The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-30

negro; another. Mary A. Longest, was
sixty-five years old. but was insured as
htty-four, while she had suffered from
heart-disease for several years, and died
of II few months after the cancelling
of the policy
Fereda Wiill0ms had been in III health
for several years Her husband. Samuel
Williams, who Is nominated as beneh-
ciary, IS a fisherman. who is and always
has been I'm straightened circumstances,
and whose average earnings at his occu-
patton would not exceed three dollars
per week the year round. lie has
family TO support upon his earnings. ana
yet nc appears as beneficiary or insurance
amounting TO 5000.
$1,000 DIVIDED.
His boon companion, Abe Wigfan who
works with him in the same fishing
smack, secured 5000 from the Bay state
Beneficiary Association of Westneid,
Mass. upon the death OF his brother,
James Wigfall. who was insured on MS
death-hcd. eleven DAYS before his deccase.
The claim had been paid without invesu-
CATION upon the part OF the company a7
a clean set of proofs OF loss had been
forwarded by the conspirators, giving
calse Of death as malarial fever. a ais
ease common I'm this section. This money
IL is alleged was divided between APE
Wigfall. David Parker. Frank Gtbble,
and Silas BlOunt 1t was invested py
them In real estate. and the Bay state
mas lNrllIANtu clll against tdNA "a ANA'Ah
10 recover the amount.
In consequence OF his discoveries, M
spectOr Abrams. in behalf OF the company
he represented. cancelled and took UP
most of the policies issued I'm its name
IN two or three instances refunding the
It is stated that the inspectors lie
has been threatened since he began ms
investigation.
HOW SUSPICION WAS AROUSED.
BOSTON. July 99.-The Beneficial Life
Insurance Company, of this city, was
the first company to urearth the frauds
at Beaufort ~ {. They received intor-
nation from correspondent about three
months ago and the arrests was the
result. one of the c0upany's adjusicfs
gave press reporter an outline or the
case. Mr. Corthem. the adluster sala.
*As / overhead the discussion got the
impression that there was complete liot
TO dcfraud the insurance company Dut
! cannot tell you how many were coA-
nectcd with it nor their names.
"As | understand the clge. we appoint
ed an agent 10 take charge of that ter
rtory about year go. Tn the course
OF time we wrote policies for several per-
sons I'M Beaufort y. G.. The papers were
properly made ont. and everything SEEM
ed 10 DE done I'm a Legitimate manner.
Then VIC We're notified OF datn~ one alttt
another. until three claims had been
UlnUN. " At fAIilfI UNNlN u ANtfM --fifN Nf'f
representing face value of between 3d.
90 and $4,000. The last claim was on
account of the death OF "A Mrs. treda
Williams
"Just about that time we received an
anonymous letter that our agent I'm Beau
fort was taking risks which no Insurance
company would think Of If all the lacts
We're known al the main otlce. we
Immediately sent an Inspector 90 inNosli-
gate the matter. and he Immediately
ff...T nHa rr..f fI "a ID n.
1t seems that our agent had organ'leu
a regular band of conspirators TO deffaul
insurance companies all over the country.
ms OF Hiou Standing INVOLVED.
1.-THE plot involved men of previous
high standing I'M the community. They
had written policies on persons VINO we're
even then ON their death beds. Some
We're sick at the time the policies were
made ont on their representation that
the insured We're healthy and proper
risk Some of the persons did not know
that they had been insured. Some were
insured for large amounts who We're
living I'm abject poverty, and could not
pay dollar for insurance.
mot one OF the policies, as understand
the case. was a proper risk for repu-
table insurance company 10 take. let
SO complete was the Organlzat Jn OF the
conspirators that all the papers bore the
signatures Of the necessary cndorseIs.
Nothing was missing which could IN
any way arouse suspicion at the home Of
fee
you must remember that ours is only
one of the various companies that the
same deception was practiced on. e.
are satisfied that Mrs. Williams was
murdered 40 order 20 secure the insuf-
ance money. There are suspicious cir
cumstancos surrounding other cases, ana
we purpose 90 push the investigation until
the whole plot hc exposed, no matter
ff 81 fi