New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-15
DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF.
rpo,,R1E OF A PRODUCE EXCHANGE FIRM.
,rs INSOLVENCY ALLEGED BY ONE MEMBER WHO
u..srIF IS CHARGED WITH FRAUD.

- ,xso1vrNcy ALLEGED BY ONE MEMBER WHO
Ha.sELF IS CHARGED WITH FRAUD.
rhere yros a good deal of stir among the members
Z the Produce Exchange yesterday upon 'So C sn
nouncement of the failure OF r. D. Howe1 o " s Tu
made by George L. d BTarG a. etter signed by the
Spm Who made charges Of fraud and irregnlarity
against Mr. Billiard Although all no 1n3" Tas del
SeIoned 70 lead 70 the probability of an onclal ex
animation of the nnsbook and dssolntiGn 81 NE
firm The firm is composed O. George p L. Billiard the
tbe latter attending to the business OF the
frm in the Prodnes ETSh"nSSe swi Its T RssG
abas done general brokerage business for dealers
in grain aud provisions All the partners are mem;
mem M of the Stock Exchange ALSO but is sci
dom seen on the floor; At present he is IN "d Sae
lngton. The, standing Oh the hiin has
Deen as earned that on Thursday check 800
drawn ON tho firms bank TO the order OF ano,het
tSn b a anH EIthouSh Mr. Billiard had the power Of
attorney to sign checks, he had not assumed the
privilege aud the cashier thinking that there mg o
fee F. b. Howell g. Co. for an explanation and
rs poyment was stopped II is said that after
s this O friends th & t Reara firm '" in
solvent and the members Of the nm, 10 pIs s on
themselves AGAINST losing all, had drawn cIeehs vi
their own orders and that he had conciuoea 70 PU
tect himself in the same way; ~ VIZ r 'RnIlaTd
others that Mr. Dawson had charged MI: MI %at he
with specializing on his own account, anu NIL ; bad
had drawn the check 10 meet marquis WILL ni n% ~
been called for and which the hrm hau ho'nins "
do:with. e A., Duo5,,oo Fxcbanco
notice was posted on the bulletin by MT. bullud
that the firm was unable to meet us eaTaiIed
engagements" Considerable excitement pTe prey
until the following letter. signed by the hrih was
read by President HeITlck:
Please announce to the members OF the TX
change that we viii meet our obligations IN luI NC h
hosting of our has been made by menDer OF tIe
fITn without our knowledge, and is untrue Oeope -"
Billiard, member of the firm has peen gu % liIeS
to whom the firm owes nothing, has been stoppeu-
This letter posted and the notice OF tne lall
ure taken down. just before the cloSe Oh p OnaSS
fhe following letter was received from Mr. Bulard'
Asamembcr of the firm of f. i. Howell Co, desire
to state the allegations OF TregqaIltgs c9neu
tue and at the proper time shall demand an lnvesuga-
don
Mr. Herricl remarked that he should use his s, dis,
erection about posting the last letter. Wh6h tItIv
was shout: 90 You have no discretion. POSt u!
Upon general demand the letter was posted Dy tn9
side OF the firms letter mi ID rnnorter said that
he would make one when the proper time came ana I
would demand that an C t and Mr. D ~
vision declined TO make any statement iurtheT t'ln
general denial of their insolvency and OF the other
charges by Mr.. Billiard.
INSURANCE MEN AND THE DWIGHT CASE.
The general feeling among the nineteen life IN
surance companies interested III the NeIu!cL n I We
Dwight case, rendered lueSudy III NOl MiOh, ~ -
was that the should he carried to higher court
Hugo WessendOnck, president of the Gernanla Lie
Insurance CompanyIte T2nt o9 te ne3 ibe e ad
vice of counsel whether the shall be Appealed
think however, that it is OF great importance m
the life companies that the H1ruicC 9 1isaGrrc
and if il had done So similar attempts 10 OBTAIN III
surance by fraudulent intent and mlsrepTeScnLd-
tions would have been discouraged The effect OF inc
verdict as it stands is to encourage ulscrupulos ~
tacks upon the funds of the insurance companies;
We regarded II as our duty TO defend me sun anu
would have been derclict had we 1aled 10 90 So
There is not the slightest doubt that there was a
deliberate purpose ON the part Of Colonel DWlght
20 commit suicide and thus obtain Tor MS family lo
amounts for which his life was insured agree
precisely with the concluding paragraph OF me cdl-
torial in The TRIBUNE to-day on TINS SUBJECT ~.
j. II. Hegcman, Vice-preSldent OF the McIrOpoi'dh
Life Insurance Company maintained similar views.
lie said: "The committee appointed by the inter-
ested companies, consisting OF President BrOstI Of
the United States, President Brewer, OF the wash
ingtOn, and myself, collected the facts IN Ihc
Dwight case with view to defending inc SUIT D1t
eft the law of the case to the attorneys. Il"
aot know what the latter will recommend, put con
lder il of vital Importance that the principles Ior
which the companies are eontendmg should Do
ChaTics p Freiigh secretary of the United States
Life Insurance Company III me absence Oh Mr.
BrOSner the president, expressed his own Wow thdI
ihe case should be appealed.
BEQUEATHlNG AN ESTATE TO TWO WIVES.
The will of David Ruth Dillon was Admitted to
probate in the SuITOgate's office yesterday. MI.
Dillon was formerly banker of Savannah, Ga,
who died at No. 432 East l4tst., in this city, on
October TO- His first wife, Rachel Dillon, was
mulatto GIRL and their offspring was declared egt-
innate by an act of the Georgia Legislature III 1921.
Mr. Dillon came to tins city three years ago with ms
second wife, whose maiden name was Virginia Ehr-
iich. Rachel Dillon subsequently secured allmony,on
the ground of desertion. Two years ago she sued
for divorce, but the action was compromised he
will, which was executed in October, 1881, after
providing for several of the testatOrs former slaves,
one of whom is called Daniel Ruth Dillon, provides
for an equal partition of the real and personal
property between the two women 10 the
white wife the testator bequeatls all his
personal property in this city, and real estate worth
$l5O.O99 in Georgia. To the colored wife is given
Mr. billions personal estate in Georgia. and the re-
mainder of his real property 1t is stated that RAJ
Rachel Dillon will contest the bcquest Of Sl59,OOO
I'm real estate to Virginia EhTlde. The Executors
of the will on Joseph Galnger, of No. SO Barclay
street, this city, and Ambrose Enrich and George
A. Mercer, of Savannah.