The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-11
THE nHrRAScE CASES.
Preliminary Hearing Of One or Ihe
Arena Regun ~ squire AIlEle.

Preliminary AeaFtng 81 one OF Rhe
Agents Begun ~ Squire Arhle.
The case Of the State Of West Virginia
against Ralph Sherlock, one Of the men ar
rested for alleged violation Of the State statute
regulating insurance agents, was begun by
Squire Arkls yesterday, The section in
question is as follows:
NO officer or agent Of foreign insurance
company shall make, renew or negotiate in
this State, any insurance or contract for in
surance, on behalf OF said company, or trans
act any business for such company, directly
or indirectly, without inst obtaining the
Auditors certificate OF authority as required
BY law; and this applies to all persons en-
gagged in any manner in soliciting risks, issu-
ing or obtaining the issue Of policies selling
tickets Of insurance, or otherwise doing bust
ness Of insurance, either by direct appoint
ment from the company or as such agent.
Any officer or agent violating the provisions
OF this section shall be fined SO for each Of
Tense"
The certificate Of authority referred to is q
certificate from the Auditor that the COM
pany for whom the business is done has filed
with him certified statement OF its capital
stock, reserve fund, etc, The case put on
trial yesterday was one on a warrant charg-
ing Sherlock with having solicited insurance
and issued policies for the Middle Creek Val
| ley Mutual Aid Society, OF Pennsylvania.
The policy named in the affidavit was one
on the life Of Mrs. Mary Gray. The first wit
ness examined was Mrs. Mary Robertson, q
daughter Of Mrs. Gray's, She testified that
| sherlock had solicited insurance on her
mothers life, but she could not say for what
company. She had signed numerous appli'
cations for policies, being paid ten per cent for
doing so. Her mother recently died, and u
very short time after her death Sherlock was
at the house on business connected with the
4 insurance.
Auditor Miller next testified that he had
never issued any certificate OF authority u
Mr., Sherlock Us agent Of any company what
ever,
Frank Mcsherry was next called. He holds
policy in the Middle Creek Valley lnsur
anCe Company, which the attorneys for the
prosecution, Mr., Joe Wood and States Attor
ney Jorday desired to see, and Squire ArklC
ordered him to produce It, He left the office
but shortly returned saying that the policy
was his wife's and she objected to its beinl
produced In court. He was again ordered L
produce II, and after consulting an attorney
did so, and Is was placed in evidence. i
bears the name OF J. b. Wherry US securing
agent and Sherlock as witness.
]. Z. Smith next testified. He had mad'
one medical examination OF Mrs. Gray, anC
i'had afterwardssigned several certificates from
his observations at that examination. III
did not know the names Of the companies Il
whom the certificates were sent.
Several other witnesses testified, but moth
ing Of importance was ELECTED. Indeed Their
was nothing at all brought out which has no
already been fully given to the public in tn
columns OF the lSTELLiGLNcER, The hearinl
was finally adjourned until to-day Col. W
W. Arnett represented Mr., Sherlock,