Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-01
RemarkabIe Insurance Case.

ST. LOUIS. September 30.-One OF the most
sensational suits ever tried here came up in the
| United States Circuit Court Wednesday. In 1855
William Wackere, a farmer at Carver, Ainn., mar
ried wacharga Schneider, and they lived together
Ninth Minnesota regiment. He served until 1865,
when he was discharged for physical disability.
| sold it, and after that worked as a common la
borer and railroad hand at various places.
n poces his life one IN tSe e 1S
| the other in the Mutual Life, of New York, and
both were made payable to his wife: In lsfs he
III. In the fall of 1872 he left her at that place
| and was next heard of at Marshall, Tex. Shortly
railroad. near Shreveport La On the 18th day Of
ISL man s MAS snd 9ve e by n
quest some papers were found on the BODY lndi-
eating that the deceased was William Waekerle
This was not deemed sufficient identification by
the corouer's jury, and they returned verdict
that the deceased was an unknown person.
til January, 1878, and in the meantime had
paid the premium on the two policies for that
She went to Marshall, Tex and shreveport. La,
to gather evidence that the deceased was her hus
psnq but fhey deemed them ns1cient ana re-
fused to nay the insurance she brought suit
against the ftna in the State Court of Louisiana,
at Shreveport, retaining the Hon. Alexander
Boardman, now judge of the United States Dis
irict Court of Louisiana. her counsel. On the
trial She obtained Judgment against the COM
pauy, which appealed TO the Supreme Court of Lou
isiana Pending this appeal Joseph wimman, an
attorney in Minnesota In the employment Of the
insurance company, went to California and
brought back a man claiming TO be william
wackerle, the supposed dead man. He was pro-
duced before the Supreme Court, and numerous
affidavits were presented testifying that he was
the identical William Wackerle on whose life the
policies of insurance were taken. Mrs. Wackerle,
however, denied his identity aud pronounced him
a fraud. The Supreme Court took different
view and reversed the decision OF the Circuit
Court of Shreveport. On the strength of this de-
cision Wackere, real or fictitious as the case may
be, applied to the government for pension and
obtained it, drawing the full amount for sixteen
years, from 1864 to 1850
Mrs. wackerle brought suit in the United States
Circuit Court for this district against the Mutual
Life. of New York. I he plaintiff, Mrs. Wsckerle,
middle-aged woman, whose face bore the marks
of many years anxiety and care, placed upon
the stand shortly before recess She gave her evil
dence with many indications of sincerity and
were put concerning her husband. She told the
story of her husbands alleged death, and when
the cross-examination began came one of the most
dramatic scenes ever witnessed in the courtroom
here.
At this point a man was brought up to the wit
ness stand and confronted withEthe witness and
she asked if she recognized him.
Answer-I have never seen this man before.
Quesuon[ls he not John Waekerle, the brother
at Carondelet the boat and who tod you OF
the death of your husband?
A7s.-This mantis stranger to me, and know
nothingiabout him John Wackerle was a large,
tall man, and this looks altogether like another
man.
Another man was then confronted with her. and
she was asked ifshe recognize him.
Answer-This man is a stranger TO me, like the
one before saw him once in Minnesota. but he
is changed from what he was before; this is
not my husband never lived with him his
wife: / never him except at Minnesota and
here new; never said to Dunnam that if this man
had stayed in sacramento meant to have divided
the money with him when l got it. Plaintiffs
PENDANT was then taken up Council stated what
they expect to prove and began the evidence by
reading several dispositions Of parties who knew
who said the man produced was the real
simon pure. 4 he case is not yet concluded