The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-29
A SUICIDES INSURANCE.
More Than $500, 600 Carried by Man Who
Died from an Overdose of Morphine.

New YORK, Dec. 29-Prominent benevolent
time insurance companies, including the Travel
ers' of Hartford, are troubled about prospective
litigation resulting from the death of man
named John Tyler, who. under the assumed
name Of a. Allen, died in November last at a
hotel in South Norwalk. Tyler was also known
under the alias of John Taylor The coroner's
certificate said that Allen. as his name appeared
in the hotel register, died from An overdose of
morphine administered by himself" Tyler was
not known in South Norwalk, and nobody con-
nected with the hotel nor the coroner suspected
that Tyler had committed suicide, and that he
had insurance policies in various associations
and companies his life to a very large
amount His body was claimed by relatives in
Boston, and it has been ascertained that
Tyler was insured for over $300G00 Among
the benefciaries are Henry J. Hubbard. cashier
of the Columbia Bank. in this city; James j.
Lulkep. a business associate of Tyler; Martha g.
Tyler, Tyler's mother; Mrs. Foote his sister; and
David and Delah Missel, who live at No. 365
West Twenty third street, next door to Mrs.
Langtry. One of the benefciaries is j. Herrick
Henry, lawyer, of No. 32 Liberty street Mr.
Henry is the brother of George Henry, assem-
blyman elect from the Seventh district. Tyler
has made him beneficiary to the extent of So, 900.
Dr. Joshua G. Wilbur, probably the first physi-
clan who examined Tyler before he was insured
in any company, said that Tyler came to him
Dec. 10, 1885 He was sent to him by the Mer-
camille. His application was indorsed by one if
not by two members of the association. DR..
Wilbur pronounced Tyler physically sound and
the Mercantile Benefit insured him. Three
months afterward Tyler came to DR.. Wilbur to
be examined for the Travellers, of Hartford.
Tyler passed the examination. and was insured
in the company for $4,000 He tried about this
time 20 get the Equitable and New York Life
to insure him, but failed. DR.. Wilbur
also recommended him to the Penn
Life Insusurance Company of Philadel-
phia, but they rejected him the ground
that he had been rejected before. Among the
other companies which rejected him were the
John Hancock and the Berkshire. About the
time the Penn Life Insurance Company re-
jected him. Tyler stated TO an insurance man
that ne was looking for insurance companies
that had no suicide clause in their policies
Two that he insured in-the Travellers and the
WashingtOn-have it is said such clauses
Tyer's benefciaries may be successful in these
two cases. but 1t is said that they will have no
possible chance of recovering the amount of the
policies from the companies or associations that
have q suicide clause in their policies. The rela
tives of Tyler, who are among the best known
New England families. propose to make con-
test They will set mp the claim that the man
did not commit suicide. but merely took an over
dose of morphine unintentionally.
Tyler's policies in favor of his relatives, who,
by the way, are immensely rich, amount to
about $4,000. Tyler was man of the world,
spendthrift, and the black sheep of the family
He was well known in New York. Although
he gave his residence as Boston, he had lived in
New York for number or years. He was a
member of the Stock and Petroleum Exchange
two years ago, but he failed and dropped out of
sight. He speculated for a time but not very
successfully. At the Office of the Insurance
Spectator it was sad
1.-THE thing is evidently fraud It is plainly
a conspiracy. The policies are all comparatively
new, and the suicide seems to have been pre-
meditated. Besides, the amount of the insurance
would cause suspicion. There are very few men
insured for so much money. There are but two
men in America insured for $500 900, and not
many more are insured for 5000, 600.