The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-11
4 FICTITIOUS DEATH.
An Attempt to Defraud . Life Insurance
Company.

Company.
On the 21st day Of June last a man
named Alexander Queal. Of Oswego, in
sured his lite in the Travellers Accident
Insurance Company, Of Hartford, for
50, 600. Queal was driver of one of the
Delaware and Lackawanna Express
Company's wagons, man well known
and OF good character. Six months be-
lore he was married to a young lady OF
Oswego, named De Mars, and the pros
poets were that he would in a short
time be promoted to higher position In
the express company's employ and one
of considerable responsibility.
About eight O'Clock on the evening of
the day after the insurance was affected,
Oueal, In company with his brother.in-
law, Frank De Mars, and another man
named John German, started out for
a sail in Lake Ontario. The day had
been O, stormy one, ana at the time the
party embarked the lake was exceed
ingly rough. The wind was blowing al
most gale from the shore, and the idea
of the men embarking in a sail boat upon
the lake was looked upon as q most
dangerous aud fooihardy freak. The
boat was barely large enough to hold the
three, and was soon out OF sight of those
on the shore. Nothing was heard or
seen of the boat again, but about mid
night De Mars and German appeared in
the city. Their clothing was soaked and
bsdraggled. and they presented most
pitiable appearance. They said that az
Ter sailing some four miles down the
lake it was thought best to put about
and return home. In attempting to do
so the boat capsized, and all three were
thrown into the lake. Queal, they said,
kept up for short time, but finally
sank and they saw him NO moIe. De
Mars and German managed to reach the
shore, which was distant about mile,
and returned to Oswego on foot. The
sHg htest question was not raised
against the truth of this story, and
Oueaps friends lamented him as lost.
His Young wife was almost frantic with
grief, and the affair threw q gloom over
large portion Of the city.
QIeal, besides driving one of the ex-
press company's wagons, WAS also In
trusted by is 30 make collections, and
the day Of the above occurrence he had
collected some $500, which he had not
returned. This, 1T was supposed, he
had ON his person, and that 1t was his
intention to bay it over the next day, as
was his custom. His wife was left in
destitute circumstances, and although
his life was insured for $1,000 the ex-
preSS COMPANY mCu tuC W iuuW tudb
there would be NO demand made on that
lor the deficit in Queaps. accounts.
In due time Mrs. Queal applied for the
insurance money called for by the policy
on her late husbands life. The insur-
ance company notified its agent in Os-
wego to pay the amount in sixty days
after the presentation OF the proofs OF
death. This was pronounced satisfacc-
tory, and the money was to be paid on
the 22d of August. On the 18th OF Au-
gust a merchant of this city had some
business which called him to Carthage,
jefferson county. Stopping at one of
the hotels oil the place ne was consider
ably astonishAt to discover in a man
who sat near him at the dinner table no
..ss n personage than Alexander Queal,
whom ali Oswego thought to De ut the
hottom of Lake Ontario. Inc man was
disguised,f but there was no DOUBT u
his identity, and the merchant at once
procured his arrest. He was brought to
this city, where he was arralgned for
preliminary examination on cnarKe Oh
defrauding the express company Oh szoo
and Of conspiring to deirauo tne Ihsur-
ance company of 5000. De Mars ana
German were arrested and held to bail
ON the latter charge. Letters were
found on QleaPs person written to him
| by his wife, and addressed to him under
assumed names, showing that she, too,
was in the conspiracy.
On the preliminary examination DE
Mars and 6orman swOre tnat they be-
Iieyed Queal to be drowned, and Queal
swore tnat he SWAN ashore, but that the
former knew nothing Of his escape.
The three were put uader bonds to ap-
| near for trial. which has just ended at
the September session Of the Oyer and
Terminer Court Of this county, before
IIudge Hardin. The main direct evil
dence against the conspirators was that
Of John MalOney, discovered since the
preliminary examination. Maloney Is a
nusrrvman and works near the lake
Where the party landed. He swore that
the three came ashore together and
were seen by him. They, fearing this
fact might destroy the success Of their
scheme, bribed Maloney to be quiet with
the promise that they would pay'him as
soon as the insurance money was hand.
ed over TO him. Maloney says he would
never have "peached" il he had got the
money.
/ A verdict of guilty was found agains
lOueal on both charges and against Dt
Mars and German on the one charge
MIS-, Oueal, having evidently been under
the influence Of her husband and tht
. others, no proceedings were takel
against her. Sentence has not yet beeI
pronounced.-osweg Cor. Giobe-Demo