Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-18
A LAWSUITS SEQUEL
Story Developed by the Dismis.
sal Of an Insurance Case
In District Court.
Transfer Of a Policy Nearly
Eighteen Years Ago Proves
to Have Been Forgery.
Policy Was Assigned by Insured
to Make Good a Portion OF
Shortage to Employers.

Inc settlement OF the suit OF Jonas
p. Johnson VS.. the Connecticut Mutual
Life Insurance Company before the
trial was called in the dietrict court is
the sequel to an interesting and some
what romantic story, the incidents OF
which had their beginning eighteen
years ago and in which two of the
present-day business men of this city
figured. The trial was set for this
week, but because of the settlement it
has been dismissed.
The question iIlvoievi, vas one OF i'm
portance to insurance companies, COW
ering. as it did, the change of benefic-
iaries in policy on a mans life. Mr..
Jonas p. Johnson, manager of the
Spencer-Letts Coffee Company of this
the real defendant was Mrs. Abraham
o. Baughman. of Canton, Ill. Eighteen
years ago. when Mr.. Johnson was a
member of the wholesale grocery firm
of Sloan, johnson & Co, then one of
the leading houses of Illinois. Abraham
Baughman entered the company's EN-
ploy as travelling agent. Inside of d
year and half Mr.. Baughman became
short in his accounts to the amount of
about $5,000--a shortage that he
acknowledged and which he promised
to make good so far as he could. He
lagreed, among other things. to transfer
to the firm a life insurance policy for
$1,000. written by the Connecticut Mu-
tual Life. Mrs. Baughman was made
the beneficiary in the original policy.
but Baughman delivered the same as
he agreed, and with the supposed sig
natures of Mrs. Baughman. her daugh-
ter Daisy, and a nephew, waving their
rights as heirs. Mr.. H. e. Sloan. now
manager of the Letts-FIetcher house in
this city, was at that time a STRIPPING
of a boy in the employ of the Sloan
Johnson Company, but was neverthe-
less a trusted employe, and it was he
who went over Mr.. Baughman's terri
tory. checked UP the accounts and de-
termined the amount of his shortage.
MIR. Sloan also drew UP the transfer of
the policy. When the firm Went out of
| business the insurance policy was
turned over to MIR. Johnson as a por-
ton of his assets and has been in his
i
Last March Mr.. Baughman died and
Mr.. Johnson. never dreaming that the
widow and her daughter would claim
to be the beneticiaries under the policy,
sought to collect from the insurance
company. but his claim was held up,
pending final settlement. as Mrs.
Baughman also claimed the money.
Suit was brought by Mr.. johnson in the
/ ~ 10 of 10 lty- no CT fIa
pany and Mrs. Baughman appeared as
intervenor. claiming she had made no
assignment of the policy and that she
was the beneficiary. The insurance
company deposited the money with
contest was between Mr.. Johnson and
Mrs. Baughman, with the question to
be determined whether or not the sig
nephew had been forged by Baughman
when the transfer was made.
| The daughter Daisy is now the wife
of U. G. Orendorff,, Il millionaire pillow
manufacturer of Canton. A few days
ago MIR. Orendorff, who was just start
ing on a pleasure trip with his wife
when the family We're summoned as
witnesses. concluded he did not wish to
/ ne DOtueicu aMlUl llle INV sui anu ulu
not want his plans interfered with,
and he therefore came to Marshalltown.
In the meantime Mr. Johnson and his
attorneys had become convinced that
the signatures to the transfer of the
policy We're forgeries. and when Mr..
| Orendorff came to them With PROPOSE
ton to settle the suit they agreed to it
and the case was dropped. Mr.. and
Mrs. Orendorff then resumed their
pleasure trip.
COURT PROCEEDINGS.
| Considerable time was consumed in
securing jury to hear the Camp Great
Western damage suit, but finally the
following We're accepted: w. ]. Arson,
H. e. Fanton. Charles Meier. Mark
Moler, Jabez Ballard, G. L. Showalter,
III. H. Beaman, Fl. r. Smith. A. ].
Mabie. +. b. Parsons. Roy Leonard and
| w. p. Mech. The trial will not be
concluded before Friday, as court will
adjourn Thursday out of respect to
the late president.
CENSUS CONCLUSIONS.