The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-18
INSURED A DEAD MAN
AND COLLECTED POLICIES TO THE
AuOUNT or S5G9.
The Grand Fountain, United Order True
Keformcrs, NictimiIed by Clever
swindlcrs One /. Convicted.

The Grand Fountain. United order OF
True Reformcrs, has been made the We
tim Of a unique insurance swindle, and in
consequence are now just 1863 OFT OF
pocket.
The facts of the case are as follows:
on August H. 1894, an application was
received from Milford. Caroline county.
for an insurance policy on the life OF
Rufus Childs. a cOlored man Of III II
place. whose age was given as twenty
i've years ON the "a OF the following
September arother application was re-
ceIved for a policy Oh the life OF the
same person. These applications were
duly signed nd attegttd by Charlotte
WI Hams. assistant messenger OF south
River Fountain. L. o. Il. r., Mary l..
Wright, messenger, and Robert Roots,
mutual treasurer. There being nothing
suspicious about the applications the
policies were duly issued.
When the premiums on these policies
fell due they were promptly paid. the
money being sent. ostensibly. by Rufus
Childs.
THE DrATH CERTIFICATE
On the Goth Of January, 1895. the death
certificate OF Ruius Childs WAS received.
The document was properly signed at
tested and the money called for by the
two policies was forwarded TO Robert
Roots, mutual treasurer of South River
Fountain, True RefOrmerS.
1t was just at this juncture that the
fraud IN the case came 10 light. TIE
letter to Mutual Treasurer Roots inform
ing him mat the money TO pay the
policies IN the life of Rufus Childs had
been sent, was lost by some means. and
inquiries about tho VIII aceabOuts Of the
letter developed a cunningly-laid plot, and
one which was successful, although the
guilty parties were finally caught.
II was then discovered that the said
40 sI.sH
Of August, 1s9t-just two days before APP
DlicatiOn was made for the first policy
and he had been buried one month and
thirteen days when the second policy
was applied for.
1t is said that the whole plot was
Matched and carried through by Charlotte
Williams. who is said 10 bear a bad
reputation I'm that section of Caroline
county. She was ably abetted by Mary
T.. Wright. while Robert Roots. the other
person accused, is an old man, and is
thought TO have been the dupe Of the
women.
As soon as these facts were discovered
by the Grand Fountain. U. o. 7. r..
warrants were issued against the three
persons mentioned. and they We're indicted
by the grand jury. ten indictments being
found. Mary Wright is charged with
forgery. Charlotte Williams with larceny,
while against Robert Roots is entered
the charge Of being an accomplice.
10 THE PESITrNTIARY.
The case Of Mary Wright was before the
County Court at Bowling Green yester-
day, Judge Moncure presiding. and
verdict of two years I'm the penitentiary
was rendered against her. The prisoner
was represented by Mr.. White, Of STAFF
ford county.
Monday the case against Charlotte VIII
Liars Will be tried.
The Grand Fountain. United order %
True Reformers, has paid out thousands
Of dollars in benefits, and this Is the
first fraud that has ever been pcrpe-
trated.
Mr.. Barnes Of the State Bank Of this
city. and MI. John T.. Wall ace, of tie
Citizens Bank, were put on the stand as
eNrcrts in handwriting.
IT is thought by the president ana sec
rotary Of the Grand Fountain that thee
are others who were concerned IN carry
ing cut the fraud. and no efforts VIII be
spared to find the giilty on's