The Daily Texarkanian., 1895-01-31
PITEzEL INSURANCE FRAUD,
Now In The Courts Suit for $780, 900
Against a St. Louis Newspaper.

is learning the full measure and
cost of popularity and success,
Not alone content with the hon
ors which were awarded him as be-
ing the best insurance actuary of
this or any other age, he organized
a company to do business on the
level, flexible premium plan, as he
styles it, and from the very first the
Fidelity Mutual Life Association
became a strong and most formida-
bic competitor with the old line
companies for business. The sue
cess OF the company seemed phe-
nomenal; every legal claim against
the association was promptly paid
every obligation met. Insurance
men of opposition companies looked
on with surprise and alarm at the
progress of this young giant in the
insurance field, the more so since
they were unable to controvert the
sound, logical arguments which the
Fidelity Mutual Life Association
put out against the usual rates OF
the old line companies.
Then came the famous Pitezel-
Holmes case, in which this
association paid 81, 600 to Jeptha D.
Howe of st. Louis for the benefit
of Mrs. Pitezel, whose husband held
policy in the Fidelity Mutual Life
Association and whose death was
supposed to have occurred in Phila-
delphia, the full expose of which
case has appeared at length in the
newspapers,
Through the confession of pris-
oner in the city Jail the arrest of
H, M. Holmes, arch.couspirater in
the matter, followed. The Grand
jury at Philadelphia also indicted
Mr.. Howe, the attorney to whom
the money was paid, Mrs, Pitezel
was traced by the detectives and
arrested also,
At this juncture the insurance
company, which had been relentless
and unceasing in its efforts to bring
the parties to the bar of justice and
ferret out the frauds, having done
its duty in placing the parties in the
hands of courts, could do no more,
and, waiting the courts time, rest
ed.
Here then was an opportunity
for the opposition to give a blow at
Mr. Fouse, "IIe was not pushing
the case, they said, and thus not
only maliciously took advantage OF
the opportunity, but abused it as
well, and circulated reports deroga'
tory to Mr. Fouse,
The st. Louis Republic, according
to the facts alleged in the petition
filed by Mr. Fouse, in It's issue of
December 30, 1894, had an article
which seriously reflected upon the
character of Mr., Fouse,
Mr.. Fouse has therefore filed suit
in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Missouri
against the publishers Of the Re-
public, George Knapp & Co., for
800, 900 on account Of the alleged
libelous publication
In his bin Of complaint, Mr. Fouse
swears and AYERS chat he Is and
for many years past has been the
President Of the Fidelity Mutual
Life Association, a corporation or
ganized for the purpose of conduct
Ing a general life insurance business
that said corporation Is permitted
to do business in the various States
of the Union and Is of good credit
In the community that plaintiff hat
always lived an upright and honor
able life, and prior to the publlca-
tion hereinafter complained Of en-
loyed the respect and esteem of his
fellowmen, both in the neighborhood
where he resides and has resided, at
well as throughout the entire Union
In all parts of which has become
favorably known because Of his good
character and reputation, and by
reason of his position as president
of the Fidelity Mutual Life Assoeia'
tion.
"PlalntlrI states that an the 3Otl
day Of December 1890, In the Sun
day Issue Of its said said paper
which said Sunday edition has by
far the largest circulation of any
daily edition published by defend
ant, said defendant indited, wrote
printed, published, sold and circr
lated Of and concerning this plain
tlG the matters and things herein
after specially set forth, all of which
matters and things plaintiff nov
alleges we're wholly false and un
true, and were 30 AZ aforesaid pub
lishedof and concerning this plain