Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-13
INSURANCE MIN \
IN TROUBLE
Three Arrests Yesterday 'On Very
Serious Charges.
AWARRANT SERVED LAST NIGHT.
Officers of the Metropolitan Life Com
pany the Compartments.
Or. R. l. ASHBROOK ONE OF THE
Accused, and B. A. Wilson, in Charge Of the Local
Office. Anoihsr-Allsgahons That Both the
Company and the Policy Holders
Have Been Swindlsd.
A WARRANT SERVED LAST NIGHT.
Or. R. L. ASHBROOK ONE OF THE


brewing.
Yesterday the matter came to head,
and a series Of warrants were issued be-
fore Justice George Ankle, calling for
the arrest OF several persons connected
with the Wheeling Office Of the Metro
politan Life Insurance Company Of New
York.
Three Of these warrants were execu-
ted, two for alleged irregularities con-
nected with the business Of the ComPa-
ny named, and the third for some wrong
doing in the business matters Of another
Company, and there is strong suspl-
cIon, amounting to conviction, In fact,
that other arrests will follow, perhaps
to-day.
The parties arrested yesterday were
DR.. r. L. Ashbrook, the local medical
examiner Of the Metropolitan Company
B. A. Wilson, who seems to have been
at the head of Metropolitan matters In
this portion OF the country and Charles
Steninger, whose accusers could not be
definitely ascertained, last evening, but
who is thought to have been connected
with some other Company, although be,
perhaps, had a finger in the Metropol-
itan pie. The reason his status cannot
be more exactly set forth is that all
the parties connected with the prosecu-
tions were extremely loath TO talk about
the case. yesterday, and reporters who
were working up the case met with
good many rebuffs and discouragements
while following the item around.
For some time back there has been
suspicion at the New York office OF the
METROPOLITAN Life that there was some
thing wrong at the Wheeling Office,
which has been located for about year
past, in the old Chamber OF Commerce
room, I'm the second story OF the Reilly
block, at Fourteenth andMarket streets.
When this suspicion had sufficiently
crystalized, Mr.. +. Lyon, Of the Com
pany's Executive Department, and Mr..
KillingtOn, whose speciality is ferretlng
ont irregularities and rascalities, came
TO this city, registering at the Mcclure
on Monday, although they were here at
least one day before. These
gentlemen at once got to WORK.
and by yesterday morning mat
ters bad progressed sufficient
ly TO warrant an interview with
Prosecuting Attorney Howard. Col.
ArEett had been previously employed
by Mr.. Lyon to act in the interests OF
the Company, and after a general con-
sultation Justice Ankles services were
enlisted, and warrants were prepared.
BY two o'clock In the afternoon Wilson
and Steninger had been placed 10 jail,
and then matters were allowed TO rest
until last evening. About nine o'clock
a warrant was issued for DR.. Ashbrook,
and at quarter past nine Constables
St. Myers aud Langhlin went TO the
home OF the Doctor, on Chapline street,
and placed him under arrest, aud be
was taken first to Jail and later TO the
Office Of the Justice, where bond was
given in $500.
The story OF the alleged rascality Is
quite a picturesque and interesting one,
and after its perusal II will be seen that
both the Company upon one side and poll
CIV holders upon the other were being de-
frauded, while II seems TO have been no
trouble for the lame, the halt and the
blind to get policies under Mr.. wilson's
peculiar management. The allegations
run about in this wise:
Wilson, who seems 20 have had con-
siderable latitude in insurance matters
In this Vicinity, made representations 10
the home Office Of the Metropolitan that
he had installed one Brown as the local
agent In Wheeling. Brown, as q matter
OF fact is an entirely mythical person
he is a man OF straw, but he served the
purpose Mr.. Wilson seems 70 have had
In mind. Then, TO guarantee Brown,
Wilson referred TIE Company to one
Craven, who was represented as being a
man Of property and large flour man
ufacturer, standing well in this COM
munity. Craven is equally as intang-
ible as Brown, yet Wilson certified that
he was The pOSSeSSor OF ten thousand
dollars worth of real estate, and solid
citizen. Business was then COM
menced in a variety OF ways, under
the able management OF Mr.. Brown. IL
seems that not only does the Metropoli-
tan allow a commission on business sent
IN from local offices, but that there is a
scale Of additional premiums to be
EARNED by hustling agents, they being
81 iDdueement to live agents 10 secure
business. In order 10 earn few OF
these extra premiums, IL is alleged that
Wilson caused policies 70 be written up
in the names Of fictitious persons, signed
them up in Browns name, had DR..
Ashbrook FIJI out medical
examination, answering all the
questions, ETC., aud sent on the papers
with an installment OF premium money.
After the policy had thus been passed
10 the credit OF the Wheeling agency,
no more premiums would be sent in 70
the home office and there would be q
notification that the policy had lapsed.
Wilson filed names and addresses with
these policies which do not appear in
the Wheeling directory, and the per-
sons have no real existence. Names Of
persons were also given in other towns,
notably 10 Wellsburg, but the people
can't be found.
Then, 10 vary the mOnOtOny, Wilson
is alleged TO have procured or caused TO
be procured, policies Ga the lives or a
number of people in this city who didn't
know they were insured, and some OF
whom won't know IL until to-day.
These policies were Obtained by going
10 ladies and inducing them TO take out
an Insurance policy on the lives OF their
husbands Wilson would make out the
papers, or have them made, out. and DR..
AshbroOk is alleged to have\flled in the
examination papers, without either the
Children Cry for Pitchers ICastOrll