The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-08

BEREAVEMENT.
Edgar III. Kellogg. western manager OF
the Home Life-lnsurance Company, OF
BROOKLYN. last evening caused the arrest
Of DIR. Henry Geiger, William Gnetschow,
and Itilius Driver. on warrants issued by
Justice David J. Lyon, which charge them
with conspiracy 10 defraud. AT last ac-
counts the two last-named were searching
the town for bondsmen. Guetschow Is not
only wanted on the conspiracy charge. but
was also arrested on the accusation OF at
tempting 10 obtain money by fraud. In
both actions against Guetschow and those
against the two other gentlemen bail was
fixed at $1,000. and the preliminary hear
ing OF the case set for IL O'Clock this fore
noon.
MIR. Kellogg alleges that on November
90, 1882, the prisoner, ltilius Driver, who
at present fills a clerical position In the
county clerks office. visited the insurance
company's local Office and introduced him
self rs William Shaler. He then expressed
his desire of becoming a pohcy-holder TO
the extent Of $500, and upon proper
medical examination was admitted TO a
81. 800 risk. Several months thereafter
Driver. il Is claimed, revisited the office,
where he was known as MIR. William Sha-
Shaler. his alleged wife. As the original
policy had been issued to William Sbaler,
a widowcr," Drivers request created "a
slight mstrust that all was not right. No
thing more was heard OF the matter by the
company until Monday afternoon, when a
woman, attired in deepest mourning ana
weeping bitterly, entered the office OF the
company aud demanded that the $1,000
due on William Shaler's policy be
Maid over TO her a. his widow. She
was questioned very closely as 10 va
rious matters pertaining to William Sha-
Ter. her alleged husband. and after a
rigid cross-eXamination confessed that she
was an imposter, and was the guilty instru-
pent Of William GuetschOw, DIR. Geiger,
ard Itilius Driver. Mr.. Kellogg assured
her that no harm would befall her il she
would agree TO figure as States evidence
against her colleagues. To this arrange
ment the pseudo Mrs. Shaler, whose real
name is Mrs. Anna Thonegal, agreed, and
she subsequently diyulged the entire
scheme. ID was designed to defraud the
company out OF the $4,000. 1t Is stated by
Mr., Kellogg that Mrs. Thonegal declared
that Itilius Driver was alive. and that he
fraudulently had impersonated William
Shaer. q sufferer from pulmonary tubercu-
losis, and on this misrepresentation OBJ
Iained the policy. She continued that the
true William Shaler, who had been hope
less sufferer from consumption. had died
at her home; that he did not instigate
the obtanance OF the bogus policy, but
hat il was the three prisoners. Mr.. Kel-
IOgg continued that the woman was the
tool Of the man Guetschow, who is alleged
10 be the ringleader in the scheme. Ii is
further claimed that Guetschow, Knowing
OF William Shaler's incurable condition,
induced Driver 10 represent the dying man.
Ii is asserted that Shaler was during Feb
ruary and March IN invalid at the county
hospital, whence he was subsequently re-
moved TO different private houses, and
finally found admittauce into the home OF
Mrs. Anna Thonegal, where he died. The
companys agent claims that GuctsChow
and Driver prepared bogus will. pur-
porting TO be the dead Shaler's last will
and testament. and wherein the dead mans !
wife, impersonated by Mrs. Anna Thon- |
egal. was left heir TO his life-insurance |
policy. The evidence, it is claimed 10y |
Mr.. Kellogg. is sufficiently damaging to
convict the defendants. William Guet- |
scbow conducts embarrassing machine
factory at No. 81 Rosebud street, and de-
MES all criminal connection with the affair.
lie said that he had been slightly acquaint-
ed with the dead man, that he knew Mrs.
Anna Thonegal and his cO-defendants.
Further than this he disclaimed any know
ledge of the affair. Mrs. Anna Thonegal
was seen, but refused to make any state
ment until the case came up in court. She
repeated the wish that she were elsewhere,
meaning Justice LYONS court-rsom, and
said: "Oh, this is terrible. j wish | had
shot myself" Itilius Driver. when seen,
showed considerable nervousness. All
he could be induced to say was: "You
can't pump me. am citizen OF Chicago
and am employed by the county," DR..
Geiger was called upon at his residence,
No. 49l north Clark street, and said that he
had attended Shaler during his illness. and
that he simply filed in the usual blank
employed by life-insurance companies in
proof of loss. This indicated the disease
with which the deceased had been afflicted,
how long he had been ill, when he died,
and how often the Doctor had visited him.
All these facts the Doctor took from bis
professional diary. and under oath before a
notary that the statement was correct. In
this he acted us Is customary with all ply
sicians.
"Dd you know that your deceased pa
tient was insured ?" was asked.
"No, did not, until informed by Will
liam Guetschow, and when he told me OF
the $500 policy / remarked to him that !
supposed the heirs or executor would
make good my professional fees"
"When did Shaler die!"
"On the 23d day of October, this wear.
l attended him the day previous, and he
complained OF pains and being unable TO
sleep. prescribed for him small doses of
morphine-one sixth of a grain-of which
he took two doses that night. On learning
that he was dead the next day | visited
the house and found that four morphine
powders remained in the box"
"How long have you known William
Guetschow:"
IL have had sort OF speaking acquaint-
ance with him for some time, just a. know
hundreds Of Germans In this city"
Ibid you ever attend him in a profess
sional way!"
~ think | prescribed for him once or
twice when he complained of feeling lit
lie under the weather."
Ibid YOU ever have reason 10 think that
there was anything queer in the fact Of
Guetschow's asking you for the usual GER
tifcate, and his informing you that Sha-
ler's life had been insuredy"
"No, because In my professional prac-
tice I have been many times called upon 10
make ont similar certificates
DIR. Geiger SAID that he was anxious TO
have an examination as soon as possible.
when he would prove TO the insurance
company and TO every unprecedented man
that Ne was innocent OF any wrong-doing,
or any completely In any alleged attempt
to swindle the insurance company.
Poisoned.
Thousands u persons are poisoned in
America by the continued use OF Mercury
Ia1ile of Dnfa..iIlI,a L.. /,