The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-30
A NEW SPECIES OF CRIME.
The FELTON, Explosion the Work of Man
who Held an Accident Policy.

NEW YORK, Aug. ga Philadelphia special
to the Herald says: ut is now reasonably GER
tain that a Few species of crime has been devel-
oped in this country. The explosion on the
excursion steamer S. NJ. FELTON, has been traced
to the act of man named Adriance Spears who
carried large line of accident insurance. His
presumed intention was to disable himself
seriously, so that he might enjoy the income of
$3.50 per week which his policies would have
produced. He was killed. however, and the loss
of $50 600 on the life of an apparent day laborer
hassostartled the companies that they have united
TO fight the claim. No progress was made in
tathoming the motive of the man until his pre-
vious history was inquired into. Pinkerton's
men now claim to know all about the deceased.
They say that fifteen years ago he was
mysterously shot accidentally. as it was de-
clared. while handling pistol and his receipts
from several accident policies sufficed to support
him handsomely. On his recovery he went to
San francisco, where, it is alleged, he drew a
comfortable income during his convalescence
from wound which he accidentally received in
the streetas he was passing the locality at which
row was in progress. Indeed, Spears would
appear to'have been one of the most unfortunate
of men, or one of the most industrious seekers
OF danger Ii there was an accident anywhere
in his neighborhood he usually got it, like the
Prince in The Mascot 1t is asserted that
proof has been obtained by the Travellers
Insurance Company that he was also
unidentified for shooting accident which
overlook him in New York. Of this
however information exists here. About
ten months ago, after several years of wander
ing life in Washington California, and the
West Spears returned to this city and went to
live with Frederick Morris. jeweer. at 1904
Market street. Morris is a distant relative, and
gives the incident that follows: On Christmas
morning. about o'clock, the jeweer was awak
ened by knock at his room door, and Spears
shouted, ''Theres burglars in the house, Fred
get up" Before Morris could reach the door, to
open it, pistol shot resounded through the
house, and, going down stairs, he found his
relative lying on the floor with a. bullet
wound in his right side, just below the
ribs. self cooking English bulldog revolver
of large caber lay beside the wounded
man. Spears was perfectly conscious and de-
clared he had been shot by the fleeing burglar
Morris picked up the revolver and expressed
astonishment that the burglar should have
thrown the weapon away. No evidence of forci-
BILE entry could be found any where about the
place. The police called in and heard his
story, but after considerable investigation. dis
missed it as absurd and impossible. Night watch
men who had been the street in front of the
building at the moment of the shooting. swear
positively that nobody emerged fro M the front
door through which Spears had declared that the
would-be murderer made mis- escape The acct
dent insurance. however, yielded about $35 per
week"