The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-22
NAME ON TOMBSTONE
The Only Sign of the Identity
of James M. Richey,
Whose Name Was Used to Swim
die FraternaI Aid.
An Intricate Case Slowly Unraveled
by Officers Of the Order.

Two bills have been found against
Edward ROuseH of Lawrence, grand
secretary of the Fraternal Aid associa-
tion, for using the United States mail
for fraudulent purposes and for at
tempting to obtain money under false
pretenses." The case will be heard
in the United States circuit court in
Leavenworth during November.
The claim is made by several mem
bers of the order that Rousell made out
beneficiary claim No. Sc, payable to
Mary T. Wright, a sister of one James
M. R1chey, supposed to have been
member of Peoria CKansas) Council No.
251 of the Fraternal Aid association
who was reported to have died in Ba-
ditto, Colorado, on June 8, 1896.
Mr.. ROuSeH claimed to have known
Rfchey several years ago. He said he
met Richey on the train at Ottawa
and while riding with him induced him
to join the order. He wrote out his
membership in Peoria council because
there was no lodge of the Fraternal Aid
association in St. Louis, the home of
RiShey. The officers of the Peoria
lodge were somewhat uncertain what
course to take as they did not know the
applicant and did not accept him until
they wrote to RouseH in regard to the
matter. The application was finally
accepted but R1chey was never seen Dy
any member of the lodge. -Richey was
said to have cOrreSpOnded with ROusen
from Topeka, Junction City and other
DOinlS III REGARD To matters pertaining
to his medical examination. His home
was given as St. Louis and his occupa-
tiOn travelling man. Richey was
supposed to have passed his examina-
ton before DR.. L. A. Ryder of Topeka,
president of the F. a. A, but the papers
supposed to have been sent to
ROusen by Richey were not signed by
DR.. Ryder and were returned, accord
ing to ROuseu's records, to Richey to
have the proper signature affixed. Rich
ey notified Rousen that his sister, Mrs.
Mary T. Wright of Kansas City would
keep up his dues and the policy was
made payable to her.
On May % a letter was written to
Mrs. Wright by ]. II. Cammack M. D.,
of BadittO, Colo, announcing the fact
that her brother had been injured in
a runaway and was not likely to live.
w. S. Brunton, secretary of the Peoria
lodge, received a letter signed by Mary
T. Wright enclosing 81. 65 for the dues
of her brother for May and stating that
she had received word that he was Sc
riOuSly injured and that she was going
at once to Colorado and requesting that
he send receipt to WaIsen burg, Colo.
On June 5th Mr.. BruntOn received a let
ter from Mrs. Wright at WaISenburg
stating that her brother had died and
asking what was necessary for her to
do before she could collect the Insur-
ance. Mr.. ROuseu also received a let
ter under the same date announcing the
brothers death and asking that the pa
pers that would have to be filled out by
the physician who attended her broth
to leave for St. Louis.
The certificate of death was signed by
DR.. J. H. Cammack as attending physI-
clan and Abram Richart as minister.
The two statements were sworn to be-
fore a notary public by the name of
Robert Mackey of HuerfanO county,
Colo.
The claim was presented for payment
to L. G. Stine, a banker at Ottawa.
Mr.. Stine was formerly treasurer of the
association and thinking that some
%17S
consulted with VIII 7. Walker of Kan
sas City, who was president of the or
der prior to DR.. Ryder, and they COM
menced to look into the matter
The postmaster at BadittO, Colo. was
written and asked if he knew a minis
ter by the name of Abram Pichart and
notary by the name of Robert Macl1ey.
He replied that no minister by that
name lived there and that he had not
heard of the accident in question. H
T. Lamme of Pictou, Colo, was written
and asked about the affair. He replied
by saying that there was no minister
or notary in the county by that name
and that white man had been buried
in BadittO for over 16 years. A letter
was written to Robert Mackey the sup
posed notary but the letter was re
turned as uncalled for. A similar let
ter was written to DR.. Cammack but
was also returned as uncaIed for. 1t
was found out that a seal had been or
dered by RObt. Mackey from the Scot
ford Stamp & s. Co, of Kansas City
>
sister would call for it about May 25th
1896 The seal was delivered June 1st.
A. B. McGaffey, secretary of state of
Colorado, was written and asked about
Mackey. He replied that there was no
notary in the state by the name of
Mackey.
A detective was employed to hunt up
the case. It is claimed that he found
that J. NJ. Richey was the name of
friend of ROusen and that he had been
dead for several years. He found the
grave and name on the tombstone. He
was unable to discover Mrs. Mary T.
Wright and was also unable to find
either Mackey, Richart and Cammack.
The matter has been kept quiet and
but few outside of the inner circles of
the order knew anything about it. 1t
is a matter of considerable interest to
all beneficiary orders and is creating
comment among different societies
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no pain it will not relieve, no swelling it
will not subdue, no wound it will not
heal It cures frost bites, chilblains
and corns. Geo. w. Stansfield, 632
Kansas avenue, and Afiller's Pharmacy
corner Sixth and Topeka avenue.