The sun., 1889-03-31

ErssenAss Deaths 10 oct the Life l.sur-
ssce Money.


tain GLASS OF our people. that OF beating life In
suranoe companies. II is comparatively easy
to beat fire insurance company, although
they are becoming sharper every year but to
eet ahead OF q life Insurance company there
must be corpse as proof positive that death
has occurred. Only the keenest rascals or hon.
est men driven to desperation for tho want Of
money attempt this swindle and II is rare that
accompany has been boatep. I worked on two
notable cases rs . detective. and am certain
that tho details will interest the general reader.
About fifteen years ago merchant In an
Ohio town, who was supposed TO be solid
business man. took out policy OF $4,000 In q
well-known Eastern life insurance company
He was in the A>st OF health and was readily
passed By the examiner Eighty days later no
was dead. The local agent called as matter
OF form, tho doctor In attendance certified to
the death, and hosts Of people attended the fu-
neral. Tho remains wore viewed by ut least
i've hundred people who had known Mr.. Har-
ris rs we will call him. In his lifetime, and tho
eofin was deposited on slab In vault for
week previous to burial. There could not have
been the slightest cause for suspicion. and II
was not until several weeks after the money
had been paid that anything came to the sur.
zoe. was sent down to investigate. and the
pointer got was this: A servant girl In tho
doctors family-the doctor who had attended
money. and the family were making extrava-
giant purchases. They frequently quarrelled.
and during one OF these auarrels the wife said:
You dare not refuse mo money! Don't
know how you got it2 Wouldn't you be sont to
prison II It came out7"
l got an interview with the girl. and she re-
peatsd all that and moro The doctor was poor
before Mr. Harris's death. After that he sud-
denly had plenty Of money and was very OK
-
with tho insurance. but had got 1t into her head
that the doctor had killed and robbed some
one. About this time 1t was found that Mr..
Harris was head over heels In debt. and that
his wife repudiated every obligation. be-
lieved from the first that had q case. but had
TO 60 slow. One hasty move would set an alarm
bell to ringing. shadowed the doctor until
found that he was flush. He was also addicted
TO drink and after little man9uvrlng got
him to the point Of boasting OF his cash. He
claimed that he had about $4,000 In ready
money. His practice scarcely brought him
living and felt sure that his money had come
from the life insurance.
called. as a real estate speculator. to offer
the widow an investment found her to be
very reserved and uncommunicative. She was
nervous and i'll at ease. and Judged she had
a fear OF me. She did not want my invest
ments, saying that she was thinking Of going
to q town In Indiana whore she had relatives
The doctor had certified that Mr.. Harris died
OF rheumatism OF the heart. When began to
question the wife about symptoms she was
much confused and made q poor show Of an
swering my questions When left the house
knew that she was party to the conspiracy.
She had been told what to say and
what to avoid saying. but the burden
was proving very troublesome. My next move
was to hunt out and interview people who had
attended the funeral did not let my object
be known. but reached my point In o round
about way. soon ascertained that number
OF those who attended the funeral had boen
surprised at the change In the facial express
sion OF the deceased His whiskers had been
trimmed to different shape. had moro gray In
them. and his face seemed fuller and broader.
They would not have recognized him at first
sight. but 1t was Mr.. Harris, OF course: who
else could 1t be2
spent full month In making cautious In.
quiries, and was then perfectly satisfied that
Mr.. Harris was alive and in hiding somewhere
1t was not to be expected that he would write
directly to his wife. but was satisfied that
some agency had been appointed before his
death. and that she was informed as to his
movements. l could have had tho body taken
up. but how was to n prove that 4 was the body
% a 5 tE fGSS nsa ssn R hsas
only tws days. He had died at il O'clock at
s ON se sas ssa
slept. went there to ask s,. his T. o2ini9n 2 abopt
ISss = Sas s sSssF sIshs" he said a,s n reply;
the Side door. 1 heard them fgssne around
ns nd a1 sS says sSy e death
como to bring coffin for the dying man, and |
shs y h0 aaS SS8s
Sc. Sc eyes on tAe saperintendent knew be had
something TO CONCEAL. therefore went right
@hss s Vas 81 the name name Of the subject you fur.
nished to DR.. Lawton on Aug: Il p
s erson
IL III !, hadn't h sold him. the doctors would have
'st :%$Ssts :$is !s% ssI|. sIa sIa yog e y res~
$40 $E.S Sfs & .sSoSSS IaS So 900 :" ~ " " -
Il aid not evsn know that HaErts, was in.
:psSd Dr. tawSn wanted ths bOdy f0s
Hhss wss ess mans nsnsa
WheP dtd he dis3"
Would you know the body7"
Prom thousand. The left arm had boon
TAsEs rsS as
He did not know that the body had bee4
him he was very indignant and ofYerei to heip
me IN my hunt He admitted that there was q |
great resemblance between the two men. but
was full on the trail now, but II I sprung the
trap too soon. Harris would escape. moved
servant girl brought mo o bit Of news She
had overheard the Doctor reading q letter to
Harris. It asked II everything was ali right.
gave some directions about business matter.
The girl could not remember the town or the
name Harris had assumed, and so It seemed
started out argued that he would 90 TO some
small town. and that he would change bis ap-
pearance as much rs possible.
I was in the State six weoks before found
him. and what do you suppose he was doinRp I
He was In village fifteen miles from q rail.
.oad and was Q lourneyman In Q shoe shop. I | i