The morning news., 1897-08-29
TO INSURE GUITEAU.
Joke That Helped to Kill Deathbed
Insurance in Pennsylvania.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
For the first time the story of the pre-
tended effort to insure Guiteaus life has
been made public in Reading, Pa, The
scheme was conceived by two young
lawyers, and, although they began it as
a joke, there were many who took it Sc
riously. One of the results was to help
kill "deathbed insurance" in the eastern
part of the United States. Garfield was
shot in July, 1881, and the trial of the as
sassin began in November, 1881, and end
ed with a verdict of guilty on Jan. 25,
1882. Guiteau was hanged on June 80, 1882
At this time the deathbed insurance craze
was at high water mark, many of the
companies taking all kinds of risks. One
evening in February, 1882, two young
Reading attorneys were talking of Cult
eau, for whom an application for a new
trial had just been made. One of the at
torneys suggested that they attempt to
insure Guiteau's life as a means of bring
ing ridicule on the graveyard compa-
nies." They talked of il to a resident of
Reading, who at that time held a polti-
cal office in Washington. He entered into
the joke, and thought he could arrange
the Washington end of the affair. Going
back to Washington, the Berks county pol
itician told a newspaper man there of the
business of the insurance companies in
Reading and also of the scheme of in
suring Guiteau. Meanwhile the attorneys
made written application for 100000 in
surance on Guiteau's life. The applica-
tion nearly got the joksrs into trouble
Among the many life insurance compa-
nies in Reading at the time was one that
did not properly come under the designa-
tion of deathbed company. By accident a
blank of this particular company was fill
cd n Nd yl,d
Washington newspaper man. His part
was to take it to Guiteau and try to get
his signature.
The reporter visited Guiteau and told
him that a firm of insurance agents in
Reading, thinking that he might secure a
new trial and eventually escape the gall
lows considered him a good risk. and
wanted to insure him for SlOo. 600. The rt
porter gave Guiteau to understand that
neither he nor his friends would have to
pay any of the assessments; that would be
attended to in Reading Guiteau was also
told that the agents would make it worth
his while TO sign the application. Although
no figures were mentioned, he was left
under the impression that his heirs might
expect $4,000 should he be executed. Gui-
teau listened to the scheme and then smil-
ed. He knew the newspaper man and told
him he thought the entire matter a Joke
The reporter knew it was. but did not say
so. Guiteau declined to sign then. The fol-
lowing day the Washington newspaper ap-
peared with long article, saying that a
graveyard insurance company at Read
ing wanted to place 10000 insurance on
Guiteaus life. The name Of the company
was given. The article was in the form Of
an exposure, and said that large sums Of
money had been offered to secure Cult
oaus signature, and that a large sum was
to go 20 the assassins heirs. The news
was sent all over the country subsequent
ly.
BY this time the Reading orlginators OF
the scheme were beginning 20 find that
they had succeeded beyond their expecta-
tions. The officers OF the company whose
name was connected with the AFFAIR went
on a stil hunt for the schemors and law
suits were threatened. Then the New YORK
and New England papers took up the SUBJ
ject. Long articles appeared, calling atten-
tion 20 the deathbed or graveyard insur-
ance companies doing business In eastern
Pennsylvania. and especially IN Reading.
Next the insurance papers IN England
took up the matter, They cited the Penn
sylvania deathheds AZ samples Of Amerl-
can life insurance. one daily paper IN San
Francisco called the attempt 20 insure
Guiteau disgrace on humanity. II is
said by those conversant with their affairs
that the Guiteau episode. AZ much as any
thing else assisted IN wiplng out dcathbed
Insurance concerns.