New-York tribune., 1878-11-20
INSURED FOR A FORTUNE.
COLONEL DwIGHTs SUDDEN DEATH.

COLONEL DWIGHTS SUDDEN DEATH.
ISsIrRING HIS LIFE FOR $2500O0 IN MANY COM
PANIEs-REPoRTs THAT HE COMMITTED SUICIDE
COMMENTS OF INSURANCE OFFICERS.
The death of Colonel Walton Dwight, OF
Binghamton on Saturday last, has created much e1-
ctemen in the lite offices OF this city, Tor II Is
known that during the last months he obtained
policies of insurance Oh his life amounting to $253,6OO
Peculiar circumstances attending his death have given
rise 10 the Suspicion tnat he sought sefdestrucon or
the sake OF leaving this sum to his we ana son. Du' %
farit is admitted there direct evidence OF
fraud The insurance companies IL Is sald are sure 10
contest the validity their obligations, on the ground
that Mr.. Dwight wilfully made away with himself
8s Dwp il is reported has already secured the le
gal seryicef OF ex State superintendent OF Insurance
Orlan W. Chapman to present her claims against the
companies.
Walton Dwight was forty-one years of age, over SIX
feet tall probably weighed 200 pounds had fine pres
ence and looked the persOnhcatOn Of robust Lealth
He had been very popular in BinGhamon, where he
invested fortune largely inherited, estimated at sew
eral hundred thousand dollars. During the rebellion
he was Colonel Of the Pennsylvania Bucktail" "
regiment lie expended many thousand dollars
in building the Dwight Block IN Bing-
hdmton and the well-knUwn " Dwight Summer
hotel with surrounding cottages the suburbs OF the
same place. lie himself occupied the residence OF ex-
United States Senator Daniel s. Dickinson. These i'm
followed by depreciation in prices. His properly
was heavily mortgaged, the NOR cages, 1t Is sald
being largely held by the Mutual Life Insurance
Company. These were closed out by the company,
and last Summer Walton Dwight was adjud5ed
q bankrupt. During September Mr.. Dwight was ire
quent visitor the life offices OF tins city ana
on condition that the pre.nums to be paid quar-
terry seemed willing 10 take out policies for
very large amounts Within threo months he
succeeded in getting policies in favor OF his wife
and son amounting to $253 600 and paid about $500
for premiums. Since he financially embarrassed,
and II is thought could have raised only with the great
est difficulty the $1,000 10 meet the premiums duc ON
the next quarter it Is theory in insurance offices
that Mr. Dwight intended when he took out the policies
TO be q dead man before another premium was due.
It's not uncommon for the Equitable Life Insurance
Company to issue $50 900 policies. Mr. Dwight asked
for policy Of that sze and welcomed as one OF the
best customers the company had seen for long time
After careful examination hO was granted The
policy At the office OF the Manhattan Lle
he obtained $4,000 policy on the same
terms premiums payable quarterly the president ot the
company Henry Stokes says Mr. Dwight was one OF the
most ezble cases life insurance from the companys
point OF view that he Mr.. Dwight said lie had
always carried heavy insurance on his life but that
some OF the companies had failed and that he was then
reinsurinR in sound companies. - .
Mr Dwight applied to the Mutual Life. President
WINSTON said for $50 900 policy. He was sent upstairs
to the examining W3S 6o Gepo&Ted & against s S
reFerTed red to Mr. WINSTON who, on lcarning the
name Of the applicant, refused TO grant policy
for even $4,000. Mr.. Winston said that through
his prevous dealings with Mr.. Dwight he learned that
he was reckless, specuatlng man. III was contrary 10
the conservative policy of the company 10 take Ihrg
Tlsk the he OF any man gwen 10 dissipation OF VI
Mr. Dwight had pald-up policy In the Germania Life,
and short time ago turned the value Of this policy into
a premium much larger amount OF Insurance Ihs
is list OF the companies aud the amounts UP TO S2OO-
auIia a. ID III