New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-12
TRIED TO CHEAT 4 BENEFICIAL ORDER.

PHILADELPHIA DOCTORS ATTEMPT TO COL
LECr INSURANCE ON THE ALLEGED DEATH
OF AN ALLEGED PATIENT.
Philadelphia. Dec. ia remarkable attempt 10
swinde beneficial order was unearthed by Coroner
death notice printed, stating that Annie Mcintosh
twenty-five had died the previous day at the house
of Mrs. Ellen Benin, No. .922 Uber-st and that the
burial would be atrMedia, Penn, on November 90.
An anonymous communication called the coroner 5
attention to tho case, and he directed one OF his
deputies TO make inquiries concerning the alleged
death Ascertaining that body had been
shipped over the Pennsylvania road for Media
that day, the deputy coroner called on Mrs. Benin,
and was Informed by her that Miss Mcintosh, who
was an old friend had been taken Ill while living at
service. and had come to her house for treatment
Mrs Benin added that the young woman had been
treated by DIR. Alexander TAFT, and had died
November 81. The girls brother, Mrs. Behm al
legged, had engaged undertaken who took the body
away that day. DR. TAFT denied all knowledge OF
Miss Mcintosh, asserting that ne had never prescribed
for any one in the UbeT-st house.
On the same night DR.. +. NJ. Murray called on the
deputy coroner, and said that he had attended a
woman at the above place who had died. but he in
sisted that the death "a straight onep In a
subsequent interview Dr. Murray said that he had
been called upon TO attend the patient, who for
merly in his employ servant and that on No
vember 90 who said he Robert Mcintosh,
the brother OF the patient, called upon him for
death certificate and received it, The doctor said
that he wrote the certificate a prescription blank
giving the of death "peritonitis." lie added
| that the brother accompanied by man who
was connected with Qunby's undertaking establish
| ment, at Media. lie admitted that he had not seen
the body of the supposed dead woman, but had issued
the certificate solely upon the statement of the alleged
brother that she dead.
The coroner yesterday afternoon placed Mrs. Benin
under arrest and she spent last night in prison
This morning she acknowledged that her previous
story untrue. When the hearing was resumed 70
cfcumst antlally the facts about Miss Mcintosh ;
Illness and told of the issuing Of certificate by
him on learning from brother that she Lad died
Then Mrs. Benin was placed on the stand ana al
mitted that Annie Mcintosh had not died at her
house. and that she never knew such person DE-
Murray, she testified. had promised 10 reward her
handsomely for allowing her house and name TO De
used.
DIR. Murray then broke down, and confessed that
he had manufactured the story of the girls death IN
order TO defraud the Order of FIaterna Guardians
out Of SG25 the amount for which her lie was
insured lie sa that Annie Mcintosh was at present
alive and well al her home in the northern part OF
This city The doctors discontinue was complete,
and after a scathng Iebuke from the coroner he was
allowed to depart 1t is thought the District Attorney
will take cogniZance Of the attempt 10 deiraud MIS-
J;ehm was discharged from custody