Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-14
A BOGUS FUNERAL.
A Bold Attempt to Dsfraud the
New Bedford Insurance Com
psny Of $4,000.
A Mock Funeral and Requiem
Mass-SOme Startling Dis
closures Expected.
speeIal . chIcaro ErenInr rshrram.

Special 10 Chicago Evening Telegram.
FALL RIVER, MASS, December IL. |
ri, B. Brock, manager Of the New
Bedford Insurance Company, learned
OF an insurance case Of a suspicious
nature some time since, and notified
Mr.. Hone, manager of the United
States Mutual Benefit Association Of
Boston, in which the person was in
sured. They have been hard at work
on an investigation for the past two
weeks, and after accommodating q
large mass Of evidence laid it be-
fore the grand jury in New
Bedford on Saturday, when the fol.
lowing facts were disclosed: Charles
Russell, aged 20 years, notice Of whose
death on November q appeared two
days later, died at 10 Orchard street
under suspicious circumstances. A
man whose existence was unknown in
this vicinity was represented as hay>
ing an insurance on Russells life Tor
5000, 10 obtain which it was declared
certain parties resorted to foul means.
Another rumor was that Russell was
paid to 30 out West, while parties in
terested announced that he was dead,
and held a mock funeral with a coffin
filed with stones.
The proprietor of the house became
alarmed at the case, and reported to
the Marshal Of Police that the tene
ment was engaged for a man alleged
to be out Of town. A physician, he
said, visited the tenement few times,
and subsequently there was a funeral,
and it was his opinion that no one had
died there. The undertaken who had
charge OF the funeral says that there
was corpse and that it was found at
the place mentioned above. The fu-
neral took place at 8 o'clock on the
morning of the 23d Of November, and
the interment was made in the South
Catholic cemetery. The certificate Of
death given by the physicians stated
that Russell had died of typhoid
fever. On Thursday last = solemn
requiem mass was celebrated for the
repOse Of the soul of Charles Russell.
! As aresult Of Saturdays hearing be-
fore the grand jury Of New Bedford
the coffin alleged to contain the body
of Russell was exhumed yesterday
morning by the assistant sexton OF St
Mary's church. and body was found
in it and conveyed to undertaking.
rooms, where an autopsy was held
The result could not be ascertained
and the police are reticent. A physi-
clan who was present said that no ira
ces Of typhoid fever we're discovered
Another circumstance tending t
prove that the body exhumed was no
that Of the person described in tn,
doctors certificate was learned, but i
cannot be divulged pending the in
vestigation by the grand jury.
: Mr.. Brock says that he has inform
alton which will prove very startlinl
when made public. RumOr connect
the name Of some prominent citizen
with this and other cases Of "specula
{ tive insurance. and it is alleged tba
q a ring exists which is deeply engage,
in the graveyard" business, involvin
thousands Of dollars. 1t is elaine
j that there has been collision betwee
c two medical examiners, agents an
q others, during the past tive year
!, Brokendown drunkards, consumptive
y and unhealthy persons have been il
! sured for sums ranging from $1,000
o 5000, and physicians, agents, an
Is others would hold the policies unit
4 death ensued and then pocket the il
- surance, or sell the policies to ru
g sellers, who would give their victim
10 enough rum to hasten their death an
It then collect the insurance.