The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-18
CHARGED WITH swINDLING.
Insurance Man Arrested For Irregu-
lar W ork.

George y. Cleveland. a neatly attired
man representing himself TO be an au-
thorized soliciting agent for the Mutual
Reserve Fund Life Association Of New
York arrived in Savannah about the mid
die OF June and began writing life insur-
ance. The applicants FOR policies are just
finding out that they have been paying
premiums to an unauthorized agent.
As soon as sufficient Information was
obtained three warrants were sworn out
by as many persons before different jus
tees. charging Cleveland with cheating
and swindling He was not located until
yesterday morning, when Officer COnstan-
tine OF Justice Russelrs court, arrested
him at his boarding house, No. 2i7 Reyn-
olds street.
Sam J. Cooper, BIB Harden street
claims TO have paid premiums on
policies for himself and wife amount
ing to $3.50; Glen Cooper. an
employe at 3. II. Levy & Bro. ., paid
on policy for himself something over
81 %; Ed Williams. driver for a whole
sale house on Bay street. paid $50, and
Rev. J. J. Durham, pastor OF the Second
Baptist church, colored, paid 80 in pre-
miums. The parties. who are colored. be
lieyed Cleveland all right. He exhibited
letters, literature and other documents
and represented to have come direct from
the companys home office in New York
The first intimation of Cleveland's work
was telegram some time ago from the
nome Office in New York to W. F. Tum-
lin, state agent at Atlanta, saying that
Cleveland was an impostor and had duped
a colored minister, Rev Durham. This
information is supposed to have been OBJ
tanned by one Of the cOmpany's resident
detectives, as Rev Durham himself did
not know he had been swindled until so
informed by Mr.. Tumlin, who had come
10 Savannah to have the man prosecuted.
A warrant was sworn out before Justice
Russell by Rev Durham and Cleveland
was arrested. However, upon producing
letters purporting 10 come from the com
pany. literature just from the express
Office and other residences of good faith
the warrant was Withdrawn and Cleve-
land was released on the recommendation
of the companys agent.
Nothing further was heard of Cleveland
until few days ago, when several people
made inquiries at the office of jenkins &
Mitchell, local agents of the company at
Bull and State streets, for information
about Cleveland. The home office was
advised and Mr.. N. D. Moss, general man
ager, wired yesterday:
Cleveland must not work for us. Has
no authority, has never had any, and you
must stop him"
Upon receipt Of this warrants were
sworn out before Justices Russell and Ma
thans
The local agents set to work to learn. II
possible. just how Cleveland had duped
the company, if at all, as the
rules are such as TO generally
thwart illegitmate agents. Jenkins
Mitchell said that his. plan
was TO have the usual application to the
company signed UP, but would not trans
nit it. Then he would send the applicant
10 a physician for medical exami-
nation. The application blank specific
ally states that the physician Is to for
ward same TO the company, but Cleve-
land, they say, always managed to get
the report by telling the physician he
would send 1t on himself. The premiums
were collectable in advance, and after
getting the money, the deal was over so
far as Cleveland was concerned. If aues-
toned by the applicants as to when the
policies would be delivered. he would pass
the matter with some sort of apology
officer Constantine lodged Cleveland in
Jail to await a hearing before the city
court Friday. 1t is possible that other
warrants will be sworn out to-day and
that Cleveland will have a meal-sack of
them to face before the matter ends
Cleveland is about 40 years old. and
claims to be a travelling agent of the com
pany 1t Is said he has conducted an in
surance business in Florida but he came
to Savannah from South Carolina.