Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-07-21
Life Insurance Risks.

The arrest of DR.. Henry G. w. Meyer,
charged with completely in the murder OF
several persons in order to obtain the in
surance on their lives, will bring to mind
the risks insurance companies run in this
respect. The alleged methods of DIR. Mey-
or were not different from those employ ed
by others who have been engaged in the
same ghoulish business. A victim was Sc
lected whose life was already insured or
who could be induced to take out an insur-
ance policy and his confidence obtained
through a woman accomplice, and then he
was dosed with small portions of poison
until death ensued. When the insurance
money had been collected the alleged mnr-
derers were ready for new victim, whom
they sought in some new place.
III the statements made-in the case of
DIR. Never are true then he is worthy to
rank among the most accomplished Williams
who have made it business to swindle
the life insurance companies. His success
in escaping punishment for his crimes also
marks him as one Of the most adroit rascals
of the day. The very simplicity OF his
methods shows his skill, and his uniform
success in avoiding conviction when placed
on trial is another proof either OF his dex
terity or Of the laxness of the officers of
the law. A whole romance is contained
in his career Of crime, and il Charles Dick
ems were now alive he could obtain from
Meyer much better material for story
than the one no wrote thirty years ago,
called Hunted Down." and IN which he
portrayed the deeds of q life insurance
swindler and the sufferings of his victims.
Considering the vast proportions to
which the life insurance business OF the
country and the world has grown, 1t is
strange that so few frauds are peTpetrated
on the companies. All of them doubtless
do not come to light, as it is thought pref
erable in some cases to pay the policy
rather than undertake an investigation and
prosecution. The rapid growth of life il
surance is one of the wonders of the mod
ern world. The business is an old one,
but for many years the idea did not seem
to take with the people. There are two
companies in England 175 years old, and
several others ranging in age from 81 to
135 years. But up to 1850 only a compar-
atively small business was done. 1t then
took a sudden start and in 1860 the policies
reached the large sum of 81, l95, ,0OO, 900 in
Europe and the United States. In the
same countries in 1871 the value Of the
written policies was $4, ,247 ,000, 900; in 1881
$5, 297, ,000, 900, and in 1892, $l0 $780, 900, 900.
of the last amount $4, 447 900, 900 was writ
ten in the United States.
The business is doubtless destined to
grow more rapidly in the future than in
the past The early prejudice against the
system has almost wholly disappeared, and
its advantages are admitted by all classes.
some of the European Governments, the
German especially, have given the system
a vigorous encouragement, and elaborate
methods have been devised for insuriug
workingmen for the benefit of their fami-
lies and again st the incapaeity of old age.
With such an immense business to handle
it would be strange if swindlers did not
find in it a field for operations. The vigi-
lance of the companies has, however, kept
down fraud through murder and substitu-
| ton to a large degree. But there is one
| direction in which the insurance companies
are undoubtedly cheated to greater de-
gree each year, and that is through suicide.
Formerly self murder vitiated an insur-
ance policy, but recently the companies
| have found it preferable to abandon this
provision. and now the payment of poll
ey is rarely contested on the ground OF sui
| eide. And in thie fact may be found, prob
ably, one reason for the rapid increase in
the number of suicides. The number Of
contested claims from all causes has also
rapidly decreased in recent years, it being
found good advertisement to Iberaiize
the terms Of the contracts. No better idea
Of this great business can De obtained thar
| IRON the facts that in 1892 the income Of
the companies was 1920. 900, 900, their pay.
ment to policy holders over 500, 900, 900
and the increase of their accumulation
was $84, 600, ,000.-Press.