The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-26
Dead Girls Story of the Alleged At
tempt to Defraud Insurance
Companies to BE Used.
STATE NOW HAS LEEWAY
PROSECUTOR OLSEN's OUTLINE OF
PROPOSED TESTIMONY.
Names of Insurance Companies and
FraternaI Societies-Dr. I'm
gers Prescriptions.

CHICAGO. May 25.-One of the greatest
conspiraces to defraud insurance COM
panies ever recorded was disclosed in the
Deferbach case to-day. Not $4,000, as the
indictments charge, but $500 were the
stakes being played for according to the
prosecution. A ruling by Judge Tuley un-
tied the hands of the public prosecutors
and the already celebrated trial now takes
on added interest and greater Importance
"The order of court permitting state
ments of Marie A. Defenbach, charged with
being a co-conspirator, and now dead, to
be admitted in evidence, gives the State
the much desired leeway," said Assistant
States Attorney Olsen. I'VE will show that
other companies were TO be defrauded. The
evidence is in our possession and the jury
and court will hear it ALL" Following are
the companies and fraternal societies in
question, and the amounts of policies:
Equitable Life Insurance co.,. SIC. 900
Mutual Life Insurance Conn. 10000
Security Life and Trust Comm. 10000
Prudential Life Insurance Co... 10000
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co... 10000
New York Life Insurance Co... 10000
Independent Order of Foresters,
Canadian branch. Observation-Disclosures. 5000
Knights and Ladies of Honor. ....... 1900
Totals ........................... .$61, 600
Insurance obtained upon the life of Marie
A. d. Defenbach, deceased, upon which
were based the indictment returned charg-
ing conspiracy to defraud, naming DR..
August NJ. Unger, Francis Wayland Brown,
Frank H Smiley and Marie Defenbach as
defendants are as follows:
Independent Order of Foresters,
NeW eanY9ldn York Iife Insurance 1900 SS
Honor
Total 900
The mysterious prescriptions, the handi-
work of DIR. Unger, which Miss Defenbach
had compounded for herself, are now in
the laboratory of a well-known chemist.
who will tomorrow mix the chemicals
according to the formulas of the prescrip-
tions, so to ascertain whether the drugs
called for contain life destroying properties
in sufficient quantities to cause death. An
illustration of the manner in which at least
two OF the conSpirators under indictment
handled themselves is shown by the fact
that the druggist who filled the prescrip
tions at the direction of Miss Defenbach,
was induced to return the originals to her.
The apothecary merely kept copies.
Mrs. Olive Clement was the chief wit
ness to-day. She said she had worked
seven months for Unger, that she
knew Smiley, who posed Miss Defen-
bach's fiance and who was to receive the
Oh S0,VOU Oh MISS DeIenDaCn
life. and that she had on several occasions
called up +. Wayland Brown over the
telephone. Witness said Miss Defenbach
called at Ungers office on Aug. % and told
witness to tell Unger, who was out at the
time. mot to forget that medicine" When
witness told Unger he said. "All right
medicine alleged to have been prescribed
by Unger, she died. Later in the day Miss
Defenbachs will, in favor of DR.. Unger
and expressing a desire that her body be
cremated, was introduced.