The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-18

nd Observer. Sunday, Aug.
"NATIoNAL LIFE ASSOCIATION.
HARTFORD, Conn.
"We have not received any notice of
assessment due December 14th, 1894, on
policy No. 31,177. Please credit the
same, and send receipt for $40
"CHARLES ARTHUR,
"Per s. L. and Clarence Simpson,
"Agents."
Another letter Of the same date to 0.
Fl, Blanchard, President Massachusetts,
Benefit Company:
Dear Sir: Enclosed find $2.55, as
sessment due on policy No 17s. Please
place to credit thereof, and oblige
yours truly,
CHARLES ARTHUR,
per Eugene Wade, Agent"
On the 23rd of November, he writes
to II. 7. Bramap, Secretary, as follows:
"In the name of Caroline Arthur, "
(Which be forges, and Which letter he
admitted to be in his hand writing
Policy No. 81, 176 upon the life of my
husband, Charles Arthur, of Morehead
City, North Carolina, became a claim
against your association November 14th,
1894, being the date Of his death You
will please send blank death proofs and
oblige yours truly,
CAROLINE ARTHUR,
post Office Box "A"
-#.-.JFf hoo 4
Beaufort.
On the same date Mr.. Hassell wrote to
H. 7. Braman, secretary, a letter similar
to the above as to policy No 14.543,
signing it Caroline Arthur. by w. Fl.
Smith, attorney" Also another one on
policy No. 31,177, signing Caroline Ar
thur, by S. L. and @. Simpson, attorneys.
On the 9th of December, 1894, he sent,
under registered cover, to the National
Life Association, of Hartford, the follow
ing letter: 81 wrote to the secretary two
weeks ago for a blank death proof, stat
ing my husband, Charles Arthur, died
on the 18th day of November, 1894, and
policy No 81, IN has become claim
against the company, and I have not
heard from the company yet. What is
the cause. If you have not sent it, please
do so at once, and oblige.
Yours, etc,
CAROLINE ARTHUR,
Care of 5. l.. and Clarence Simpson.
Attorneys "
The Simpsons are not attorneys in
Beaufort, but business men.
Just here to follow briefly little fur
ther the easy methods of Mr.. Hassell, it
may be well to quote the following letter
dated 10Th December, 1894, addressed
to o. II. Blanchard, president, Massa-
chuaett Benefit:
"DRAR SIR:
lam reliably informed that you have
some losses in this place. If | am cor
rectly informed, | will be pleased to rem
der you any service | could in ferreting
out any frauds that may be pending
against your association, provided that
everything could be held in strict conf
dence.
am, yours for secret service,
y. ii. BLASSAM,
Box A. Address in plain envelope"
Again, he writes from Newport on the
18th of July, 1895, to the senior counsel
for the State in this case:
''Mr. Hinsdale:
''DEAR SIR; Il am informed that you
are attorney for the Massachusetts Bene
fit and National of Hartford companies
in the Williams and Rountree cases in
Beaufort, n. O.
Il am in possession Of sufficient eyi
dence to defeat both claims. know they
are gross frauds against these companies.
Can we be of service to each other You
can find me any day in the above town,
Or I can meet you in NeWbern, n. @.
This must be held in strick confidence as
| have some goods friends in Beaufort
Let me hear from you at once.
Respectfully,
30. r HAssELL
This letter brings up the Williams and
Rountree cases, which are aggravated
and interesting ones.
In the case Of sam Williams, the pic
ture of the whole conspiracy became all
at once several shades darker by the
ominous rumors that would here and
there spring up from different portions
of the little own concerning an alleged
intention Of numbering Williams wife
for the insurance money on the part Of
somebody. For the purposes Of a news
paper story perfect proof of such a
deed would have rounded out this in
surarce fraud to its proper proportions,
and while just at this point there may be
a vital lacG of just something that is not
in this whole series of strange adventures,
yet it must be confessed that the horizon
surrounding the sickness and death of
Sereda Williams is flushed with color
that suggests the crimson.
On the goth of November this Samuel
Williams, the husband of Sereda Will
liams, gentleman by no means invit-
ing of face, which is of bronze color,
with cold, chilling, unpleasing effect,
wrote the following letter to the National
Life Association, of Hartford Conn:
Gentlemen Ninety days having
expired since the death proofs in the
case of the claim caused by the death OF
my wife was filed, and as my draft was
returned with no reason given for not
paying the same, and ] having written
You in regard to the matter, 10 which no
reply has been received, l now write in
order to ascertain what you intend 10 do
about the payment of my claim, and
trust you will answer me by reluIn mail,
so / may know what to depend upon.
Very truly, &c,
SAMUEL WILLIAMS.
On the Friday before Serada Williams
died, about 2 p. m, she went into a
stupor and did not rally from it until