The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-01
WILL MAKE A HARD FIGHT.
People of Beaufort Silent as the Grave
Concerning the Affair.

Another special to the World under
date of July 30 says.
The best counsel in the State has been
retained on either side, and the case is
likely to be holly contested from begin
ming to end. The accused have hereto
fore been regarded as among the best
citizens of both races, and they have
many warm friends who will stand by
them.
It is difficult to get facts. Some of the
parties are said to be "quick on the
shoot" and men who are glib enough
usually are as silent as the grave con-
corning this affair
Not one of the accused men attended
church yesterday. Even the Rev Ste
phen L. Turner, the colored minister,
disappointed his COL gregation During
the day they had protracted conference
at the barber shop of David Parker, col
ored, for whom the other accused, white
and black, appear to have great respect.
From time to time messengers were sent
out to summon others who, while not
yet formally accused, are suspected of
having been concerned in the alleged
conspiracy.
T. W. Aiken, the Mutual Reserve Com
pany's representative, says that the evil
dence against the accused is of the
strongest character It is stated that the
parties who have suits pending against
the insurance companies allege that the
companies offered as late as Saturday to
compromise the contested policies at so
cents on the dollar. In view of this, it
is claimed by friends of the accused that
the arrests we're designed to force a com
promise. representatives Of the com
panies Indignantly deny this
a reputable physician here said to the
World corrosp oIdent that he was APP
preached some months ego by parties
who desired to secure insurance on a
sick man, but that when he informed
them that he would have to give a re-
port based upon the facts in the case
they decided that they didn't want bis
report.
The Insurance men claim that the
death Of Sereda Williams, wife Of one
of the accused colored men, was caused
by neglect, abuse and excessive doses Of
bromide Of potassia.
1t is alleged that Turner, the colored
minister who is said to have had his
daughters life insured while she was
in the last stages of consumption, &C
compished it by getting his sister to rep
resent the dying girl at the medical ex-
animation.
Orpheus Windsor, an aged colored
woman who was insured for s., 900, is
ALLEGED to have died from the effects of
morphine, and it is said that her body
was buried hastily before her daughter,
who was in New York, could reach here.
President Frederick A. Burnham, of
the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Associa-
ton, was officially notified yesterday of
the arrest of the alleged swindlers at
Beaufort Both he and DR.. D. NJ Cald-
well, of the National Life, were seen
yesterday by World reporter, to whom
they recited the various cases of alleged
swindling already telegraphed to The
World from Beaufort and Morehad City.
almost every one in Beaufort" said
DR.. Caldwell, appeared TO be interested
in these swindles, or to know something
of them In the course of my investiga
ton last fall one prominent citizen was
extremely anxious to supply me with in
formation regarding the death of Sereda
Williams, because he had no interest IN
the policies on her life, but in return he
wished to arrange for my aid in securing
the payment of the Rountree claim, in
which he did have an interest"