The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-03

quate return. Perhaps the swindIers
think there is less chance of being
caught
This policy had been issued on a
dealer in mules in Richmond. Its was
like the general managers. premiums
paid by the beneficiary
\ don't know what made the com
pany suspicious, but, anyway, 1 went
down to Richmond TO see about il when
the notice of death came in The very
first rattle out OF the box showed that
1t was a fraud.
''fhat was easy; the settling was a
different thing. | was to get the policy,
Tor. in such cases, We much prefer to
get the matter settled in that way.
rather than TO go into court and make
fight that may lead TO notoriety that
is bad for business
THE beneficiary in this case had the
reputation of being one of the tough
est men in Richmond. He had been a
member Of Mosby's guerrillas, and was
popularity believed TO be as willing TO
shoot as to eat. Moreover his record
seemed to bear out this reputation.
He ran a tough saloon in one of the
toughest parts of the city, and most of
his patrons were thieves and scoundreIs
of the lowest sort, mixed crowd of ne
groes and cheap whites. that was
enough 10 make a man wish he were
somewhere else the minute he got
among them.
Well. when I got my facts together,
II was up 70 me To go down to this ex-
guerrilla's joint and get that policy.
His dealer in mules turned out to be a
negro hostler at cheap stable, and
II looked like another case of insurance
and murder, such as SO many white
men in the south had worked with ne
grOes and insurance companies as the
victims.
Il got a good man to go along with
me, took a cab and drove down to the
saloon. I had been warned what to
expect. and was prepared. had a good
double-actiOn gun In my coat pocket,
and as | went into the saloon / kept
my hand on it ready for whatever
might happen.
The ex-guerrilla was behind the bar.
in front Of which there was a crowd of
as tough-looking chara cters as / have
ever seen He was serving out poison
as fast as he could, and seemed to be
ready for anything that might come
up
THE instant I stepped in he recog-
niZed that I was of d different kind
from the run of his customers, and
perhaps scented trouble. He turned on
me with scowi. and said:
We'll, sub, what do you Want?'
i told him who I was, and then said
had come for the policy he had taken
out on the life of his dealer in mules.
never saw such an expression on the
face of any man as came over him
then. He loked at me for an instant
and then leaned forward just little
and said:
Do understand you to mean that
you're not going to pay it?'
Not a cent 1 answered and I
want the policy
The instant ! spoke his hand went
bac howard his hip pocket, but 1 had
been expecting just that, and before
he could reach his pistol l had mine
under his nose.
Hands up!' L shouted. Don't you
make n move to get that gun up. or
III XIII you like the dog you are right
here
Well. it would have done you good to
see him. He recognized the situation
instantly, and he knew he was beaten
but he was in SUI a rage that for a
moment or so / half expected him to
die then and there.
HE looked as if he were going to ex-
plode. But he put up his hands all
right, and said at last, with a look of
the most terrible hate:
." You got me.
Yes 1 said, I've got you. Now I'm
going 20 have that policy
Then ! called to the man who had
come down with me to come inside
We got the ex-guerrilla's gun out of
his pocket. and made sure that he had
no Others and then told him he could
lower his hands and we'd talk about
the policy. He had got his grip on him
self by this time. and was as meek as
a lamb
Il told him that all | wanted was the
policy. and If we got that 1 should not
modest him any further. But 1 took
mighty good care not to let him get the
slightest chance to turn the tables on
me. From the instant pulled my re-
volver out of my pocket until he had
got the policy out of his safe and given
it to me, and my assistant and I were
out of his place, l covered him all the
time. Then I got back to my hotel as
quickly as l could, and took the first
train north.
That's the last / ever saw of Rich
mond, and the last time 1 ever tried to
get any fun out of the investigation
business. Anybody can do that who
likes it. Good men are getting scarce
in my family. and we have need of
those who are left
The man from out west was de-
lighted. This was a side of life of which
he was entirely ignorant; in fact, it had
never occurred to him that any such
things we're possible.
THAT shows" he said. Its just like
a telephone exchange. You use il every
day. and all you know is that the work
is done. Then some day you go to
take a look at it and find out that you
don't know anything about it,
Yes" said the senior counsel, "only
the average man doesn't care how the
exchange works 1t is not ali confined.
though. this thing we have been talk
ing about to the little fellows. The
doctor here had al try at it once that
he doesn't say much about but L guess
he has not forgotten about it
NO said the doctor, nor am ] like
~ to. although, as you say, it is not u
case to be talked about much. This
case came under my notice in the or
binary routine of my work as medical
of the company. l thought
at the time that it must have attracted
the attention Of any medical man who
saw ii, but apparently it did not, for
il cost SOME OF the other companies
thousands of dollars, and they certain
" had the advice of able men.
II shall not tell YOU who this man
was, or where he lived. 1t is enough
10 say that he had held a prominent
place in the affairs of the nation for
and for that matter still is, throughout
the country.
AT the time this occurred he was
president of one of the largest banks
in the east His wealth was reputed
to be millions
I'VE had insured his son. who was
about 50 years old, for $50. 600. There