Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-04-28
DExrRBED LIFE INSURANCE.
Some Shocking Manifestations of The
Aanfa-Spec uIAtfons on Life and
Death A Cold.bfooded Trade
Thousands Depending on the Death
Of Decrepfd Old Men.


Aania-6pecu IAtfons on Life and
Death A Cold-bfooded Trade =
Thousands Depending on the Death
of Dscrspfd Old Men.
Special to the New York san.
SHLRssoRovE, Pa, April 24.--No town
in Pennsylvania has worse attack Of
the mutual aid insurance mania than
this. By many the place is known as
''Insuranesvils." Boys and girls, men
and women, speculate in policies and
think, talk, and dream OF little else.
There are IL companies in the county in
full blast. Many other state concerns are
represented, and hundreds Of agents are
busy as bees writing policies, and trans
ferring or selling them. Hundreds OF
business men carry in their pockets poli-
cies on the lives Of aged and poor persons
who are on the brink OF the grave.
These policies are sold ION the market"
here, almost the same as railroad stocks
are sold in commercial centres. The tav-
erns in the town are like exchanges on a
small scale.
1t is common thing to see public sale
OF policy. The owner offers II in some
such words as these "Gentlemen, here
is q policy On the life Of old Mother
Richter, who lives over the ridge, mile
above town. She is insured for ~ 600 ia
the - - Company OF Harris
burg, which company pays in full ninety
days after the death of the insured. With
the policy is a receipt from the old woman
for 80 for assigning her policy to me, and
she acknowledges, in the presence OF two
witnesses, that she has no further claim.
Ib.. a tnruz With lsr thfu u+t
and he reports that the condition is much
worse than it was yesterday, aud that
she is growing weaker, and Is unable to
sit up. Now, gentlemen, what do hear
for TINS $1,000 policy Give me bid on
i. start it tire away on it. What do !
hear -
In this manner hundreds Of policies are
bought and sold every week inthis county,
10 say nothing OF those which are sold
privately.
There is in Reading man about GO
years old who owns horse and cart and
makes living by hauling ashes and
doing other odd Jobs about town. He is
in excellent health, and works nearly
every day Of his lite. He is opposed to
What he calls "the wicked speculation in
death bed life Insurance. and lac has had
considerable amusement at tlte expense
ct those who dabble in il. Now and then
lie tells an agent to send around a specu-
ator. The spcculator is informed Of "a
.ood subject. When he is approaching
the old man feigna feeblenea5 and says,
"No no they won't take me, | IN not
well enough. Yes they will, says the
rpecularor I'm see that you are taken
all r1frif ti,at IL. AZ.
cation. Ii put you in lor live thousand.
The old man coughs, complains that
his lungs are nearly gone, and says :
We'll, III sign but guess the company
won't pass me. DR.. was here
yesterday and examined me. | don t
know what he reported. y
Another very weak attempt al cough
ing here follows, the blank application Is
signed, the subject is paid $40, and the
speculator departs, saying as he goes,
,'Good-bye, MIR. --; hope you II soon
get over your cold and get stronger.
When the spetula.9r is out Of sight the
I'd man Strengthens up, laughs heartily,
l,ut, his $40 III his vest pocket, and says
"Hhe rascal lusuring me for So, 00n tot
| MS own benefit and then having the inn
| liudcncr to wish me an caIlJ recovery
! lie old man goes to see li!S friends, and
! hey tell him he il looking better than
yer, while he knows he is rs healthy Il.
| . buck. In that way he has captured
about dozen Spectators, and is Insured
Tor about 100000. The policies ar,
| hardly worth pocket room because tllt
| id man Is likely to live ~ or - years
The spectators want policies on person,
/ mi H..