The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-09
"A GRUEsoME CONSPIRACY. -
An Atlanta Man Commits Suicide
With Intent 10 Dcfraud Insurance
Companies.

With Intent 10 Dcfraud Insurance
Companies.
Recent publications in the Spectator,
an insurance journal, have caused
some exceedingly sensational develop
ments in the case of the late Thomas
D. De!bridge Of Atlanta, Ca, who was
drowned in the pond at Lakewood last
spring. at the time OF 6he death of
Delbridge 1T was limited that he had
committed suicide, after having secured
lie insurance to the amount of nearly
500, 600. Most of these policies were
taken out by him within short time
of his death and, in several instances
he had not paid the premiums, but had
given his notes for them. The in
surancc companies thre atened to con-
test the payment Of the policies on the
ground OF fraud-a conspiracy to swim
die them-but finally q compromise
was arranged by which the widow of
the deceased was paid $53 900, 1000
less than the face value OF the policies
held by her husband at the time of his
death
The sensational feature of the case
now brought to the attention of the
public is the statement OF Charles Il.
Delbridge, brother OF the deceased,
and his business partner for years,
that there was, in fact, conspiracy to
defraud the insurance mpanies, and
that the wife Of his brother and her
father knew Of its existence at the time
OF Delbridge's death, as he had not only
declared to them his intention to commit
suicide after obtaining the insurance,
but had actually tried to shoot himself
in the presence of his wife the day
before he was drowned at Lakewood
by demanding the money OF the In
surance companies when they knew
that it had been obtained in contem-
plation Of suicide, Chas Delbridge
charges that the widow and her father
were parties to the fraud. On the
other side, Mr.. g. W. Motes-father of
the widow Delbridge-denies the truth
of this statement in toto, and 1T Is
made to appear that the real animus
OF Charles Delhridge's conduct in max
ing his charges is that he was only
| given So, 900 out OF the insurance
money, when he claimed $15, 900 as his
| share, his brother being indebted to
| him in that amount at the time OF his
death, he claims. Delbrldge declares
that he know OF his brothers inten-
tion to commit suicide, and in fact,
had dissuaded him at one time from
The act, he says. 1t is peculiar fact,
however, that at the time Delbridge's
body was discovered in Eastlake
Charles, the brother, who now de-
clares conspiracy to swindle the in
surance companies, was the most ram :
pant in denouncing all intimations OF
suicide. He went so far as to declare
that he would hold any one who said
such thing personally responsible
for the bare insinuation OF such a
thing.
II. j. Delbridge was last seen, &C.
cording to the evidence at the coroner's
| lnU nSt fyn lnt ho
entered bath house at Eastlake and
prepared to take d swim. He got q
boat and rowed out on the water, and
it was supposed had takon the cramps
when he went into the water. His
brother now, however, declares tha,
he has witnesses to prove that they
saw him when he went out in the boat
and that his actions all indicated tha'
he was contemplating self-destructor
when he plunged in. These witnesses
: he declares, saw his brother knee
went in, and they also saw him sinl
! and rise to the surface three time
!, before he finally disappeared from
? view.
. AT the time OF the occurrence, Del
. bridge says, these witnesses did no
I want to let it be known what they hat
. seen for fear of becoming mixed up j.
the affair In an unpleasant way, bu
: now, he says, they are willing to tel
~ what they know to assist the In
. surance companies in invoking the al
. Of the law to punish the conspirators
o Delbridge himself is on the side c
"a "a the insurance companies, and declare
u that he will do all he can to see tn
y wrong done them righted. The reaso
70 he did not tell what he knew of hi
" brothers intention to commit suicid
10 at the time, and thus prevent the pa,
" ~ ,nent Of the money by the companie
~ he says Ia that he wanted to see h
'e brother's two little children provide
for.
oa - 20 xn..-