New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-04
NOVEL SCHEME TO DEFRA OD.
THIS MAN MADE MANY INSURANCE COM
PANIES HIS VICTIMS.
CONTENT WITH SMALL SUMS. IT WAS LONG BE-
FORE HE WAS CAUGHT-FIREs NOT
NEEDFUL ~ HIS PLAN.

NEEDFUL ~ HIS PLAN.
The fire insurance companies OF New-YorK
have Just succeeded in securing the arrest or
a man who had for several months been de-
frauding them in succession Of amounts Of
money running from S73 in one case to S12O
in another In all. the companies lost about
81 900 The point in the that is particu-
larly interesting IS that 50 many important
companies could be duped by the scheme
before the offender was at last caught. The
man whose arrest has been brought about IS
Andrew J. DAILY. who formerly lived at Seventh
ave. and Third-st, Brooklyn Pinkerton detec-
tives who had been put on the case several
weeks ago found lin in Washington ard he was
taken into custody there last Saturday.
Days plan was as simple IS it effective.
1t consisted in fires that existed only in his own
fertile Imagination. There may have been one
original and only fire. but only one there could
have been, aad the insurance people are in
doubt about that The first cOnhagratiOn oc-
CURED. if It occurred at all. last April. Days
household furniture insured at that time
with the Merchants Insurance Company OF
Newark for 81 900. DAILY wrote n note to the
company telling 1t that his little girl had
been playing with matches and had set fire 10
n pair Of window curtains. The carpet and
/
with the chair itself. had also been damaged.
Would the company please send representa-
tive to estimate the loss and arrange settle
ment? The company would. 1t sent It's adjus-
ter who saw the carpet and the remains Of the
dress suit. and the damaged chair, as we'll as
a fragment OF the window curtains. Days wife
said that the fire was extingulshed with little
trouble and without any alarm being given.
Days fires were always eXtnguished that way.
That was OF their peculiarities. DAILY
wanted $50 for the dress suit and the curtains
and the other things. but the adjuster settled
with him for S13. The adjuster was not dis
posed to be generous. for some reason best
known 10 himself lie also refused to renew
Days policy.
DAILY was not discouraged. He at once got
a policy Cor the same amount with the Royal
Insurance Company. About the middle Of May
the Royal Insurance Company got a note from
DAILY saying that his little girl had been play
ing with matches and had set the window cur
tains on fire and would the company kindly
send representative to estimate the loss? The
Royal Insurance Company sent one He saw
the Garnet and the remains Of the dress suit and
the other things and settled with DAILY for $50,
Int he too declined to renew the policy So
DAILY. being a man Of persistence and energy
got a policy with the Norwich Union. In June
the Norwich Union paid SO TO DAILY for the
damage bv fire to Days dress suit. his carpet,
his chair and the other things. DAILY was hard
IN in Julv and was forced to have two fires. Tor
which the German American and Germanla IN
surance companies contributed total OF Fli'
for the faithful dress suit and the other artl-
cles DAILY had so many heavy expenses III
August that he had 10 have three hres 10 Keep
even with the game. This time the l-iNerpool
and London and Globe the Continental ana inc
Home Insurance companies ADVANCED MN 80
to X en- the wolf from the door September pe-
ing n hard month for DAILY, too. the dress sur
end the window curtains et cetera were WoIhru
FOR S31O the London and Lancashire, the PhenlN
/ iamsburg CITY being the victims DAILY was Nv
inc on the fat OF the land He had one too many
fires with his incomhustibe dress sun ana HIS
asbestos carpet and chair. go,
Tho adiuster Of the Phoenix Assurance Com
nany Of London happened to meet the adjuster
for the Merchants Insurance Company or New
ark Dalv's first victim, In the street one uaS.
Hello old man" he said. 1--WE just been over
near you.
Had fire over at Seventh-aVe ana lhilu-
st"
What's the name?"
"Daly."
ANDREW j."
Adimster 10 / whistled a long, low whistle.
Dress suit. window 90 curtains; a ra,a''' o"'''
little girl and matches?" he inquired
Wi I'm HANGED" said Adjuster No.
Further condolences followed. as result ql
which the extent OF Days operations was 'i'"-
clear No less than eleven companies hau per'
1srouded hv Daly with the aid Of MS incom-
/ h,stihIe possessions. Plans we're lald 10 arrest
Day but in way he learned 'hht the sai,S si,b
wss M and fed to washington, taking WIN
him his asbestos providers. Pinkerton dec
nm nm, '''@ n1resIed him there Saturday. and he
v,i soon be brought TO this city for trial