The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1882-02-17
Marriage Insurance.


RED1HG, Pa, January 49,
Suits are about to be institut-
cd by three young married
couples near Rcams-iown,
which will expose the method
of the marriage insurance
companies, in which the COM
plainants are interested. Tho
plaintiff y were mrricd just
thirteen months ago. Prior
to their marriage they were
approached by three agents,
who, it is alleged, promised
that the companies would pay
each member $3.50 one year
after marriage. The young
people paid so apiece for
their policies or certificates,
and 81 annual dues. Two
weeks after their policies were
received they were married,
and hopefully looked forward
to the time when they would
receive their money. The
three couples live near to-
gcthcr, and The numbers OF
their certificates ran from lI3
to $50 inclusive. Three weeks
ago they sent the companies
notice that their year was up
and that they want their
money as promised. They re-
cciycd word that the compa-
MES were paying of rs fast us
possible, and that they would
have to wait until their turn
came. The next days mail
brought six envelopes each
cotaining fifteen notices OF
assessments, amounting in
each case to 1915. The very
next week another batch OF
notices were received, and
they continued to come so
fast that before a month had
passed thcirr assessments call
cd for $50 each. They refused
TO pay and CONSULTED an ex-
agent of another company.
He told them that they wOuld
either have to pay tl.cir as
scssnlcnts or forfeit Their poll
ces. Said he: 'lAnd that is
not the worst of it, either.
Your policies arc exceeding
high numb cred. | dare say
that out of the i75 persons
who are ahead ofyou at least
$50 arc married now and
waiting for their money just
~ you arc. Before your turns come
to get your money each Of you will
have to pay at lcas. $50 assessments
OF sl..5 each; so You sea the very
best thing yon can do is stop right
where you are md g. no further
Tho cAances arc one hundred to ono
that By the time you have paid your
$50 assessments tho policy holders
who come after you will DO utterly
unable TO keep up tho drain on !hcir
purres, andyou cannot get Your mon.
ey, DO not invest any more. Make up
your minds that what you have a.
ready paid ont is lost forever, and
thank your stn,s it iano more. The
companies You aro in arc perfectly
willing to carry out thcir part Of the
contract, provided you are. Your
certificate plainly shows that You
must pay mp oil tho assessments that
the company call for in order to sat-
isfy the just claims CT those whose
policies arc ahead Of yours. Ifyou do
not comply you cease to DO amcmbcr
and your policy becomes null and
vcil.'
The young people declare that
they had no such understanding, and
that thcy wero insured to get $3.50
ono year after their marriage. A mum.
Ter OF lawyers arc examining into
this matter with q Wow OF beginning
war against these marriage insur-
ance companies if there is any pos
siblc way to get ut 1t. They are aware
that hundreds OF young persons
have been induced to become insured
prior to their weddings. The Penn.
sylvania courts now positively refuse
to charter any moro of the compa-
MES, on the ground that their bnsi'
ness is corrupt and fraudulent: and
the probabilities are that tue next
important move will be made agains,
those who have been chartered but
whose duped members arc waiting
in vain for their money. Very many
officers arc quietly Withdrawing an
,icipa,ing tho impending conflict
Other companies are quietly copscli-