Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-11
ARKLE'S ATTEMPT
TO CORRAL THE ILLEGAL INSURANCE
AGENTS.
The Preliminary Hearing al His Office Yes
tsrday AftsrnoOn-A Cloud Of Wit
nesses Examined and Their Iestl-
mOny as Taken Down by
Register Reporter-Shar-
rocks the frstCaSe.
AHNETTS INGENIOUS 0EfENSE o.
HIS CLIENT.

were taxed to their utmost holding ca
uacitv Yesterday afternoon by the wit
nesses in and the spectators OF the trial.
Tho spectators consisted OF citizens who
have ample leisure TO crafty curiosity,
and the witnesses were composed oil one
or two elements, viz One class CONSIST
ed of those who had been !nnOcent lns'ru:
ments in forwarding the operations Vi
the death rattle" agents, as Tor instance
Mrs Robertson, while another class was
made uu OF those to whom assignments
of policies had been made, Tor Instance
well, there were several OF lneui'
Among those present We noticed tue
nronrietors OF the .NS,rS L'ttsr Hon.
Joseph s. Miller, Auditor OF the State,
and other gentlemen who's attention
had been drawn 10 the magnitude anu
extent OF the business in this city ana
State.
All the parties, with one or two ex-
centions. who had been charged with
carving on the business were on hand,
and before the hearing began Messrs.
Wherry and MCSherry took occasion 10
give their peculiar ideas in regard to re-
cent publications in the city press Wig.
orous ventilation, to the amusement OF
the assembled multitude but as the
subject was rather "gauZy" the press
representatives only smiled and listen
ed, and didn't allow it 10 W(h)erry
them any. .:.o
Col. Arnett asked that another Justice
be associated with Squire Arkle as tt'
case was an important one and as ms
case had emauated from his Ankles
office as a whole, and inasmuch az the
constable of the Office lSmith) had
sworn out the warrants. lie
also urged that the squares
ideas OF the case were necessarily
srpart,, and this fact would have ten
dency to bias his mind"
Hon. J. J. Woods, in opposition. to
the request, said he appeared at TIE IN
stance of Auditor Miller. He was
rather surprised at the nature OF the re-
Quest. The justice had only to hear
evidence and determine rs to whether
there was probable cause to hold the
defendants and to send them on to the
grand Jury. He also denied that the
laws Of the State contemplated any such
proceedings, as claimed by Col. Arnett.
The Squire said, in interrupting Col.
Arpett, who was continuing his argu-
meut in favor of the association OF other
justices: 81 NAV as well interfere right
here and overruie the motion OF Col. Ar
nett: Il have no pecunlary interest IN
the matter. Am not related to either OF
the defendants. If the defendants are
or shall be dissatisfied with my ruling
or decision, there are two superior
Judges in this circuit, and they will
afford all the relief they fail OF here.
The case OF the State vs. Ralph Shar-
rock was then taken up. The warrant
charges that Shamrock did. on the 9th
dav OF October, solicit insurance on the
lie OF one Mary Gray, since deceased,
contrary to the act OF the Legislature
made and provided. =,
Mrs. Mary A. Robertson said she had
seen Shamrock in October, when he
came to 4S3 Coal street, and wanted TO
insure her mothers life. He said that
az Sould be sure of 10 per cent on the
dollar whether paid anything or not.
He said that made no difference, and
finally pursuaded me to put my name
TO PAPERS. There might have been more
than q dozen OF these papers. Mr.
Wherrv was with him at the time. My
mother died November lst. Shamrock
came I'D about an hour after her death.
He asked me il DR.. llupp had a
Telephone. Mr.. Wherry proposed bury
inc mother and | told him
to 90 to links. Do not know the name
OF the insurance company. Never LOOK
ell at the headings OF the papers. Had
other things to attend to in the house.
ONLY put my name to them.
To Mr.. Arkle-Some others came there,
but | did not know them. Mr.. Day came
one day, and Mr.. Walters, the Main
.treet milliner, also WAS there one day.
There we're OTHERS also to whom ! was
introduced, but didn't know them then
nor don't now.
Joseph S. Miller testified that he was
Auditor the State; that Shamrock has
no certificate rs an insurance agent
from his office; neither has Wherry; nor
any agent for the Middle Greek lnsnr'
ance Agency. .,,,
Frank McSherry called-Will have to
90 down to tue house to look at my poll
ry. AZ | don't know what name Is on IT..
Mr.. Woods-"How long will it take
your"
'I'u have to look through my papers.
III not say how long III be be gone,
said Mr.. McSherry, badly ratified.
Mr.. Jordan rising eXctedly, do you
mean to say that you will not come
back? You are in the custody OF this
court, and ii you do not come back Its
process will follow you"
Col. Arnett-l.et the Prosecuting At
tcrney take his seat, and not be Gomln-
eering witnesses.
Squire Arkle-lf you don't come
back I'll send for you.
DR.. j. +. Smith, called-pont re.
member having witnessed the assign
ment of a policy on the life OF Mrs
GRAY. TO = Her daughter was pres
ent at the examination. Mr.. Sharrcck
Was in the house. made the eXamina~
ton at his instance. My connection
with the case was only professional.
81 think it was in Septcmber that |
made the examination; never made
more than one examination oil Mrs
GRAY"
To Colonel Arnett-Never heard OF
the Middle Creek Valley Company TIL
heard it here.
Vim. Entler sworn-knOw Shamrock;
accompanied him to Mrs. Gray's house
on Coal street about month or two ago.
His business was in relation to insnr-
ance; don't remember whether he solic-
tied any insurance or not; | know he
didn't; went with him; knew where |
WAS going before | started; did not
know Mrs. Gray; Shamrock Is in the III
surance business; while there he vas in
one room and in another.
II merely took ride with Shamrock
up there" to Grey's)
John McCleary said he was not
personally acquainted with Shar-
rock. Had talked with him about
insurance. He asked to me take Il policy
on a certain person. Had two CONVEX
sat,ors with him. He spoke OF Mr..
Dimmv over the creek. He told ma, SO
did Wherry, that | could have my
choice OF Mr.. Dimmy or Mrs. Grey.
Mr.. McSherry reappeared at this
iuucture without the policy, alleging
that it was his wiie's property. lie also
alleged that he had acted As his wIle's
agent in the matter, but said that her
nsme was not on the transfer
Mr.. McSherry, after little talking TO