Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-12-21

enough, Uuo system Is
infinitely worse. Some years ago., a
gang of swlndlers operated quite
extensively throughout the whole
try, in what came to be known as the
graveyard insurance business. It was
their plan by various devices to procure
policies of insurance upon the lives of
old, infrm and diseased persons who
could not, in the ordinary course Of ma
ture, long survive, Their scheme did
not involve murder. In the ordinary
course of nature, their profits would
come soon enough. In a few cases per-
jury was involved, but such a crime is
lightly regarded by the community where
money is at stake. But it suggested
murder, and in a few instances a few
unsuspecting persons were prematurely
hurried to their graves. Sometime re
sort was had to substituting the body
of a dead man for that Of one who was
still alive, and some choice villainies
were exposed when the scheme Of the
operators came out in the courts.
"The plan Of insuripg persons in per-
feet health and numbering them in or
der to collect the amount of the policies
was original with Holmes, but he has
apparently had an apt pupil in Harry
Hayward. The latter has been caught
after the commission of his first offense,
and it will probably be his last one, no
matter what the result of his trial shall
be.
SIN considering these cases the ques-
ton suggests itself: Are not the insur-
ance companies responsible in a measure
for these crimes? Life insurance is
planned for the benefit of the survivors
of the person assured; seldom for the
benefit of the assured himself. The en-
dowment plan is an exception to the rule.
In a majority of cases a person must die
before any one can receive the benefit of
his insurance. The fact that a large
sum may be realized from the payment
of a comparatively insignificant amount
s tempting to men of defective moral
principle, and is a constant temptation
to the commission Of the gravest crimes.
How can they be prevented from doing
so? How can this temptation be re-
moved?
ut is suggested that no person shall be
permitted to insure his or her life for the
benefit of any person except a zeal rela-
tive, and that commercial life insurance
as at present practiced be prohibited alb
s~olutely. There is small danger that a
woman will kill her husband or the
child it's father for the sake of obtaining
the insurance he may carry upon his
life. Such instances are almost unknown
so rare, indeed, as to be unworthy of
consideration. But it is different where
a man is permitted to insure his life for
the benefit of one not connected with
him by ties Of consanguinity. In the ma
jority of such cases the man to whom the
insurance runs pays the premiums, and
as long as the assured lives he is subject
to assessment, while the sooner he dies
the soone do his OUTLAWS cease and his
profits begin. OF course, to an honor
able man such considerations are of no
effect, but all men are not honorable, and
IN discussing the question this fact must
be borne in mind.
lit is very evident that the commercial
feature of life insurance is a constant
temptation to the commission of murder.
It increases the opportunities for sub
s~tantial gain to such an extent as to be
irresistible to many men lacking in
moral principle. A burglar will often
commit murder for the few dollars he
may find in the house of a victim, and
yet these sums are insignificant when
compared with the reward which the in
surance companies offer. No burglary
committed in the northwest in twenty
years has brought to the perpetrators
$40 1000, the sum for which the life of
Miss Glng was insured, and which would
go to her murderer in case he had es-
capped detection. Is it right to place
such a temptation in the way of any
MANI" "