Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-18
LIFE INSURANCE GHOULs.
Two of the Pennsylvania Pattern
Under 1rrest,
On The Charge of "speculRtiBg
in Death"
Commercial.l

Special to the Cincinnati Commerciall
PIrTsBURG, November To- Rather
a sensation has been created here to-
day by the arrest Of two insurance
men on charges ofconspiracy and false
statements 10 life insurance compa-
MES. In other words, they are arrest
ed for engaging in death bed insurance
schemes. The workings of the agents
ofthe death bed companies have grown
to be an event Of more than ordinary
proportions in western Pennsylvania.
As is we'll known, the Attorney Gen
eral of the State has sought to have
the charter of several Of their compa'
MES dissolved. They are the State
CapitaI Mutual Aid Association, OF
Harrisburg; the Prudential Mutual
Aid Association, of Harrisburg; the
Steelton Mutual Relief Association ,ot
Steelton, Dauphin county, and
the Southern Pennsylvania Security, of
Hanover. York County. For some
time past j. Il. Petty, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney, of this county, has
been proposing cases against SIX or
seven insurance agents and solicitors,
but he has done it so very secretly to
avoid the papers getting hold OF The
matter and stealing the cases The
cases we're brought before the grand
jury. witnesses were quietly examined,
and then the grand jury returned sew
eral true bills. All the names of
those indicted cannot be learned, but
the county detective to-day arrested
Patrick w. Murray and P. &. Han
mer, and they have been placed under
heavy bail. The indictments charge
them with conspiracy to defraud, and
with making false returns. Several
men between seventy-ive and eighty
years old, who were inmates
OF the House of the Little
Sisters of the Poor in Allegheny, were
insured in the Mutual Aid Associa-
ton by their relatives, and since their
death no benefits have been paid.
One woman eighty two years old and
a man ninety-twO years old, both OF
whom live on the South Side, were
among those on whom policies were
taken out. A great many companies
are represented by these men, among
them being the Golden Rule Mutual
Ala Society of Berks county, the State
Capital Mutual of Pennsylvania, the
Commonwealth Mutual Relief Of
America, the Pennsylvania Mutual
Relief Of Gettysburg and the Steelten
Mutual Aid of Steelton. So strong a
sentiment against these companies is
felt in the counties adjacent that yes
terday in Westmorland county County
Judge Hunter, in his address to the
grand jury, said.
There is nothing more shocking to
the upright mind than to speculate in
human life. Its value cannot be
measured. The gift OF God, it is
Gods property, and merchandise must
not b. made of it. Let men speculate
in all things else, and hunt wealth
therefrom if they will, save this one
thing. which must be kept out of the
public mart, The Legislature has
included within the act physicians,
gentlemen of a learned and highly
useful profession, II is to be re-
eretted that the law giver Of the Com
monwealth hae been impellel or at
all thought it necessary to provide
against the acts Of any member Of the
medical profession. 1t is possible that
associations or companies have been
organized for the express purpose OF
taxing improper risks, and if, there
fore, within the knowledge Of the
grand jury or any Of your number, the
law has been violated by any person
or persons, they should be made the
subject Of your prescntment, because,
if this wrong is allowed TO 60 unpun
ished, it viii lead to forgery, perjury,
and perhaps murder"