The morning call., 1894-04-03
DIED BY POISON.
Mrs. Isabella Lewis and
Her Life Policy.
WHAT OCCURRED IN PERU.
Misrepresentation Alleged to
Have Been Made.
DR.. WASH. DODGE ACCUSED.
Direct Charges Made In an Answer
Filed to Suit for Life
Insurance.
WHAT OCCURRED IN PERU
DR.. WASH. DODGE ACCUSED.

A yet unsolved mystery was revived yes
terday by the filing OF an answer TO the
suit of Charles Henry Lewis against the
Union Central Life Insurance Company
in the Superior Court.
The mystery concerns the death of Mrs.
lisa bella Lewis, wife of the plant tiff, who
is q sea captain, and was at one time in
command of the coaster George w. Elder
Mrs. Lewis died in South America in
January, 1892. under somewhat peculiar
clrcum stances. 1t was found necessary to
hold pOst-mortem examination upon her
body, but the result of that examination
has never been made public 1t was vaguely
supposed that Mrs. Lewis had died of a
complication of disorders, cold and tropi-
cal fever, eliminating in acute heart dis
ease. So the matter has rested.
In March Of the year Immediately pre-
ceding her death Mrs. Lewis had her life
insured with the Union Central Life In
surance Company. The policy covered an
amount of $4,000, and the premiums were
regularly paid, so that when Mrs. Lewis
came to her death her husband. Captain
Lewis. put in claim against the company
Tor the amount OF his wife'S policy, claim
which has been hanging fire. ever since.
1t seems that the insurance company's
agents were not satisfied that Mrs. Lewis
died of natural causes. They set about
investigating matters, and the result was
that they fatty refused TO pay the policy.
By the terms of their contract the policy
was to become void If the holder commit
ted suicide within the space of three years
from the taking out of the policy. This is
exactly what is now claimed.
Witnesses have been discovered who
90 d.,
spOndent nature, and that she frequently
spoke Of putting an end to herself. She
even, II is said, went so far as to tell her
friends that she was in he habit of Carry
ing bottle OF poison always in her pocket
so that when the proper time arrived for
her to shuttle off this mortal coil she could
accomplish her end with ease and without
inconvenience to any one.
Be that as it may. the circumstances sur
rounding the death of Mrs. Lewis we're
sufficiently out of the way to cause thor
ough investiga ton. 1t is now charged that
she poisoned herself and further and more
ample evidence regarding the result Of the
post-mortem examination has long since
beendemanded by the insurance company.
Another point on which the insurance
company bases It's defense to the action is
that Mrs. Lewis obtained her policy by
fraud, as she gave wrong answers To vital
questions that were put to her. Among
other things 1t Ia alleged that while in this
city Mrs. Lewis was attended by Dr..
Washington Dodge. who performed
criminal operation upon her.
If this is so Mrs. Lewis, it is claimed,
made such false representations to the
company that her policy is void.
The company'S answer states that in
October. 1892, letter was. sent to Captain
Lewis, care of DR.. Archibald, the COM
pany's agent here, in which it was dis
+I.Fc tofo hot tIa y.pli h
paid unless the exact report of the pose
norton examination were given. report
that must be sworn 10 before the Ameri-
can legation, and must contain COM
plete analysis of the brain. heart and
stomach of the deceased. That request
has never been complied with.
1t is further claimed that Captain Lewis
claim is barred by the stipuiations of the
cOmDany's contract, In not having beeu
brought within twelve months from the
death of the deceased.
Messrs. CARRIER, Boalt g. Bishop rep
resent the company, and say they have
positive proof that Mrs. Lewis came to
her death by poison. Furthermore, they
have medical testimony TO prove the truth
OF the other allegations contained in this
answer, fled yesterday.
DR.. Washington Dodge is highly indg-
Dant that his name should be associated
with that of Mrs. Lewis in the manner sua-
gested by the insurance company
Tho company has no right whatever to
make that assertion" he said last evening.
THE fact is this: After Mrs. Lewis
death a representative of the insurance
company called upon me and asked me
whe Their or not L had treated Mrs. Lewis
during her lifetime for heart disease. /
replied that l had treated Mrs. Lewis, but
not for heart disease, and on the strength
of that they published these statements
about me-"
AS for Captain Lewis, who resides now
altogether in San Francisco. he is also very
indignant at what he calls the deliberate
attempt of the insurance company to beat
him out of his rights. Grief for the loss
OF his wife. however, seems to have played
a small part in the outrage to his feelings,
as within eight days from the time he
heard Of his wife's death he was united
in the bonds of wedlock to another.
LATEST SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.