Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-24
AT HIS ROPES END
IT WAS A BARE FACED SWIMDlE
diseory a. . Sensational cass-Hov har.
Wsssham Wss Fisseed-AGany oehss
Michigan Men vicsmissd.

LAHszxs, May "a ssuaationa
trial 10 In progress In Rochester, New
York, where Charles r. UndsrhiIi. lat
president of the dsfunes Flour City In.
sursacs company tgravsyard). i or
sriai for forgery committed at the
hoesi Dovnsy. In this city. and the
0iai has been delayed for . month fos
tbs puyposs Of securing . material vit-
: nee IN the persun Of Hamilton Ware
ham OF Grand Ledge.
- nintory OF the case Rivoo . very
good idea Of . system Of fraud covert
iy carried on by these operators in
graveyard insurance.
In 1883 Hamilton Warehsm. # the 20
Relation OF f. o. Kelly Of LsnslpQ.
took out . policy in the above com"
pany upon the life OF his father. Who
WAS then 81 years Of age. although be
was falsely stated in the application 10
b -, for $1,000. The old man died in
1880, and subsequently, Wareham met
underhill. the president, one McCasQo
and Kelly, the agent, at the Hotsl
Downsy here. and by threats. they in
ducsd him 10 accept 500 for = settle
msnt OF the claim in full. He was
paid IN cash and slgned rsceips, which
WAS raised TO tl400, . draft made for
the amount, his name forged and the
amount collected from tha
company At Rochester, and
the difference of $1,000 went into the
pockets OF the conspirators. Subse-
quentiy the Insurance. commissioner Of
New York IN investigating the business
methods Of the company made some
inquiries by mailof Wareham with ref.
erence TO the transaction, and be be-
came aware Of the fraud practicsd
upon him.
ssns Lawyer Ease.
He then employed one Wilcox. .
Jackson attorney, to 60 to Rochester
In Ms interest and induce Underhiil and
others under penalty Of exposure to
divide the spoiis. agreeing TO pay him
20 Der cent uron the amount secured.
WILCOX was 20 successful in alarming
the parties that they paid him In cash
2lsSs.s6, including 500 for expenses.
lie returned TO Michigan, meeting
Wareham at the Hotel Downey
by appointment, and informed hun
that no bad been able 70 collect but
$500. Wareham Was naturally very
we'll satisfied with this statement. and
accepted the amount, less 20 per cent,
and gave Wilcox an extra 500 in ap-
probation Of nis services. Farther cor |
rcspondence with Wareham by the de- |
Albany divuiged the nature |
OF the second transaotion, and Ware
ham promptly commenced suis against
Attorney Wilcox TO recover the $500. |
About two months ago the suit wss l
compounded py Wilcox paying S436
10 Wareham, and Wilcox va
about that time retained By the
defense. The trial Wa set
Tor April Is 1t Rochester, but when the
Lime arrived Wnreham and other Wit |
nessss relied upon from Michigan did
nos put IN an appearance and the case
10 poesponed for . month. Investl- |
patton proved that these witnesses mad
been subjected 70 system Of terrorism
N some cases, and evident tamperinR
WITH IN others, ~ the hands of Wilcox.
Which prevented their sppearauco. |
The insurance department. made An.
'sher heroic effort, and succeeded in
wareham 70 10 20 Rochestr
'nS testify, which he did on Friday lat.
md it 10 hoped that it will be sufiicient
. CONVEX the consplrators IN
no cas-. The trial will continue for
eveial days yet, but the prosecution
.as rested. In the investigation Of
HE case, 1t Was discovered that Che i
ompsny vas doing . good business in
his state ~ we'll the Elkhart, Indiana.
ompany OF the aame class, and II even
fractional part Of this business could
. uncovered aud held up TO the public
ARE II would create . state sensation.