Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-10-12
SMILEY u CONFESS MI.
States Officers Think The Opera,
tor Will Talk
.D]EFEN BACH'S LIFE,
Well Reared and Of Good Family. ~ {
the Prisoner, +. Wayland Brown
Did the Consplrators Substitute :
Corpse:

the Prisoner, +. WAyland Brown
Did the Consplrators Substitute
Corpse:
Chicago, Oct. 10.--Details Of the III.
surance plot involving the mysterious
death of Miss Marie Defenbach. 1t is
thought, will be revealed by Operative
Frank H, Smiley, who Is q prisoner In
the county Jail. The states attorney
and Manager Boland Of the Mooney &
Boland detective agency believe that
he will reveal the facts and turn
states evidence in order to save him-
self from the penitentiary. The hope
of a confession from Smiley, and pos
sibly from DR.. Unger, is based upon
the fact that the doctor Is known to
have turned states evidence In an
other case and that Smiley was but an
instrument in the hands of the arch
conspirators. DR.. Unger was within
the pale of the law before when he
was arrested for forging patent nedi-
cine labels, He told what he knew of
the case to the states attorney and
thereby secured his liberty.
Smiley Not an Active Agent.
The theory OF Mr.. Boland is that
Smiley was introduced into the plot
after it had about fully matured. His
part was the passive one Of palming
himself OF as the girls fiance. F.
Waylaid Brown also said last night
that when he entered the scheme he
did not think there was anything,
crooked being carried on. Browns
friends and also the friends OF the.
dead woman assert that the doctor
had a hypnotic influence by which he
controlled the actions of his compan-
ions TO suit himself.
When the grand jury convenes next
week indictments will be asked
against the prisoners on the charge OF
conspiracy to defraud the insurance
companies. In the case of DR.. Unger
an Indictment more serious in nature
may be asked as result Of the sus-
picious circumstances surrounding
Miss Defenbach's death. The penalty
for the first offense Is term In the
penitentiary under the underestimate
sentence law and fine of from 81 900
to $4,000. w..
..5 Law and Medical Student.
1t developed yesterday that during
Browns connection with the detective
agency he studied medicine as applied
to womens cases. He also took up the
study Of criminal law, asserting that
his business would be improved by it,.
When MI. Brown was arrested yes,
terday a bottle marked poison" was
found in his satchel.
Besides the six straight insurance
companies which Miss Defenbach is.
said to have attempted to swlndle.
word has been received that she made
application for policies in several mu-
tual benevolent organizations. She.
tried to secure policy Of $4,000 in the
Ladies of the Maccabees, but was re-
jected, owing to suspicious aroused
during her examination. 1t was found
that she held large policies In other
companies without legitimate reason
and the officers of the lodge refused to
admit her. pit -..-5
Eome Life of the Girl.
Mrs. Mahoney, is whose house Marie
Defenbach died, is an old resident OF
Chicago. She has been for several
years cashier OF the knights and La
dies Of Honor
Il became acquainted with Miss De-
fenbach first when she became mem
Der of the Knights and Ladies OF Hon
Or" she said. "She came here imme-
diately afterward, and although had
no place for her she insisted upon
staying. She was such sweet girl,
SO bright and happy, that / learned
10 care much for her. ..... - .
mo action on her part ever aroused
our suspicious. No one ever came to
see her until Dr. Schroeder was called
in, except once, when Mr.. Smiley
called. '.|. ~.& .a..
Miss Defenbach was talking with
rs, and when Mr.. Smiley was admitted
she arose and said: Here is Frank
she then left the house with him. That
was eight days before she died.
"She did not leave the house ON tho
day she died. Although she had been
sick for week we were not alarmed.
because she had been attended by Dr.
Schroeder. --r .y
Her Catch Worth 100000. .'
San Francisco Oct 0-The Pacific