The Cairo bulletin., 1904-08-18
NOVEL SCHEME TO
WIN BIG FORTUNE
Unearthed BY INSURANCE Compan-
les Who Were Victims.
NOT CAuGRlT MAPPING
AS THEY LEARNED or THE SUB
sTiTuTioN OF THE CORPSE
AND ATTACHED THE
MONEY I'M BANK.


Little Rock, Ark, Aug. 1.-THE
biggest sensation ever sprung in this
state or section of the country was
developed today when several life in
surance companies garnished the Ger
man National Bank for funds alleged
TO be in the bank to the credit Of
Mrs Ethel Lightle. of Searcy, whose
husband was thought to be dead. The
companies entered suit several days
ago for the return Of the money paid
Mrs. Lightle on the life of her hus-
band.
Several months ago the people OF
this state we're Mortified to hear that
DR.. r. G. Lightle, one of the most
prominent physicians Of Searcy, mad
been burned to a crisp in his stable
1t was stated and so returned by the
coroners inquest, that he had gone
to the stable to fill coal oil lamp
and by some means the lamp ex-
ploded and DR.. Lightle was burned re
yond recognition. Fragments of bones
were recovered and buried in the city
cemetery, the funeral being the larg-
est witnessed in Searcy for many
years. Mr.. Lightle carried $4,000 M
surance on his life, which was paid
to the widow. The companies were
as follows. New York Life, $1,000;
Fidelity Mutual $4,000; Mutual Life
of New York, $1,000; A. 0. U. VS.
900, Metropolitan, $4,000.
The identity of the body was es-
tablished to the satisfaction of every
body and the insurance was paid last
May. few days after the death was
reported. Several days ago 5, M
Powell, of Little Rock, General Agent
of the Metropolitan Life Insurance
company, came in possession OF ru-
mors which led him to make thor
ough investigation II was stated that
the bones found in the stable were
from the body of man named PITTS
who had died several months before
Saturday hight C. e. Cox and A. b
Chichester, Little Rock deteetiye'
w. e. King, Constable of Searcy, and
j. A. Chandler, an undertaken OF that
city, opened the grave and found the
coffin was empty. Pitts's BODY mao
been stolen One or two corroboratlye
facts were obtained, and yesterday
afternoon the Metropolitan Life In
surance company attached funds sup
posed to be in the German National
Bank to the credit of Mrs. Lightle.
The other companies interested took
similar action today. Mrs. Lightle ar
rived in Little Rock today and held q
conference with several officials of
the life insurance companies, and 1t
was reliably stated tonight that she
has agreed to return the money OBJ
tanned on the insurance policies and
that there will be no criminal prose
cution.
Mrs. Lightle stated that she did
not know that her husband was alive
until few days ago, and believed all
along that he had persisted in the
stable May 6 last. The officials OF
the insurance companies have posi-
tive knowledge of DIR. Eighties where
abouts tonight, but refuse to disclose
If Mrs Lightle is at the home of Lit
tie Rock relatives, Frustrated, and
physicians positively refuse to allow
any one to see her tonight. ID. and
Mrs. Lightle are related to several OF
the best families in the state. She Is
the daughter of the late Senator
Rison. of Perry County, and one of her
uncles is the State Senator from this
district.
Insurance officials who unearthed
the alleged fraud tonight stated that
they are in possession of positive
proof exonersting Mrs. Lightle. The
first knowledge she had that her hus
band was not dead was a few days
ago when the two men who took part
in the conspiracy called upon her fol
their share of the insurance money
They told her for the first time thai
her husband was alive and told hei
where to send the money. The di
vision of the money was the direct
cause of the exposure.