The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-24
COL. DWIGHTs BODY ExHUMED.



BrNaHAMToN, April 23.-1n November last
insurance circles were alarmed by the discov-
cry OF what they regarded rs nm an attempt to
defraud a number of companies out Of sums
aggregating over t25O,OOO. Col. Walton Dwight
was the man on whose life insurance TO this
amount bad been placed.
The first doubt was cast upon Col. Dwights
fitness as a subject for life insurance by the
Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company OF
New York. which declined to take risk
of $4,000 on tho ground that tho applicant
had had homorrhago Of the lungs. Under
IN agreement which prevails among all
the companies. notice was sent out by the
Knickcrbocker Of its refusal to take risks on
Col. Dwight. when more than twenty COM
panies had their attention drawn to the fact
that they had insured him in sums ranging
from So 900 TO 100000.
The United States Life Of New York at once
sent an agent here to make an investigation.
who reported that Col Dwight had denied over
having had pneumonia or any other serious
lung trouble, but had admitted having suffered
from hemorrhnges. The company clNimcd tho
right TO cancel Its policy and all the other COM
panies in which Col. Dwight was insured sub
Of tno policies whicii he held of them: but in
all cases he refused to give them up
The total amount OF Col; Dwights policies
had tried 10 take out, but several companies had
refused to issue them TO him.
Col. Dwight died in this city on the 18th Of
November last Ho had requested during his
last illness that n post-mortem examination
OF his body should be made, and such ex-
Der by Prof. Deafed OF the New York Col
lege Of Physicians and Surgeons. in the pres
ence OF a number of physicians. II showed a
congested state ef the whole system. confirming
the opinions Of Col Dwight's physicians that
he had died OF gastric fever.
The rumors that Col Dwight had endeavored
to shorten his own life. wandering through
woods and and swamps without food in un-
seasonable weather. and swimming in the
dignantly denied here when they were
started in connection with the stories
He nv was .a"h a. man Whom evegybody who Snew him
respected. His career was n remarkable one
Born, in 1886, at the age OF Is he en-
$1,000 before he was 20. At 2l no was
Chairman Of the Chicago Lumber Exchange
At the breaking out of the war he went to Penn
sylvanla rich man; and entering the army.
became Colonel Of the second OF the famous
Bucktail" regiments sent out from that
State. His regiment was engaged in many
Col Dwight was wounded eighteen times
during his military career He had
OF Frederick -burg. At tho close OF the war he
purchased lumber land in Canada. which
yielded him q fortune 81 s5OO,OOO. He came tc
this city % live in 1867. and in 1871 he was
elected Mayor. He invested half m llion dollars
in building a hotel and cottogcs and laving oui
park here but the investment was disastrous
and Col. Dwight was financially ruined by it
When he began so heavily to insure his life. he
said to a friend: " | am smart enough TO make
money sufficient to pay the premiums on these
policies. II regain my health, | have
no fear but that l can regain my fortune in 9
few years. II do not live long enough for that
then / will leave my family comfortable" Great
sorrow and sympathy We're expressed by al
people here at the time Of his death.
For some time II has been rumored here tha
the body Of Col Dwight was to be eXhumed. anC
Coroner's Inquest held. with view tC
having second autopsy made. This wa,
insisted on by the insurance compane,
| holding policies on his life. The Coroner
| refused TO accede for some time. but AT Length
| he consented and a jury composed of physi
| clans was summoned on Tuesday. Tho bod,
| was exhumcd this morning. aud an nutops'
| made. Nothing new has been thus far devcl
| oped. The body showed n natural decomposi
| tion. Portions ot the lungs. kidneys. stomach
| &c. were preserved for analysis.
Casts Were taken Of the face. back Of the head
| and back. The autopsy was conducted 10y DIR
| SwinOurn OF Albany and DR.. sherman Of Og
densburg assisted by DIR. Burr OF this city.
The jury adjourned until to- morrow morn inl
at ga o'clock Several representatives of in
surance companies were present