The San Francisco call., 1904-04-14
REFUND MONEY
TO PRISONER
Man Accused of Numbering
BrOther-in-Law Sends for
the Insurance Officials
FIRM RETURNS ALL COIN
Leon Soeder Is Repaid Every
Cent He Advanced as
Premiums OH the Policies
FIRM RETURNS ALL COIN

The police have a valuable piece of
evidence in the Blaise murder case,
which, they claim, is a practical ad-
mission on the part of Soeder that he
is guilty of the murder of his brother
in-law, Joseph Blaise. Detective
Gibson has been informed by the Of
ficials of the Pacific Mutual Life In
surance Company that Soeder had ac-
cepted from them every cent of money
that he or Blaise paid on the policies
issued in their company. The deal
which the insurance people have been
trying to put through with the ac-
cused murderer was consummated on
April 6.
Shortly after Soeder was charged
with murder the insurance people in
whose company the prisoner held
policies attempted to get him to take
back the money that he had paid
them. Soeder. then confident of his
ultimate acQuittal, scorned the offer.
Soon after the close of the prelimin-
ary hearing, at which the police piled
up sufficient evidence to have Soeder
bound over to the Superior Court for
trial before a jury, the accused man
began overtures to regain the money
once refused.
Attorney Roscoe S. Gray of the law
firm of Fox & Gray, attorneys for
the Mutual Life. stated yesterday
that Soeder had been paid $107 60,
every cent that he paid the company.
He said: "On March 3 Soeder phoned
from the Broadway Jail for some
member of the company TO come and
see him. We sent a representative to
him with the money Soeder wanted
to know if the previous offer that we
had made him still held good. He
was informed that it did. Then he
told the representative of the company
that he would think it over"
SIGNS OVER THE POLICIES.
March he again phoned and went over
to see him. He asked how much was coming
TO him. and learning the amount said
that he would first consult his attorneys. We
told him that 1t was immaterlai 10 US w~hether ~
he accepted the money we dld not peleNe
that Soeder entitled to any money from
the policies he took out on Biaises life, so
thought il best to return the amounts palo
We felt that in view of the fact that Soeder
lied as TO his business and his brother-in-
laws occupation as well as in other particu-
lars during the making out of the applica-
tions, that were safe as far as being held
for the payment of the policies was con-
cerned. Soeder also changed or caused to be
changed the name of Blaises wife on one
Of the policies and had his own name inserted
in its place. This was done without the
knowledge Of the home office at the time.
On the morning of April 6 we again heard
from Soeder. We went to the jail and paid
him the $10T so and he signed over the poll
cies TO us The policies still in the keep
ing Of the police and do not know whether
we can now be held liable for them-that is
a legal question TO be decided by the courts
Included in the S1O7 90 was S5 which was
maid on the premium of the policy taken out
on Soldiers life. That policy is now void
Soeder failed TO make the last payment when
il was due; are no longer responsible
to him for any policy on his life.
OF course we know that Blaise paid some
of the money on of the policies himself.
bu+ have good cause to believe, in the light
of the police findings. that the money was
given 10 him by Soeder.
POLICE ACCUMULATE EVIDENCE