The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-03-23
SURROUNDING COUNTRY.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
LOUISVILLE, KY. New YORK, nv

| The arrest or ihrun at New Orledus
| for defrauding life insurance companies,
has brought to light great many curl
Gus things relative to his past life and
| that of his wife. Indeed the events in
VIII ch they figured would make an e1-
cellent groundwork for a sensational
novel.
| Mrs. Thrun's maiden name was Mary Hal
vorson. Some years ago miner remain
| ed over night III house near Neenah.
He disappeared and was never heard
from since. He had $4,000 which also
| failed to turn up. A family named An
| derson moved into this house. Mary
Halvorson heard of the missing money,
| surmlsed it was concealed IN the house,
| and became domestic In the family 80
as to have an opportunity to prosecute
search for the money. 1t is said she
| found it, buried il in yard and after
! ward married Thrun. When she return
ed for the money the yard was filled with
quantity of cord wood She waited, but
on a second visit found the yard filled
| with lumber. A second period of wait
ing was reward by finding the yard clear
of all Instructions on the second visit
| Things had gone badly with the Thrun's,
but this rich find put them on their feet.
A mill was built. insured heavily and was
conveniently destroyed by fire. Thrun
kept on building mills until he had built
six, all Of which were attended by some
fatality, but were always well insured.
Insurance companies refused to take any
further risk on the property of the
Thrun's
A seventh mill was built near the
| tracks of the Wisconsin Central. 1t
took fire and burned. Suit was brought
against the Wis. Cen r. r. Co for S20,000'
on the charge that the mill was set on
| fire by a spark from a locomotive. L. S
Hanson, who is now under arrest as 40
| accomplice of the Thrun's, was sent by
the r. r. Co. to investigate the matter.
He had procured evidence that the mill
had been set on fire SO as to collect from
the railroad company for the loss. A
confession was wrung from Thrun.
He then turned his attention to life
insurance companies. In a short time he
had policies to the amount of $4,000.
Last October his house took fire. He
was seen to rush into the building de-
claring he wanted to secure some valua-
bic papers, He was not seen to return.
Charred bones were found in the ruins.
Ihelnsurance companies suspected '"sud.
The bones were found to be those of an
old skeleton. Detectives were employed
who finally succeeded in running Thrun
down.
During Thrun's absence, Hanson ap-
peared on the scene Ia an effort to COM
promise with the insurance companies.
He secured $4,000. He Indignantly de-
MES having had any connection with the
fraud. The officials of the Wis. Central
speak highly of him. The parties were
brought into court at Oshkosh on Satur-
day last and were admitted to bail
fhrun has made confession implicat-
ing Hansen and man named Gill. He
says the whole affair was planned by
Hansen and he (Thrun) was simply a
tool. His wife has not yet been arrested
and Thrun says she had no knowledge
that he had not been burned. He does
Of 70 10, h.
plead guilty and take his punishment
like man. The light penaly for attempts
at defrauding insurance companies is
What induced Hanson TO suggest the
business.
A building took fire ID Kenosha on
Monday last, which was occupied by a
man named Aventzen, a manufacturer of
fireworks. He kept large quantity of
gunpowder stored in the house Neigh
bors ran to the burning building and beg
an TO move the furniture. They were soon
startled by an explosion. When the fire
was subdued three bodies were found in
the ruins. They we're those of Aventzen
his father and q boy and were burned al
most beyond recognition.
Paul Willard one of tie editors of The
News Item. has been appointed post
master of the Amigo post Office.
The Ahnapee post office was destroyed
by fire on Monday morning. The build |
ing besides having the post Office was |
used as boarding house. The total loss !
is about $4,000.