Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

ICY-A READING. PENNSYLVANIA. AGENCY AT
THE BOTTOM OF AN AUDACIOCs CONSPIRACY.
From the Washington Post.
sensational scheme has Just come to light in
connection with the Guiteau case. Parties at
Reading. Pa, have obtained the consent of one
OF the leading graveyard" insurance companies
to insure the life Of Guteau ifa signature to the
application could be obtained, waving all medi-
zeal examination Yesterday the application.
filed out for $1,000. was received here by q
prominent journalist with a request 10 procure
Guiteau's signature 10 the same. Accompanying
the application was "A Tettef wherein explanation
was made of the plan proposed. The party who
was the recipient of the application was seen
last evening. and could not imagine why the
same had been forwarded TO him unless it was
for the purpose OF bringing the matter into no
toriety.
Sir. ScOTille was at once called upon in reIa-
tion TO the matter and stated thar he had heard
nothing of it. though such might be easily
enough obtained if it were not tor the medical
examination usually required He could not see
what would incuce an insurance company TO
consent to such insurance. and the parties for
whose benefit such policy might be made out
would certainly desire tn have the Insured put
out OF the way. When made acquainted with
the character of the plan it heinz ce-tyD.arafi We
he readily saw where such scheIne wds reason
able. He was OF the opinion that such a matter
would pat Guiteaus life in greater jeopardy
than IL Is in at present. There were many peo-
pie just Ike Biz Jones. he thought. who felt no
fear of punishment should they shoot Gulteau
down. and he was constantly exposed TO such
persons The following is the letter of instruc-
tions. sent with the bld;ik application for the
graveyard risks:
READING, Pa, Dee 90 1881.
DEAR SIR: We have made arrangements with
several OF the BerkS county Mutual AID aSSoci,i-
tons INCLUDING the Reading Mutual Aid Ass0cla-
ton of Pennsylvania. TO secure an amount OF in
surance, not exceeding S10G,0G0. on the life OF
Charles J. Gultcau. We must. OF course. have the
signature OF Guiteau 70 the application FOR insr-
ance. We are informed That your connection with
the Washington Post gives you access To 1Iultcau,
and VIII probably enaDie YOU 10 TIRE his sigma
application OF the Reading Mutual AID asso ia
ton OF Pennsylvania, which yOu VIII please fill
out according to the facts in the case ami obtain
the signature OF Guiteau.
There is a nice little '.Spec" in this business for
you and ourselves, II you can succeed III having
this paper executed. Tue Reading Mutual Aid
Will take $4,000 insurance; tie other associations
with which we are connected viii take the bal
ance, making aggregate OF Sl0o,C0a. We Will
pay the policy fees, and al premiums and assess
mentS that may be levied so long as GtItaau shall
live. We win give you 20 per cent of the sum
realized on the insurance. The PHYSICIANS certi-
cate you need not trouble about; il Will be filed
out here. Should you have any dffficulty in get
ting information IIon q. to enable you to answer
any OF the questions in the application we send
you, return II to us, and will I'll il up so as to
satisfy the company The signature OF Guiteau is
really al that Is required from you; the rest we
viii take care OF ourselves Yours truly,
BARDNEE S LEsSIG.
Stlson H,ttchtnS, Esq. Washington, d. c.
The application is made out on one of the
regular blanks of the Reading Mutual Aid AS
ISOLATION of Pennsylvania" being an applica-
ton on the life maturity plan" The name and
residence are filled out to Charles j. Guiteau.
Washington. ID. c." The second question is for
statement of name OF the person or persons for
whose benefit membership is applied for This
Is filed out to ''Arthur j. BOrdner Reading.
Pa, occupation insurance AGENT" relation
ship, mo relation" The amount of member
ship applied for is stated at $4,000" At the
bottom of the application is the signature of
the beneficiary. ARTHUR j. Bordner," which is
followed by that of Calvin T. Lessig. securing
agent" Arthur j. Bordner is indorsed upon
the back as the ''persOn who pays all dues and
assessments" As Mr.. Stison Hutchins. of the
Post to whom the application and instructions
were sent. says he is not in the death-ratte in
eurance business. the scheme to realize on the
corpus OF Garfelds assassin will most assuredly
Discarry.
What il Said About the Matter.
The above publication in the Post caused con-
siderable talk about the court house this morn
ING, though it was generally agreed that the
letter itself bore evidence that it was not a
genuine proposition The gentleman connected
with the defence denied any knowledge of it.
Mr.. Johd w. Guiteau who is an experienced
insurance man. was asked By STAR reporter
what he thought of it,
II never heard of it before I saw it pub
hshed, replied Mr. Guiteau. .'Of course, it
must be fictitious proposition, and the names
used are doubtless fictitious
nat Go You suppose it was written for:'
Il presume it is a rig gotten up by the
regular insurance men on the cooperative assO-
Citations"