The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-01-10
INSURE A BOY; THEN TEMPT
HIM TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE.
Victim is Given Money to Spend and
Liquor TO Drink Until He Becomes
a Wreck

aye, ioiio"eu w HHdt appears u
have been a deliberate effort to in
duce the boy to drink himself tC
death, or commit suicide with pts
toll, are the elements which caused
the Indictment by the grand jury to
day of ". W. Parrish, John H. De
witt, W. B. Cox and Sylvester Breed
Ell, for conspiracy to defraud
The exposure followed the expul-
sion of W. w. Parrish, proprietor OF
a local hotel from a lodge of Wood.
men of the World last Wednesday
night. This is the story as told the
lodge and the grand Jury;
Sylvester Breeder is the name OF
the victim of the conspiracy. Up to
year ago Breeder was a shoe clerk
in a Market street store. He went
on occasional sprees, was rather del
lcate in appearance and had cough
that indicated tuberculosis. Parrish
whose hotel was OPPOSITE tha store
where Breeder worked, formed The
boys acquaintance, and suggested
life insurance to him. Breeder had
no money, and, in addition, feared
he could not pass an examination on
account of weak lungs.
Parrish agreed to fix the money
part, and also the weak lung difficult
ty, if BreedOn would follow direc-
tions. He also agreed to keep Bree-
den in pocket money. Breeder con
sented, and Parrish's first move was
to have him elected a member of
Live Oak Camp, WoOdmen of the
World. This carried with il $1,000
life Insurance, Parrish paying .he
fee dues and assessments.
To comply with the regulations of
the order, the policy was made out
to Breeden's mother, but was trans
ferred by her to Parrish. Later, a
policy for 50, 900 was taken out in
the Union Central Life, and about
the same time another policy for So
900 was taken in the Equitable Life.
This last policy was transferred in
the same way to John III. Dewitt, a
saloonkeeper, who says he paid
Breeder 500 for the privilege of TAX
ing out the policy. Parrish and De
witt paid the premiums on these pol
icies.
After the policies were secured.
about nine months ago, the second
step was taken. Breeder was in
duced to make his headquarters in
the bar attached to Parrish's Hotel. |
where he was given free access to the
He was also supplied with |
pocket money. Dissipation INDUCED |
here slapped his vitality. Meanwhile |
The insurance agents became suspi- |
;lous that something was wrong,
md when the third quarterly pay
nent on the policies was due, few
weeks ago, they refused to accept |
he money from Parrish or Dewitt,
.laiming fraud and conspiracy.
The Woodmen of the World also
'ook steps to cancel Breeden's policy
n that organization.
Then came the third and most des-
'erate step. Breeder was coaxed
ntO the hotel bar on a recent Satur-
lay night and dosed with whisky
until he fell unconscious to the floor.
lie was then picked up and carried
o a room up stairs. On a table by
lis bed was placed a bottle of whisky
md near it, suggestivelv, revolver.
y hen he awakened Sunday morning,
us first desire was a drink, and he
vent for the bottle. He drank him
ell TO sleep again and again. By
tuesday morning he was on the
-erge OF delirium tremens. and that
lfternoon a doctor was called. who
aid he was dying. Unexpectedly,
However. he recovered.
The matter had, in the meantime.
'een investigated by members of the
\ oodmen' S Lodge, and charges were
lied against Parrish He was tried
md expelled from the lodge and the
policy on Breedon 5 life cancelled.
Parrish admits that he took out the
policies, but he says he did it as a
business speculation. He did not.
le says, try to induce Breeder to
rink himself to death or commit
uicide. He also admits that he fur
llshed Breeder whisky aud pocket
money.
john Dewitt says it was purely a |