The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
THE ATTEMPT TO INSURE GUITEAU.
A Joke That Helped to Kill Deathbed
Insurance in Pennsylvania.
Reading (Pa.) Letter in New York Sun.


For the first time the story of the pre-
tended effort to insure Guiteau's life has
been made public here. The scheme was
conceived by two young lawyers, and al
though they began it as a joke, there were
many who took it seriously. one OF its re-
suits was to help to kill 'deathbed insur-
ance' in the Eastern part of the United
States.
Garfield was shot in July. 1881, and the
trial of the assassin began in November,
1881 and ended with verdict of guilty on
Jan. %, 1852. Guiteau was hanged on June
30, 1882. AT this time the deathbed insur-
ance craze was at high-water mark. many
of the companies taking all kinds of risks.
One evening in February, 1857, two young
attorneys here were talking of Gulteau, for
whom an application for new trial had
Just been made. One of the attorneys sug-
geSted that they attempt to insure Cut
teau's life as a means of bringing r1dlGule
on the graveyard companies. 1hey talhed
Of it to resident of Reading, who at that
time held O. political office in Washington.
He entered into the joke and thought ne
could arrange the Washington END or the
affair. Going back to Washington, the
Berks county politician told q newspaper
man there of the business of the insurance
companies in Reading, and also OF the
scheme Of insuring Guiteau Meanwhile
the attorneys made written application Tor
$l00 900 insurance on GuiteauS ire me
application nearly got the Jokers INTO tfou-
bic Among the many life insurance COM
panies in Reading at the time was one tnat
did not properly come under the designation
of deathbed company by acolaenfe ,ad 9ia nlIf
in due form and forwarded to the Washihg-
ton newspaper man. His part was TO take
it to Guiteau and try to secure ms sigma
ture.
The reporter visited Guiteau and told him
that a firm of insurance agents In ReaulnB,
thinking that he might secure new trial
and eventually escape the galloWs, conslu-
cred him a good risk and wanted TO insure
him for 500 CO., The reporter gave Gulteau
friends would have to pay any OF the as
sessments; that would be attended 10 IN
Reading. Guiteau was also told that the
agents would make it worth his Whlle TO
sien the application. Although no hgures
were mentioned he was left under the I'M m
preston that his heirs might expect $29,0oO
should he be executed. Guiteau listened 10
the scheme and then smiled. lie knew the
rewspaper man, and told him he thought
the entire matter a joke. The reporter
knew it was, but ala not say So Noltoe'u
The following day the Washington news
paper appeared with a long article, saying
Reding wanted to place 100000 insurance
ON Guiteaus life. The name OF the COM
pany was given. The article was IN the
sums OF money had been offered to secure
Guiteau's signature, and that large sum
was to go TO the assassins helrs. me
news was sent all over the country SUISSE
Bv this time the Reading originators of
the scheme were beginning TO flnd that
they had succeeded beyond their eXpecta-
tons The officers of the company whose
name was connected with the affair went
on a still hunt for the scheIners, and law
suits were threatened. Then the New YORK
and New England papers took up the SUB
teet. Long articles appeared calling atten-
ton to the deathbed or graveyard insur-
anoe companies doing business IN eastern
PENNSYLVANIA, and especially in READING
Next the insurance papers of England took
up the matter. They cited the Pennsyl-
Vania deathbeds samples OF American
life insurance One daily paper IN San
Francisco called the attempt to insure Gull
teau a disgrace on humanity. 1t Is sald
bv those conVersant with their aiIalrs mat
the Ciuiteau episode, as much as anything
else. assisted in whipping out deathbed In
ON pnnpernS.