Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-11
ALLEGED PLOT TO SWlNDLE.


Money on Insurance Policies.
Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. 9.-With insur-
| ance upon her life amounting to
81, 600, Marie Defenbach. aged 90
years, died August 25th in boarding
house on La Sale avenue under con.
| ditions which the police believe indi-
cate plot to swindle an insurance
company and two insurance societies,
II they do not point to murder. Upon
bench warrants issued by Judge Glib
bons, three persons said to be impli-
Gated in the case DIR. August NJ
Unger, Frank H. Smiley and +. Way
land Brown-hare been arrested.
When Miss Defenba died, there
were three policies on her life, aggrs-
eating S12, GOO, all Of recent date, as
follows: New York Life Insurance Co.
So, 600; Canadian Order Of Forestels,
5000; Knights and Ladies' of Honor,
$1,000.
Tho alleged conspiracy has been in
vestigated with searching care by a
private detective agency. the attorneys
and detectives of the insurance COM
ranies and the States attorney. Yes
terday at a meeting between States
Attorney Deneen and Assistant Attor-
ney William M. McEwen on cne sice and
The attorneys representing the insur-
ance companies and detective agency
on the other, the case was discussed,
and 1t was decided to cause the i'm
mediate arrest OF the suspects. The
detectives believe that a conspiracy
was concocted and that Miss Defenbach
was originally one Of the quartet of al
legged cunspiiators. She had expected
that her death was to be feigned, and
that another body was to play the pas
slve role OF her corpse instead of that,
real death came to her.
Last April, Miss Defenbach applied
10 the New York Insurance Co for
$40, 600 policy. This was refused by
the company, as was also an applica-
tion for an $1,000 policy, on the ground
that she was not the possessor Of suf-
ticient property interests to warrant SO
large risk, although she was examine
and declared to he in perfect health.
In July, Miss Defenbach succeeded in
obtaining from the New York company
policy for $1,000, and this formed
part Of the estate she left About the
middle Of August, Miss Detenbach
also secured insurance in the Canadian
Order Of Foresters to the amount of
s5, 700. About the same time. she took
out policy in the Knights and Ladies'
of Honor for $1,000.
Two weeks later, she was dead, leav-
ing will which directed that part
Of the policies should be paid to Frank
ii. Smiley, her affianced, and that her
body be oremated. Her death, at a
clearinghouse on LaSalle avenue, was
attended by the most horrible agony.
Drs. Leonard and Schroeder, the latter
representing the knights and Ladies' of
Honor, we're called. They refused to
issue a certificate of death, but the
ccroner's jury found verdict OF death
from dysentery. The next day, the
body was cremated, and the ashes were
scattered to the wind. ts
Without much delay, proceedings were
begun to recover the value Of the in
surance policies Miss Defenbaoh had
left. Owing to the unusual circum-
stances surrounding her demise, pay
ment Of the policies was refused and
immediate steps were taken to trace
the woman's career during the last
few months Of her life.
An unusual incident was connected
with the making of Miss Defenbach's IS
will, On August 21st, she called at
tho office of q lawyer named johnson,
uuu bolu MIN Sne wanted TO make ner
will. Some days earlier. DIR. Unger
had, it is stated, told this lawyer
woman would call on, him for this pur-
pose, and she answered she had come
in accordance with the appointment.
She told Mr.. johnson she wanted to
leave her property to Frank II. Smiley,
her affianced, and then she went away.
Two days afterward, she returned, aud
Mr.. johnson had the will ready. 1t
provided, as she had instr ucted, that,
after her debts were paid, her property
was to 60 to Smiley, but she then
wanted another provision inserted. 1t
was that after her death her body be
cremated. This surprised Mr.. johnson,
as he gould not understand how
young and handsome woman would wish
her body burned after death, but he
complied with the request. He was so
struck with the circumstances, how
ever, as the crtamation CLAUSE had not
been in the original Instructions, that
he called in witnesses from adjoining
offices. as matter OF protection. Miss
Defenbach then signed and executed the
document. Two days later she was
dead