lille Insur-
ance Company ~ Mr.. Bollett, and after two exam
natlous she was accepted ana the policy was sub
sequently Issued; Dr. lining was present; this
Vas about year ago.
: hlDlaui r. lauef s"ore tnat ne was present when
Dixon took the colin out OF the grave in the Union
Cemetery ana conveyed II to tue Morgue in New
YORK. II was opened there, and IL was found to
contain nineteen bricks and TWO strips or wood 10
hoid them III position; the name on the plate was
.'Louisa Grennett.o
Officer heidelberg testified that for two days he
vas looking or Or. Uhling at his Offices in second
avenue and Ehrdge street, and finally traced aim
TO a BACK room H. iwenty.l0uIth street, between
second and third avenues.
The coffin was brought into Court containing
fhe oiick and was admitted as evidence. his
honor directed the corin and bricks ~ Ue marked
anu Y. TINS was PROBABLY the most novel piece
oI evidence ever produced IN court OF justice and
created quite sensation.
When the prosecution had closed their case
prisoners co9nsei asked lbs Honor TO direct the
Jury 10 acquitthe prisoner on the ground that
theGe IS no sueh CRIME in law as an attempt TO OBJ
tam money by false pretences. He admitted that
tile facts might snow a conspiracy upon the part
OF the accused ana the persons Jointly indicted
With him.
The Recorder denied the motion. after which
MIR. stewart proceeded 20 sum up Tor the defence
ueeming IL unnecessary 10 eau any witnesses ae
claimed thai the policy was Illegal; that the ac-
pany. and that notaing was Que under the policy
lie aid not justify the attempt winch hls client
made To obtain money oy the strange method tle.
veioped on the trial, out maintained that no legal
crime was committed.
Assistant District Attorney Lyons, In a brief
address, urged that the evidence aaduced by him
clearly established the quit oil the prisoner.
THE CHARGE
His Honor the Recorder, IN charging the Jury,
sald that the Indictment charges hat the prisoner
with Others, with the leIonous intent TO CHEAT and
len aud the Merchants LIE Insurance Company
81 the sum OF $4,000, did effect an insurance upon
The joint lives OF Louisa Germs ana himself for
that amount and paid the premium upon That
TENT that the said Louisa Germs, one Of the as,
lured, died on the Goth Gay OF March, 1874, and
that her BODY mad been buried On the s1st Aaroh