Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-08-31
INSURED A DEAD MAN.
And Collected Policies To The Amoun
0fS469
The Grend Fountain, United Order
True Reformers, Victimized BY
Clever Swindlers One is
Oonvioted-No Money Recovered.

The Grand Fountain, United Order
OF True RefOrmers, has been made
the v'ctim OF a unique insurance swim
oie, ana IN consequence are now $469
out OF pocket.
ne facts of the case are as follows.
On August IL, 1894, an application was
received from Milford, Caroline coun-
ty, for an insurance policy on the life
OF Rufus Childs, a colored man of that
place whose age was given as twenty
nVe years. On the 22nd of the follow
ing September another application
was received for policy on the life
OF the same person. These applicat-
IONS were duly signed and attested by
Charlotte Williams. assistant messen.
ger of South River Fountain, L o. n
r., Mary +. Wright, messenger. and
robert Roots, mutual treasurer.
here being nothing suspicious
bout the applications the policies
were duly issued
When the premiums on these pol
icies fell due they were promptly
paid, the money being sent, ostensib-
ly, to Rufus Childs.
THE DEATH cERrrFIcArE.
On the Both of January. 1895. the
death certificate of Rufus Childs was
received The document was properly
signed, attested, and the money called
Tor by the two policies was. forwarded
TO Robert Roots, mutual treasurer of
South River Fountain, True Reform
ers.
1t was just at this juncture that the
fraud IN the case came to light. The
letter TO mutual Treasurer Roots in
forming him that the money TO paw
the policies on the life OF Rufus Childs
had been sent. was lost by some
means, and inquiries about the where
abouts of the letter developed a cum
ningly-laid plot, and one which was
successful, although the guilty par
ties were finally caught.
FOUND HE WAS A DEAD MAN.
It was then discovered that the said
Rufus Childs had died ON the 9th dav
OF August, lS94-just two days before
application was made for the first
policy, and he had been buried one
month and thirteen days when the
second policy was applied for.
IL Is said that the whole plot was
Matched and carried through by Char
lotte Williams, who is said to bear n
bad reputation in that section of Car
oline County. She was ably.abetted by
Mary T.. Wright, while Robert Roots
the other person accused. is an old
man, and is thought Co have been the
dupe of the women.
AS soon as these facts were discov-
cred. 10y the Grand Fountain, u o. L
r., warrants we're issued against the
three persons mentioned. and they
were indicted by the grand jury, ten
indictments being found. Mary
Wright is charged with forgery, Char
lotte Williams with larceny. while a
gainst Robert Roots is entered the
change of being an accomplice.
TO THE PENITENrIHRY.
The case of Mary Wright was before
the County Court at Bowling Green
yesterday, Judge Moncure presiding,
and verdict of two years in the PEN
itentiary was rendered against her.
The prisoner was represented by Mr.
White, Of Stafford county.
Monday the case was again brought
before COURT. After long discussion
the jury rendered a verdict against
Chariot Williams fixing her punish
mental five years in the penitentiary
for larceny.
Mr.. Barnes, of the State Bank of
this city, and Mr.. John II Wallace
Citizens Bank, were put on the stand
as experts in handwriting.