The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-08
Fighting Death Losses.


We cannot help thinking that the life
insurance companies are making a mistake
in the course they are pursuing regarding
the policies issued by them on the life Of
the late Mr.. Dsight, oil Binghampton, \.
Y. Ii will be remembered that, seyeral
months ago, thst enterpri-ipg gentleman,
after insuring his life in = dozen leading
companies for about S250,000, euddenly
died, Just in time to avoid the payment of
the second instalment on bis premiums. Ii
be had lived for few days longer his pei
icies would have lspsed, because he could
not have met ,he payments due. But he
died in good season, and the companies
took pains to have a careful sutop-y Of his
body made to prove, If possible, that he
had committed suicide. The examination
made by the Coroner's jury, who were
aided by great many medical experts en-
ployed by the insurance companies, failed
TO produce any evidence showing that death
was intentionsi. Then the theory wss
adopted that the deceased had caused h.
own death by inducing mslsrial fever, bur,
after a time. evel that theory Was sbsn-
doned.
Having failed TO establish the assump.
lion that Mr.. Dwigh, died for the sole pur-
pose Of enriching his heirs at law, the com
panies announced their Intention of paying
their policies in the usual way. But now
they come to the front again with new
theory Of suicide, and another examination
of the body is being made to enable them
to avoid payment. They low claim that
death was caused by s!rangulsiion, and
that the strangulation was acc mplishsd BY
means OF a cord passed around Dwight's
neck aud slipped over the headboard of the
bed in which he lay. The superstition is
that he devised the scheme and applied the
cord himself, and that he then lay peace
fully on his back while death oyercsme
him. They account for the absence of the
cord and all mention OF it at the previous
inquest BY claiming that there were other
parties 10 the conspiracy present when
death took place. The body has
been exhumed and learned physi-
cian testihes that he has found a
distinc. indentation around the neck, which
ne claims was made in the manner described.
No other evidence OF death by strangula-
ton seems TO have been discovered, which
seems somewhat remarkable n view of the
many and easily discernible signs usually
left when death is caused in this way.
When the first autopsy was made the body
was cut and sisshsd most literally By the
surgeons, but no one seems to have fourd
this cord mark or any other proof thst
death was caused by compression Of the
throat. Able physicians testified that nesrly
all the vital organs were more or less dis
essed, and that in their opinion d. ath was
caused by congesiive chill.
No matter how the second examination
terminates, it will have tendency to raise
doubts in the public mind as TO the willing
ness OF the companies to settle their Losses
promptly and without causing a recourse to
yexatious litigation. Men who insure their
lives for the benefit of their wives ard
children do not desire 10 bsgueath law
suits which will not only cause their
own bodies to be dug up and cut
up, but may also defeat the very purpose of
the insurance b. defrauding their heirs
There are many suspicious circumstances
connected with the insurance and death OF
Mr.. Dwight, and it IL possible, though i'm
probable, that he meant to rob the compa-
mics. Bat il is quite a. possible, and not
lees probable, that his death was due to
natural causes, and that it was rather q
strange combination of circumstances than
premeditsted villainv that cansed him to
get insured and die as he did 1t is safe TO
say that, if the total insurance on his life
had been but 81, 900 instead of $3.50 coo,
the companies would have paid it without
lodging. Having taken large risks, they
should ne willing to assume the consegusn,
responsibility in a fair and honorable
spirit.