The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-22
WHERE is MITCHELL?
SALTWATER INSURANCE MAN DIS
APPEARS UNDER SUSPICIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES
P0LICYHoLDER rs oUr
Had Made Two Payments on His
Certificate Which Never
Reached the Com
Dany.

Some CONSERVATION prevails in Still.
water because of the mysterious disag-
pearance of William Mitchell, who. for
the past two years, has been q resident
Of that city, and who was the local rep.
resentative OF the Equitable Life Insur.
ance Company of New York. Discoveries
made since his departure indicate thar
his business methods are open to sus-
picion.
Mitchell went to Saltwater about two
years ago and claimed to have been an
editor in Tacoma, Wash. He created q
very favorable impression and obtained
an Immediate footing in good society.
He seemed to be a man of strict integ-
r1ty and honor and made many warm
friends 1t was reported that ne had
one time been minister, and he claimed
to have been professor of rhetoric in an
Eastern college, presumably McGill. He
mad considerable literary ability He be.
came the representative of the Euuit-
able Life Company of New York AMI did
large business. Among those who took
policies through him was Dr. c. S. John
son. DR.. Johnson had paid one premium
on the policy, when he decided to mako
two additional payments to secure
an optional policy, paying 81 100 to Mitch.
ell in all. The other day he received
notice from the company that no money
had been paid on the policy as yet and
when he produced his receipts they were
declared forgeries.
Upon receipt of this information DR..
Johnson started to find Mr. Mitchell, but
that gentleman could not be To-
Gated. An Investigation was at
once instituted, and it was learn
ed that the last seen of him was on Fri
day night last, when he entertained a
number of Minneapolis friends. It was
later discovered that he had a plate en-
graved at a Minneapolis jewelers.. This
jeweler recently made an assignment,
and about the time of the assignment 2,
Minneapolis attorney named WEIGH,
while in the jewelry store, came upon this
plate and discovered that it was a fac
simile of the receipt of the Equitable
Life Insurance company, and learned
from the jeweler how it happened to be
made. His suspicious were aroused and
he notified a representative of the Equit-
able company, who is said to have asked
Mitchell about it. The latter is reported
to have confessed that he had ordered
the engraving made.
Ten days ago Mitchell it is said. went
to the jeweler and asked for twenty-five
more plates. The jeweler notified Attor-
ney WEIGH, who notified the company
again, with the result that an investi-
cation was started. Mitchell returned
in the meantime and said the plates were
not good enough and refused to take
them.
The people of Saltwater were greatly
surprised at the turn of affairs. Mitch
ell was very popular and seemed to be
man of the utmost integrity So far
as known he had no debts in Saltwater
Friends of Mitchell say he lost consider
able playing the wheat market
WILKES DON'T KNOW.
Mr.. Louis D. Wilkes, manager of the
Equitable company in st. Paul, said last
night that. all he knew about the case
was that Mitchell was wanted. He said
that his attention had never been called
to any engraved plates by a Minneapolis
lawyer, and he did not know about the
Dr. Johnson policy.