The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-07-05
A Nice Piece OF Delectiye WORK.

/ H' " HSy' S"S'"A - 5S"N N''N = 'S''SN
Of the Home Mutual Aid Society Of
GAINESVILLE, is in the city, having had
an extraordinary experience the past
two months in tracing up fraud
Last December parties in Roane Co..,
W. Va, went to Poplar Bluff, Mo-, on
a questionable mission.
They were Alexander Mayhugh,
Evan Steel, james McWalsh and
Benjamin Lowen, left West Virginia
December 10Th, and on January 80,
1882, the Association was notified by
James McWalsh that one of the Ger.
tifcate.holders, Benjamin Lowen,
had died, and that he (McWalsh) was
the beneficiary. Informal proofs of
the death of Lowen were filed, and
thereupon the Secretary of the Asso-
citation forwarded the usual blanks,
which were partially filed by the
beneficiary and witnesses. Not be-
ing satisfactory, further proofs were
required, which still proved to be
wanting in important particulars
In April last, Mr.. Wiley, in the role
of a detective, went to Poplar Bluff,
and began to work up the case; was
soon satisfied that the case was a
fraud, and SO advised the officers of
the Association. Mr.. Wiley found
that the parties which left West Vir-
ginia December 18th had arrived at
Poplar Bluff on the 23d day of the
same month, and had registered at
the Morris hotel, with one exception.
Instead of Lowen, the name Of Mr..
Smith appeared on the hotel register,
Just under that Of McWalsh, and be-
j, tween that Of McWalsh and Alexan-
der Mayhugh, being one of the four,
and afterward one of the witnesses
to the death and burial of Benjamin
Lowen. Further investigation de.
veloped the fact that VIM. Smith was
the identical Benjamin Lowen, and
that he was working with the others
mentioned on the day lie was report
ed to have died, being January IL,
1882.
Before Mr.. Wiley reached Poplar
Bluff, all of the conspirators had de-
parted, mostly for parts unknown
1t was supposed that Smith had gone
to Memphis or to New Orleans. May
hugh and McWalsh had returned to
West Virginia. Mr.. Wiley, after
having made trip through North
Missouri and Indiana, returned to the
home Office and reported the result Of
his investigation as far as he had
gone, and was instructed by the
Trustees to proceed with it and, if
possible, unearth the whole scheme.
| He thereupon proceeded to find James
McWalsh in Roane County, West
Virginia, and took his deposition in
Spencer, before Notary Public, on
the 9th of last month, in which Nc
Walsh testified that Lowen had ac-
tually died and was buried in Poplar
Bluff in his presence, and in the
presence.of Mayhugh, Steel, his broth
er JEFF Walsh and VIM. Smith.
Mr.. Wiley remarked to McWalsh,
after completing the affidavits, that
he would submit it to the Board, and
in few days he would hear from the
Association again.
Mr.. Wiley was accompanied by j.
r. Timms, State Agent for the Home
in West Virginia, who proved to be
a valuable assistant. AT the time of
taking McWalsh's deposition they
discovered that letter had been reg.
istered to VIM. Smith, Metropolis,
ILL.,, latter part of April from Nc
Walsh. This furnished some light
as to the probable Whereabouts of
Smith, and as quick as they could
reach Parkersburg they did so, and a
little over a week ago they proceeded
to Metropolis. A week ago yesterday
they returned to Parkersburg, bring
ing with them the identical Benia.
min Lowen, alias VIM. Smith. Be-
fore starting West for Lowen Mr..
| w iiSJ Hau uIcu llllW uIaIlOll DelOTe
an officer in Wood county charging
McWalsh with perjury, and as soon
as they secured their man in Metrop.
oils, ILL.,, Wiley telegraphed to have
the warrant served on McWalsh as
soon as possible. He was arrested
and brought to Spencer, Roane Coun.
ty, last Sunday, and while pcrsisting
to his friends and counsel that Lo.
wen was indeed dead, and could be
proved dead, Wiley and Timms drove
up, having with them the veritable
Benjamin Lowen. The prisoner, on
being confronted in the Court House
by Lowen, waived an examination,
and was bound over TO the August
term of Court in the sum of $500,
which bail he could not give.
Wiley and Timms are feeling good
over their success, and will make
such an example Of the guilty par
ties as to stop such work. Wiley
was for many years an adjuster Of
fire losses. The Home OF GAINESVILLE
will, no doubt, not be troubled soon
again with q fraudulent claim, as
the punislmentis long Penitentia.
i