The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-19
A LIFE INSURANCE swINDLE.
The Bogus Corpse Fraud Worked In
Philadeip his--A rrsst of Ono sharper.

The Bogus Corpse fraud Worked in
Philad ei phis--A rrsst of Ono sharper.
PHILApELPHTA, Nov. 1s--By the arrest
of X. III. Holmes, alias Howard, in Boston,
a gigantic swindling scheme has been un-
earthed by detectives of the Fidelity Mu-
tual Life Insurance Association. of this
city On September 3 last the corpse of
man was found at 1916 CallowhiIl street,
in this city. and vas buried by the coroner
under the name of b. ]. Pitzel. Now Ii
appears that the corpse was bold substi-
tute. for the purpose of defrauding the
insurance company of $4,000 b. J.
Pitzel rented the house on CallowhiiI
street during the summer under the name
of b. L. Perry, and conducted a patent
medicine business. The last week in
August he disappeared, and on September
"a man with whom he had business rela-
tions went to the house and found Perry
dead on the floor. Death was attributed TO
the explosion Of ar of cleaning fluid.
On the body was found small sum of
money and two letters dated st. Louis.
evidently from the mans wife, in which
she signifed her intention of coming 10
Philadelphia. The body Law in the morgue
for eleven days without Identification.
The coroner's jury called II death caused
by burns accident tally received. After the
body had been buried in the potter's field
n communication was received by the
Fidelity Mutual Life Association, dated
ST. Louis. signed by an attorney of that
city, J. ID. Howe. The latter stated that
the mans real name Was Pitzsl The
company refused TO recognize the
unusual claim, and sent ii to the
general manager in Chicago. where
the policy had been issued, tor q descrip-
tion of the man who took it out. The
policy had been issued through the agency
of a reputable business man, but when he
was questioned he referred the inquirer 10
r. H. Holmes, who had desk IN the
same building with the deceased in Chi
cago during the Worlds fair. The general
manager could not locate Holmes, but
found his wife, and by her was told that
her husband was travelling man, and she
would com munieate with him. The next
day. however, Holmes wrote TO the Phila-
deiphia office, stating that tie had learned
the death was in PhiIadeIphia, and that,
as he expected 20 be in Baltimore soon, he
would stop in Philadelphia Meanwhile
Attorney Howe appeared in Philadelphia.
accompanied by young glrl. whom he
represented as the daughter Of the dead
man.
II. vas then decided 10 exhuns the body,
which was done by officials Of the eon.-
uauy. The officials of the company were
satisfied and the body vas reburied, aud
Attorney Howe received the $1,000 repre-
sSntinr the sum due Mrs. Pitxel. A month
ago one Of the eompany's agents. while in
81. Louis, became cognizant of some OF
the facts and form nuiated = story of con-
.piraev. lie discovered that Holmes and
Howe nad been related i'm the character Of
LAWYER and client Ia o case where Holmes
had been arrested under the name OF II. NJ.
Howard tor obtaining goods under false
pretenses. Then it WAS found that Holmes
and PiixeI had been In business together
in Chicago during the Worlds fair, sbers
they conducted hotel, with secret rooms.
in shieh they bid goods obtained by swin-
ding merchants. The place as called tne
Words fair hotel. While here P.Ezsl took
ont polIcy witn the Fidelity Company
and Holmes followed his example a month
later. both giving notes for she frsi pay
ment Holmes wSs chased al over the
country. Is ~as learned thss Piszei and
Holmes obtained By some means or other
a eorpss from the New York hospital.
brought il here. surrounded IL by the syi-
denee OF a vio.ent death ia the Cailox-
htll street house. and obtained the SI9oo
Hslme. was arrested Ia Boston BY aetec-
lives. v no are now after Fetzel-
LsrER.-The prevailing impression in
this cIty regarding tbs gigantic tDsarsnce
sxlndie whieh resulted In the arrest ia
Boston yesterday OF Herman NUGGET.
osasrxiss known "a IL H. Holmes,